302 engine cranks but won't start, what's wrong?

10

Asked by Eddie Sep 18, 2020 at 01:16 PM about the 1987 Ford F-150 XLT Lariat Standard Cab 4WD SB

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

Okay so about a year ago I bought an
87 Ford F150 XLT Lariat 4x4 with a
302 V8 engine. Originally the truck
was only going to be used as a work
truck but the more I drove it the more
I liked it so I decided to stop using it
as a work truck and started restoring
it. The truck ran great, the four wheel
drive works excellent, no problems
overall and actually a very good
strong truck especially for the age.
So anyway about 4 months after
having the truck while driving it one
day it dies on me and start back after
doing some troubleshooting
because it was crank but no start. So
I changed the fuel pump relay, and
the inline fuel pump that is on the
frame I believe it's the high pressure
fuel pump. I didn't change the fuel
pump in the fuel tank because the
gentleman that I had bought it from
told me that you'd just changed the
one inside the tank so I know this
has already been done. After
changing the fuel pump relay and the
fuel pump on the frame the truck ran
great until about 5 weeks ago when
one day I went out to start it and the
battery was dead it wouldn't do
anything so I checked the battery
and alternator. I found the alternator
to be bad so I put a new battery and
alternator in and it fried right up and
we was back on the road again.
Everything was great until
approximately one week ago when
the truck died on me on my way
home from work and would not start
back I get a crank but no start just
like I did when the fuel pump went
out but after checking my fuel pump
relays and my fuel pumps and
verifying that I am getting fuel I've
determined that I am not getting a
spark somewhere. Now obviously if
I'm going to restore this vehicle then
I'm going to put new plugs, wires,
distributor cap, coil the whole nine
yards but I'm doing this as I have the
money so some of those things have
not been replaced yet. So my
question is where should I start first
the distributor, ignition coil, pick up
coil, TFI, solenoid, ECM or where? If
it's the distributor should I change
the stator or should I change the
stator and the shaft? I'm doing all of
the work myself and not being a
mechanic I'm not sure of where to
start first or what would most likely
be my problem. I'm thinking it's going
to be the distributor or solenoid but
after being on a few forums and
reading other post where people
have had the same problem I'm
hearing all kinds of different things
that it could be. I would greatly
appreciate it if anyone any help and
can give more detailed info if needed
did help with the diagnosis but just
to reiterate it is a crank no start and I
am getting fuel.

3 Answers

39,955

you need to test for proper fuel pressure and spark , any prior problems don't matter and are only assumptions , are the injector(s) firing ? If you have fuel & spark then that leaves compression , how old is that truck ? Is the timing chain ok ?

2 people found this helpful.
10

The truck is an 87 Ford F150 XLT Lariat 4x4 with with a 302 V8. And as I stated the fuel pump in the gas tank was replaced right before I bought it I replaced the fuel pump on the frame and the fuel filter. Then replaced the alternator and the battery. The only reason I stated those things is because those are all things that I have done to the truck personally or I know have been done to the truck. I also know that you need compression, Spark and fuel for an engine to to operate correctly. As for the timing chain I haven't gotten that far into the motor yet but when I put a new alternator on I did put a new serpentine belt. I just know from everything that I've read or what or even heard about this truck in general there are a few main things that causes problem and I listed them in my question you're the first person however that is suggested the timing chain. Now ask for the three things that I know you need to make the engine run I know I'm getting fuel as I stated I changed both fuel pumps, the one in the tank, the one on the frame, the fuel filter and I've done a fuel pressure test. And as I stated I done all of that approximately 6 months ago and the vehicle was running fine until the alternator went out about 2 weeks ago I've been replaced the alternator and the battery the truck was running fine again and to approximately 4 days ago when I was on my way home from work and it died and wouldn't start back and after doing fuel pressure test and so forth I've determined that it is getting fuel but no spark my question is and was where would be the best place to start for out of the things that it could possibly be which would be my most likely. After being in several forums and watching videos on YouTube and going through my Hanye's manual several times I keep coming back to the same things which are distributor, ignition coil, TFI ( Thick Film Ignition Modular), ECM, plugs & plugs wire, & Relays etc. And another question was if it turns out to be the distributor with this model of Ford would it be better to replace the Stator and the shaft or just the Stator. I do appreciate your help however I don't think it has anything to do with my timing chain if all else fails I will check that. I guess basically what I was looking for or asking was has anyone else out there that had encountered this same problem with this same generation Ford and/or motor the 302 V8, what they found to be the problem. I'm sorry though I was only stating the other things that have been done to it like the fuel pump, fuel filter, alternator and so forth to let other people that would read my question no things that I'd already done to the vehicle. Oh I have also checked the inertia switch.

1 people found this helpful.
157,515

Spray a little starting fluid down the throttle body. It should run a few seconds on that. If so, it's a fuel problem. If it won't run on the starting fluid it's an ignition problem, no spark, or lack of compression. If you have spark and fuel but it still won't run it's time to do a compression test. If all cylinders test very low or zero it's jumped timing and you need to replace the timing chain and sprockets. Hope that helps! Jim

1 people found this helpful.

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