There should be a fuel pressure port on the fuel rail.  Rent a pressure gauge at Autozone and see what you have.  Check specs for your particular engine - Ford used different pressures over the years.  It is not unusual to see some drop in pressure after the initial pump prime so try to measure during the pump prime cycle.  It might take two people.  A clogged filter will often build pressure during prime and might even let it idle.  A no-start would tend to point to the pump.

Shoot some ether into the throttle body and see if it starts.  If it does you aren't getting fuel.  Could be a fuel pump, could be something else, but at least its narrowed down to fuel.  Disconnect the fuel line from the filter (back half is easier on an F250 IME).  Direct the line into a bucket and cycle the key.  If it puts out fuel the pump is fine and the issue is elsewhere.  If the pump doesn't run be sure to trouble shoot the electrical side (make sure you have keyed 12V and a good ground at the pump) before just replacing the pump.  Post back if needed.  I have an '07 F250 with a 5.4 and know that generation of truck quite well (I also have an '06 with a 6.0).  

MS wrote:

Be sure the fuel pump interrupt switch has not been triggered. Do they still use those, like the foxbody had? A big pothole or a minor collision could trigger it. Pushing the reset button would get it going again.
As others stated, listed for the pump to run for the prescribed five seconds at startup. If it does not sense pressure in five seconds, it won’t start.

 
I had to relocate mine in the capri I had I could set it off when I took off sometimes.
 

I believe they are in the passenger's side kickpanel in 2000.  They finally got smart and put them someplace not easily hit with a foot, etc.  One of my employees has a 2000ish ranger and it wouldn't run.  Thought he ran out of gas, no dice.  Thought the fuel pump was bad (no fuel, couldn't hear it run), so he replaced it, but didn't check to see if he had voltage at the plug.  New pump wouldn't run.  I reset the inertia switch for him and she fired right off.  Not the first time I've seen an issue like that, so I always advise checking for power before just assuming the pump is bad.  On older vehicles where you could replace just the pump and it was only like $40 it wasn't that bad, but now you end up being forced to buy the whole fuel module, which is like $200.  Diagnosis saves money.  

Last edited by TKOPerformance (6/07/2025 5:22 AM)

Well that part's good then, but you are still stuck with 35 gallons of gas in the tank you have to get out, and then drop the tank.  If you have the facilities another option is to pull the bed, or get it raised off the frame enough to work on the tank.