2001 crank no start issues.

[valuecom]

2001 Ranger 3.0 2WD
Ok, this might take a minute but I need help to diagnose a crank no start issue.
I parked the truck in drive to go inside to get my phone. It stalled then wouldn't restart. Turns over great. Thinking because of the cold weather and flucuating temps it might be fuel related. I pulled of the intake hose and sprayed starting fluid. It wouls start but just run long enough to burn off Starting Fluid. So I am thinking it has to be bad fuel or no fuel.
Check schrader valve to verify fuel pressure. Has fuel pressure. How much I dont know but enough to spray up to the open hood. So I figure it getting gas. I climb under and pull line off the outlet of fuel filter and let fuel drain back out of line in case it had water or something in it. Then pump about a gallon of fuel out of the tank thinking water goes to bottom and that should be enough to clear any water from pickup area in tank. Getting dark so I figure I resume in morning.
Morning comes warmer today. Try to duplicate starting with starting fluid with no fuel line hooked up. Now it wont even try to run, Maybe a bit of backfire.
I hook fuel line back up to filter and turn key on a couple times to build up fuel pressure and try to start. Cranks no start, Starting fluid. no change except it backfires a little.
I have a full tank of gas so droppiing the tank to clean it PITA.
The backfiring tells me there is spark, Spitting gas from fuel rail tells me I have gas. (which I confirmed by pulling plug and it was wet}
Beyond frustrated. Fuel, spark. compression but wont start?
Could a bad position sensor cause these symptoms. No code indicating that though.
Thanks for reading any guesses or recomendations on futher trouble shooting would be appreciated.

 

[nickname23]

Jiggle the filter n line, eventually it will push through the crud and you can drive.

Mine has the same issue but it might also be a bad purge valve, so do you experience trouble pumping gas every now n then? Check the lines past the tank going to the canister.

Truck will vapor lock causing a whole other issue during hot starts after you drive. Driving on highway may cause another clog and will cause a stall.

Replace filter, the Chinese ones suck I'm saving for the Motorcraft so buy two and feed cleaner every other fill up.

When parked for awhile add Sta-bil or heet.

 

[valuecom]

I got i. Pretty sure it was condensation in line. Ran out more gas via fuel pump turning key on and off cuz I coundnt get relay jumper to work. Then I found a leak in the heater line at the plastic TEE above the distributor block raining down on it. not exac;ty sure which fixed it but it starts and runs now with a bit of hesitation on acceleration. water in gas mayhave fouled plugs or distributor block needs to fully dry out. I figure it is time to do all the maintenance I have neglected on this old go to the dump truck.

Thanks for the input Nickname23

 

[valuecom]

Kinda weird but I am getting a P1151 code. Lean condition. Bank 2. This may be the cause of my acceleration issues. I have to note that the previous owner has a starting issue he saolved by drilling a hole in the first cat. Not a great solution but seems to keep the truck running and not planning on spending a grand on a truck I paid less than that for. It starts and will go to the dump full of trash so i fits it purpose. Figured I would add this in case someone else reads this while trouble shooting their truck so they know every effeort to get this truck back to original hasnt been taken.