truck won't start

[hambone_01_7]

I have a 96 with an automatic transmission and 350,000 on the dial. Have had the truck for over 100,000 without any problems other than a hose leak and a few fuses blown. This morning as i was headed to work i noticed the engine was getting a little hot, not to the red but not far from it. I pulled into the gas station and killed it so i could ad some coolant, it was about half a jug of coolant low. When i went to start it it wouldn't fire. Would turn over just not fire. Shot it with a little shot of ether(i know it's not good) nothing either. I noticed my oil was low, about half an inch on the stick. Would this cause the hpop not to fire the injectors or would it me something more major?

[sputnik801]

Have you ever replaced the CPS (can position sensor)? If you have my luck, that may be bad and completly NOT related to the temp issue.

[hambone_01_7]

the mechanic ran a scan on it and it didn't show up bad

[sputnik801]

Somebody with more knowledge than I could answer this: How are the cam & crank meshed together? Chain or direct gearing? I know from history with cars from the 60's when the timing chain stretched it would get out of time & possibly run hot. One time I shut my '69 Skylark off & it wouldn't start again because the stretched out chain jumped a few teeth on the gear.........

[TexasR.N.]

Originally Posted by sputnik801

Have you ever replaced the CPS (can position sensor)? If you have my luck, that may be bad and completly NOT related to the temp issue.

Not a bad idea to replace it or at least carry a spare. I don't know if a bad CPS will throw a code.

Originally Posted by hambone_01_7

I noticed my oil was low, about half an inch on the stick. Would this cause the hpop not to fire the injectors or would it me something more major?

Did you fill the oil back up to the appropriate level?

Do you have fuel in your fuel bowl?

I just have to ask because it's happened before.........................do you have fuel in your tanks?

Craig

[STANGMAN893]

If you are in the area of 8 qts low it will not start.Once you top it it off it will take a while to restart due to the oil firing off the fuel and having some air in there.I had one bad oil o-ring on my 02 7.3 and would use 4 qts in abut 40 miles.It mixes with the fuel and burns right out the tail pipe and is hard to see.I lucked out by having good friends and work at a ford dealer.The cps going bad will store a code but no check engine light and make sure the fuel bowl heater didn't blow the eec fuse cause that will do the same thing.Good luck.

[hambone_01_7]

turns out it was just because it was low on oil...did an oil change and presto, it fired right up

[retmotor]

Originally Posted by TexasR.N.

Not a bad idea to replace it or at least carry a spare. I don't know if a bad CPS will throw a code...

When mine went out it did not throw a code, I checked.

Originally Posted by hambone_01_7

turns out it was just because it was low on oil...did an oil change and presto, it fired right up

Good to hear you got it running.

[TexasR.N.]

X2, glad to hear you are running again.

Craig

[ntp888]

Hi
I got a code for CPS. Where is it located and is it a DIY type project?
Thanks
Nick