I have a 1998 3.8L v6 stang, that's giving me troubles. Was running good, besides a little hesitant to start. I stayed the weekend at a friends house and Monday morning went to leave and it would not start. Drove it all weekend around town though. Engine light is on and the only code I remember seeing was either crankshaft or camshaft position sensor, don't remember which. At his house I replaced the camshaft position sensor and got no result. It does turn over strong, just won't start. After a day of fooling with it, I towed it home. It's been sitting here a week now, and I still can't figure this out. I've talked to a mechanic about a few things and this is what I have done:

Checked fuel pressure-got very little. Order a new pump, and it was the wrong one. I found this out after dropping the tank and removing the old pump. Which still isn't very old as it has been replaced before. I got someone to turn the key with the pump in hand and connected. The pump cut on and primed like it should(old one). So I put everything back together tank and all. Primed the pump a few times to fill the fuel filter(also new) and checked pressure again. I expected the same minimal amount to flow out. I got sprayed in the face with gas. It shot 2 feet. So I know I got pressure when I at least prime it. New fuse and the relay is good.
I've checked spark and it seems okay. Had my hand too close..
I've also replaced the crankshaft position sensor and wires. Needed the wires but the sensor was replaced because I couldn't remember which code was thrown at the parts store.

The car will crank up and run fine as long as I'm spraying starter fluid into the intake. But it won't without it. So I believe I have pressure, I know I've got spark, but nothing. I've unplugged the master airflow thing and no change.

Should I rent a fuel pressure gauge anyway? And what else could I possibly do?

 

sounds like a fuel issue if it runs fine on starter fluid. something is causing the pump to loose prime. You may have a hole in the fuel line in the tank causing a loss of pressure.

 

I can prime it, and come back an hour later and I've still got pressure at the Schrader valve. I do agree with it being a fuel problem but I don't know. The theft light is blinking fast and constantly. I took the anti theft fuse out and the light stopped blinking, but it didn't change the starting situation.

 

The anti theft usually cuts spark not fuel. I would try pulling any codes again. also verify the pump is staying on not cutting out after you prime it.

 

I was wondering about that, while I had the tank dropped and taken apart I had the pump in my hand, got someone to turn the key and I felt the pump prime. But when he started to crank the car, the pump didn't do anything else. Only primed and never came back on. I wasn't sure if it was supposed to come back on, or if the car had to fire up before the pump would come back on.

 

Just checked spark at the plugs, that's good. But dry. No fuel to the plugs but I've got pretty good pressure at the Schrader valve.

 

It should be pumping fuel constantly once key is in run position. You said the car runs with starter fluid, so unless your injectors or harness is bad its your pump

 

I was hoping it wasn't. But I kinda thought it could be. I'll stick a new one in there and reply with the results. Thank you for getting on this post so quick.

 

ok, so it may not be you pump. It may be your injectors or harness.

 

I was told something along those lines by a friend of mine. I don't understand what could cause it though. Running fine the night before and the next morning no start. Would injectors all go out at once?