97 Explorer 4.0 extended cranking time to start, any ideas?

[RichnMo]

Hey guy's and gals I have a 97 explorer 4.0 with 150,000 on the clock . It's been in our family since new and not neglected. I recently had a intermittent crank but no start and it would always fire up a little later but didn't last long enough to be able to diagnosis it. when I was able to check it there was no spark and upon checking further I noticed that if I unhooked and hooked back up the crank sensor it always started. So with it being about 45,000 on the plugs I decided to change the plugs and put a new crank sensor on it. While removing the fan and fan shroud I broke the tab off the throttle body while disconnecting the throttle cable, hence requiring a trip to the wrecking yard for another.
So now with new plugs, used tb and installing my tb pos sensor on the new tb and a crank sensor the latest problem I have is it having an extended cranking time till it starts up ? Today I put a new fuel filter on it as it had been about 12,000 miles on it but same problem hot,or cold it cranks about 10-20 seconds before it fires. When previously it fired in 2-5 seconds. It has had thefuel pump replaced about 2 years ago but it's not really feeling like a pump issue. Any ideas or help would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

 

[RonD]

Welcome to TRS

Cycle the key on and off 3 times then try to start engine

1997 uses 30-40psi fuel pressure
Each time you turn on the key the fuel pump Primes the system for 2 seconds, and only 2 seconds, and that equals about 10psi
Normally the fuel system holds above 20psi with key off.........for MONTHS and MONTHS
But it can leak pressure off in the tank, fuel pump check valve, or at the fuel pressure regulator(FPR), leaks fuel back to the tank, so fuel is not leak OUT, just pressure is not holding

 

[RichnMo]

Thanks, I'll try cycling the key a couple times before starting and see if that makes a difference.