Sporadic Hesitation Starting 94 F-150

[tony2tall]

Newbie here!
One owner 1994 F-150, 5.0, 203,000 miles. I bought this truck new and no one has jury-riged anything! Preventative maintenance religiously performed.
Estimate 2 years ago truck (mileage well below 200k at that time) would hesitate starting. Cold start normal. Next time motor cranks over twice as long to start. No sign of weakness starter/battery. Starter had to be changed over year ago I think from extended cranking. Batteries changed through the years as normal every 4-5 years.
Example Sunday afternoon 1st start since previous day, PERFECT! Drove 3.2 miles shut off & set for 90 mins. Went back to start cranks over strong but takes twice as long to start. Immediately turn engine off. Restarts flawlessly and restarts several other times immediately after.
I took it to shop 18 months ago thinking maybe fuel pressure was leaking off. Was kept over night and didn't reveal loss of pressure or reason to hesitate starting.
No difference after changing fuel filters more than once.
Doesn't puff smoke from tail-pipe when hard starting.
When hard starting I can release key and motor starts slow & fluttering.
It has 2 tanks and responds the same using either.
Gas mileage, acceleration, etc normal. Symptoms alike using 87 oct or 93 oct.
Doesn't make a difference turning key to RUN position delaying 10-15 secs before turning to start position. Or doing this several times in a row.
Mystery to me?[/SIZE][/SIZE]

 

[countryboytn]

Welcome to FTF!


About your problem, I could take a guess, but I honestly don't know what to tell you....

I personally would check ignition system, but like I said, that's just a guess.

It's kinda late now, but sombody should be around here either tonight or tommorrow to help you out.

 

[radialarm]

Mine would do something like that, turn key crank crank crank let off key turn again start right up. I never found my problem exactly but regular tuneups with motorcraft parts has fixed it for me. Good luck

 

[godblessmud]

Do you have the tilt column steering wheel?

 

[tony2tall]

A second attempt to start during a hesitation cycle will not change the scenerio.

 

[tony2tall]

Yes have tilt.

 

[godblessmud]

(Idea #1)

Try lowering the tilt so the column is straight and crank.

How the ignition works is there is a flat small metal strip that goes through the column and on the tilt columns as they age it gets fatigued from the bending back and forth and can cause current issues from the ignition switch.

 

[tony2tall]

I will try adjusting the tilt but I'm pessimistic because I'm the one who has driven this truck 99% of the time & the steering wheel is left in the highest position and left there. Very little up & down motion. But I hope I'm proven wrong!

 

[godblessmud]

It doesnt take much to do it...a move every few months for the lifetime of a truck take their toll..

On to other ideas..
Have you pulled codes? because what your describing could be a lean start situation where the engine is not getting enough fuel at first crank.

 

[tony2tall]

Have not pulled codes. Another mystery never has Check Engine Or Service Soon visible.

 

[Skandocious]

How old is your ignition coil? Often times when they start to go out, they'll have intermittent failures instead of crapping out all at once.

Either way-- it's gotta be either fuel or spark. You say it cranks over just fine every time but doesn't always fire right away--- that says to me "fuel or spark"

 

[godblessmud]

Hm could be a burned out bulb on the idiot lights

Well im just going to start throwing out possible culprits and you can try them until we solve the problem

If the steering thing doesnt solve it i would pull codes and look for fuel delivery problems or lean conditions.

Also check for burned out spark plugs And for arcing wires/dizzy cap
If your fuel delivery is fine then theres an issue with your spark. You could be not getting good spark which is why it is hard to start but once started it can diesel, and the exhaust valves are hot enough to restart it when you shut it off and immediatly restart it

 

[Skandocious]

And just because your check engine light didn't come on doesnt meant you havent thrown codes. My truck throws codes all the time and seldom lights up the CEL. I'd say more often I get a no-light code than I do a light code.

Check the codes just to be sure. It may give you a very promising lead in the right direction.

That reminds me I need to make a thread about one of my codes

 

[Raptor22]

(Idea #1)

Try lowering the tilt so the column is straight and crank.

How the ignition works is there is a flat small metal strip that goes through the column and on the tilt columns as they age it gets fatigued from the bending back and forth and can cause current issues from the ignition switch.

I hate that, I have had to replace mine twice....

There is a switch under the dash on the other side of the fuse boxes that plugs in, if you switch the setting on that switch, the truck will start. That is what I did both times that happened. Actually you can steal any gen8 that you want just by having that switch. I wish I had a photo to show you.

 

[mrfixit]

Make sure the Fuel Pressure Comes up QUICKLY, like within the first second of so... if it doesn't, it's a problem. I have had issues with those pumps many times, only to bang my head each time, thinking it COULDN'T BE THE PUMP AGAIN! Plus check the regulator on the fuel rail.
My old pumps would show great pressure while running, never dropping off; Occasionally the pressure would get up there within 4-6 seconds, but a tech friend assured me that wasn't good; to replace the pump. I tried it on his advice, and sure enough, it did the trick.

 

[godblessmud]

There is a switch under the dash on the other side of the fuse boxes that plugs in, if you switch the setting on that switch, the truck will start. That is what I did both times that happened. Actually you can steal any gen8 that you want just by having that switch. I wish I had a photo to show you.

Excuse me? I dont beleive ive ever seen this switch before? I want to know if/where my truck has it because i could use that as a clucth override when wheeling

 

[tony2tall]

Well I have tried moving the steering wheel tilt. No change in the hesitation.
I'm going to have codes checked next.

 

[mrfixit]

Any updates on this?

 

[Raptor22]

Excuse me? I dont beleive ive ever seen this switch before? I want to know if/where my truck has it because i could use that as a clucth override when wheeling

I havent gotten around to taking pics, lol.