Truck wont start after fill up?

[ice_station_zebra]

I have a 2009 Ford F150 with the 5 L V8. I'm taking it in for winter servicing/oil change and want to have them look at an unusual problem I've had. First time, I stopped for gas and when I went to leave it wouldn't start. Engine turned over but it wouldn't fire. I kept at it and gradually it tried to start and sounded like maybe it was firing on two cylinders....then all of a sudden it roared to life. After that all was fine until two years later. Same scenario, wouldn't start after stopping to fill up with gas. So this has happened twice in 5 years. I know very little about mechanics but is it possible when I was pumping gas somehow air got into the fuel line or injectors. It seems like the engine was starved for gas and it took my persistence with trying to start it and pumping the gas pedal to get the lines clear? Question is; what should I ask the dealer to look at when I take the truck in for servicing.

 

[ionbeam]

Your truck has OBD II and should have set a code that can be read with a scanner. <wild *** guess> I would be thinking more like an issue with the evaporative fuel canister causing an over rich condition. </guess> When the tank is being filled vapors are routed to the evaporative canister. If one of the control valves sticks it is easy to cause too much fumes to be inducted into the intake as the filling tank pushes fumes into the canister.

 

[Fly Bye]

I would look for cracks or loose connections in fuel line or any part of the fuel delivery system.

It is possible that the system is loosing it's prime by sucking air.

 

[C&C]

Have heard this can be caused by the evaporative system purge valve (as ionbeam refers); this can occur without a CEL code being set.

 

[Dutch]

That same thing happens with Toyota trucks and was told not to fill the tank up to the very top.

 

[Fred W]

Your best bet when bringing any vehicle in for service is for you to not tell them what you think they should look for or suspect. If you do, they will do that and change you for it regardless of whether it is a very good idea or not.

Instead, just describe the problem symptoms as best you can, in the highest possible detail, and let them make a determination on what they think the problem would most likely be. It's fine to have your predetermined opinion and compare that to what they tell you, but they are supposed to be the professionals and should know more about it then a bunch of mooks on an internet motorcycle forum.

 

[Redfish Hunter]

I can tell that Fred W does a great deal of troubleshooting for a living. I agree with him completely, as long as the Ford techs are qualified!. Of course, it is excellent advice even if they are not any good.

What he is saying (nicely) is that a professional will know what to look for based on symptoms. Hearing the Wild *** Guesses of an amateur only confuses the issue.

Personally, I think the problem is obvious. You stated it in your very first sentence. "I have a FORD"...

Sorry, I just could not help it. Good luck and please tell us what you find. I am leaning towards Ionbeam's answer, but I would love to know. FWIW, those are excellent trucks. I have several friends that are running the F-150/5.0 V8 and they all love them.

 

[ionbeam]

Your best bet when bringing any vehicle in for service is for you to not tell them what you think they should look for or suspect...just describe the problem symptoms as best you can, in the highest possible detail...

+1

This is also something that a good mechanic needs to understand too. Don't have a preconceived idea of what is wrong and try to find the facts to support your idea. A good mechanic should have a structured troubleshooting plan that will successively lead to the problem. On the job I have had technicians tell me why they think the power supply has low output and tell me in great detail what they have done to find the flaw in the power controller but can't find the problem. It isn't unusual to reach over and turn on the power switch and then it works just fine

 

[Intech]

Mike,

When this occurred did you keep the ignition on and continue to keep cranking? I had a 2007 that did that once. I talked with a buddy of mine who is a Ford technician and if I remember correctly it had something to do with the injectors. If you turn the ignition off completely it should reset. I did that without thinking and mine started right up on the next try. I don't remember whether there was a recall for it, but there was a fix for it if it persisted. Mine never did it again, though.

 

[ice_station_zebra]

Thanks everyone, I'll describe the problem and ask them to check it out. I'll post back and let you all know what it was. I should mention I rarely do a complete fill because I don't use the truck that much, only 50,000 miles in 5 years...

 

[Chuck35]

Don't discount the power of Google. Often there are well known model specific glitches that will turn up with the correct search terms. It could be cheaper to fix it yourself.

 

[FJRacer]

That same thing happens with Toyota trucks and was told not to fill the tank up to the very top.

I've had 13 Toy trucks IF you count the 2 4-runners. Current 07 Tundra owned since new. No such experience. And I tend to cram as much fuel as I can in the top of that long filler neck.

Now as for the 09 company owned HHR I drive periodically; back in the Summer it was doing exactly the same when shut off at the pumps. Only time it would happen. Take it back to the office, shut it off, come back 5-20 mins later, fires up like normal.

Just sayin'!

Edit; It's actually 15 IF you count the -runners.

 

[RaYzerman19]

Seafoam...........

 

[HotRodZilla]

So, 2 things:

1- None of the 2009 Ford trucks have a 5L engine. Either the 4.6L or 5.4L V8 or the V6.

2: Your miles are low, but at 117,xxx miles, the fuel pump in my '07 F150 with the 5.4 went out while sitting in traffic. No warning, no sputtering. It was running one second and dead the next. The fuel pump is located inside the tank, so maybe it's not as much an issue of miles as it is of age. Mine went out almost 2 years ago, which would make them about the same age regarding that issue.

They can test it, but if it's intermittent, they may have issues. I have never heard of a Ford 5.4 having injector problems, so I'm leaning towards a bad pump. It was about $700 to replace.

 

[08FJR4ME]

So, 2 things:
1- None of the 2009 Ford trucks have a 5L engine. Either the 4.6L or 5.4L V8 or the V6.

2: Your miles are low, but at 117,xxx miles, the fuel pump in my '07 F150 with the 5.4 went out while sitting in traffic. No warning, no sputtering. It was running one second and dead the next. The fuel pump is located inside the tank, so maybe it's not as much an issue of miles as it is of age. Mine went out almost 2 years ago, which would make them about the same age regarding that issue.

They can test it, but if it's intermittent, they may have issues. I have never heard of a Ford 5.4 having injector problems, so I'm leaning towards a bad pump. It was about $700 to replace.

I also had the fuel pump go on my old F250 with about 95K on the Odo. They all seem to go around the 100K mark. It was an intermitent problem. For some reason I could usually start the truck the next day until the problem got so persistant it finally had enough and had to be towed. The one thing that bothers me is the two year interval which would lead me away from this issue. But you can plan on changing the fuel pump sooner or later. For me it was $800.00 greenbacks.

RFH, Fords rule just to let you know. you hurt my feelings.

Good luck,

Dave

 

[HotRodZilla]

Yeah...I donno what I was thinking...My truck is a '99. The Expedition is the '07 and the fuel pump in that has been fine.

I still think its a fuel pump issue, but sorry for the screwed up info. I gotta stop drinking or something.

 

[Fred W]

I gotta stop drinking or something.

That's just crazy talk.

 

[Bounce]

AA's for quitters.

 

[HotRodZilla]

---Snicker---