Truck was sputtering when accelerating now it won't start

[Odin's Chosen]

I've got a 98 ranger xlt 4x4 automatic that I've been driving
daily since September. Ive put about 30000 miles since then. Starting around November it would sputter and kinda jerk when I was accelerating quickly. It would really only do it in the mornings on my way to work. Driving in the afternoon/evening it would act up occasionally but not nearly as bad as it did in the mornings. I also had a hell of a time getting it starting in the mornings. It all but stopped around February or March, with it happening every few days.
Last week it really started acting up and when I got off work today it wouldn't start. It just didn't want to turn over. I replaced the alternator, plugs, wires, fuel pump and fuel filter about 2 years ago when I was driving it back then, but it was parked for about 6 months for an unrelated issue until I started driving it again in September.
Any help with this issue is appreciated

 

[RonD]

Does not "turn over" means.................starter motor is not working?

Or it "turns over" but won't start?

If starter motor is working then do 50/50 test
Take off the air tube on the intake
Open throttle and spray gasoline or Quick Start(ether) into the intake
Try to start engine

If it starts and dies then Fuel is the issue
If it doesn't start then Spark is the issue, 4.0l rarely has spark issues

You symptoms are fairly common when fuel pump is starting to fail, especially if you have changed fuel filter in the last few years, which you have, dirty fuel filter will act that way

Roll down window, turn off radio and turn key ON
You should hear the the fuel pump in the gas tank "hummmm" for 2 seconds, but only 2 seconds
Turn key on and off as much as you need to, fuel pump should run for 2 seconds each time key is turned ON

There is a Fuel Pump Relay in the engine fuse box, FP Relay, you can swap this Relay with the WOT Relay, (wot = wide open throttle), it is a relay for air conditioning shut off when you are at full throttle.
They are the same part number

There is also an Fuel Pump fuse in the engine fuse box, but not a likely problem since they don't get intermittent, when they blow they blow

Fuel pump motor can go off and on and relay can open and close, so these can be intermittent, like you symptoms