1999 Expedition XLT (5.4L) Crank No Start after a couple of years sitting.

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JohnKB

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Hello! Im typically a chevy guy but i received a 1999 Expedition XLT with the big Triton in running in-service condition at the beginning of 2024 when my former employer collapsed, I had to park it at the time due to financial constraints but have recently been getting it road ready again as it is(was) quite comfortable to drive and i need a 5-seater. it has approximately 150k on it, full top end rebuild was performed about a year before acquisition.

After installing a new battery, checking the rollover switch, went to start and got nowhere, it cranks kinda slow and in my experience all triton V8s from econolines to this old beast sound kinda funky during cranking so im not expecting a mechanical fault currently. Fuel pump would not run, replaced it just now and it has pressure to the fuel rail at the injectors, dont have the tooling to measure it but it spits up damn far when pushing in on the core. PCM does communicate to DLC and i get no codes besides OBD System readiness. It is Coil on Plug, not sure where to proceed with diagnostics. All cluster lights and indications are functional, All gauges run sweep test with key on. Any ideas y'all?
 

Gary Waugh

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I would try running a compression check on each cylinder, a valve might have rusted and not be closing. You need fuel, compression and spark. The coils are unlikely to fail from sitting. The injectors can gum up, ethanol fuel will turn into caramel quite quickly and jam things. Check compression, assume you have spark, then consider removing and cleaning/replacing the injectors. You could also try spraying easy start into the inlet manifold and crank to see if it tries to start, that would also confirm a lack of fuel.
 
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JohnKB

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Good Points, When spraying the good flammable brake clean into the throttle body it did bark off a couple of times so i may start with pulling the injectors. with a recent top end rebuild i dont think it would be rusted up that quick no? im unfamiliar with the top end configuration/lube circuit on these so i'll try to dig up my compression tester at some point and do that as well.
 
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JohnKB

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I would try running a compression check on each cylinder, a valve might have rusted and not be closing. You need fuel, compression and spark. The coils are unlikely to fail from sitting. The injectors can gum up, ethanol fuel will turn into caramel quite quickly and jam things. Check compression, assume you have spark, then consider removing and cleaning/replacing the injectors. You could also try spraying easy start into the inlet manifold and crank to see if it tries to start, that would also confirm a lack of fuel.
Oh and are these a 3 valve motor for this year?
 
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