92 won't start possible fuel prob.

[Blacksmith1]

first off it's an aerostar 4.0 auto,
I can get it to run but only if the fuel pump powers up, and trips the relay. most of the time it just sits, and whines, and will not start.
if it starts, I can drive it around, and sometimes shut it off, and restart it. other times it won't fire at all, or won't restart.
I'm thinking either the pump is crapping out, or the pressure switch is going bad.
I know where to find the pump, but where is the switch? and once I locate it how do I test it?
on a very tight budget so I can't just replace stuff to see if that was the problem...

 

[Irokranger93]

you're looking inertia switch. it is the side foot plastic panel front passenger(all ford vehicle that has its place) or fuel sending unit that the fuel pump works welltcheck this out
www.supermotors.net/

 

[Blacksmith1]

nope or it wouldn't start at all, and the vehicle hasn't been impacted by anything since long before this problem started. it was put in storage mode (quit using starting it for awhile) and when I went to press it into service, it started this crap...
used to be it would power up, the pump would whine for a sec, then click goes a relay, pump shuts off, and it would start.
now it powers up, the pump whines, and whines, no click, no start... most of the time. it does start now and then.......

 

[Explorin94]

The inertia switch will go bad and cause spuratic starts like you are describing. Pull the connector off the bottom of the switch and jump it with a wire and then try to start it. If that is a no go then tackle the pump.

 

[Blacksmith1]

ok I'll try that....as soon as I find my book to locate the switch

 

[kimcrwbr1]

Kinna sounds like a bad ground wire go through and clean all the grounds with sandpaper and get nice and tite. check that you are not getting fuel in the oil smell the dipstick and pull the vacuum line off the fuel pressure regulator and smell it for fuel

 

[kimcrwbr1]

You need to find out if it is spark or fuel when it dont start then take it from there

 

[Blacksmith1]

thanks for the answers. after cleaning the pressure reg, and finding that everything seemed to check out, we noticed that if we hooked 2 sets of jumper cables to it it started. one new battery later it starts everytime. guess it just wasn't getting enough amps to start without help.