2003 Ford Exp. 5.4L apparent fuel/injector issue

Busta
Thu, 08 Jul 2021 23:22:21 +0000
Power/Fuel

My '03 Ford Ex. turns over and over and over but won’t fire.

Suspected fuel feed issue maybe due to bad/trashy gas but not sure.

Shortly after buying gas from a country station during the recent “gas shortage” scare, my Ford Ex., usually very reliable, just stopped running. At the time it was idling in Park in my driveway as I ran back inside for a moment.

I’m not sure it was bad gas but that’s my best guess at this point. The 5.4L will fire if I disconnect air input line at the air filter and use starter spray. Runs a second. Stops. I can keep it firing with continued shots of starter fluid but I do know not to do that very much for fear if damage to the injectors.

Here’s what I’ve done so far, below, with no positive result do far: (Any pointers on what to try next…much appreciated. I hope to fix this myself if at all possible.
Can’t afford a tow to town OR a shop fee.

1. Determined that it would fire with starter fluid into the air feeder

2. Replaced fuel filter

3. Reset emergency fuel shut off valve.

4. Opened shraeder valve on fuel rail and depressed needle valve.

At this point, fuel does well up out of the shraeder valve. It does not spray out forcefully as one friend said it should. This may be because I did not depress the needle valve enough. I don’t know. I have read previously about using a fuel line pressure gage at the Shraeder valve, but I don’t have one. I do have a regular air pressure gauge but I assume I need a specialty fuel gage. So at present, I know that has is getting into the fuel rail but I don’t know if it’s at the pressure it needs to be to run the motor. I would assume that if there is gas getting the fuel rail, it must be getting into the injectors enough to at least make motor run some.

Same friend suggests I disconnect fuel feed line where it attaches to the fuel rail, and catch some fuel in a clear container to check for trash/water etc. However, that connection does not appear to me to be a screw on/off junction. I’m afraid to go at it until I know more. I do suspect that there must be some trash or something that’s keeping gas from getting where it needs to go to start the car and keep it running.

Same friend suggested I unscrew one spark to see if gas is getting into the head but I have not tried that yet. Is a little daunting given the whole Ford spark plugs system on this more. Hard to get to. I’m afraid I’ll screw something up. I will try this if need be, but do far, I have not tried it.

Right now, I still suspect the issue is somewhere in the fuel feed, since the motor will fire and keep firing with spray starter fuel.

What do I try next? I’m desperate. Any advice here much appreciated!

I

15 posts - 7 participants