Engine will crank motor is not getting fuel - 1998 Mercury Tracer

There could be a few reasons why your car's crankshaft may not be turning at the correct speed. One possibility is that the engine may not be getting the fuel it needs to run correctly. If the engine isn't getting the fuel it needs, it may not crank properly or at all. Another possibility is that there could be a problem with the crankshaft itself. In this case, you would likely need to replace the crankshaft.

I guess you mean it cranks good but won't start? Cranking is starter motor cranking the engine. Make sure battery has a full charge and connections all good. Did you use a gage and check proper fuel pressure, key on engine off? You could try cycling the key on and off several times before you crank it, see if it helps? Another thought is to do a voltage drop test on some of the fuel components, fuel pump--fuel injectors. Engine cranking the systems get battery voltage. Engine running the systems get generator voltage, the gen voltage can be several volts higher than battery. Just a thought.

This is wiring for 2.5 and 4.0L engine, fuel pump. You can see wire colors, at the pump motor, top wire is voltage, bottom wire is ground. If voltage and ground is good and no pump action, suspect the fuel pump, check with engine cranking. Let the starter motor cool a little between cranking. Battery has a full charge and connections all good? Are you missing anything besides fuel? Engine cranking you have spark at the plugs and fuel injector pulse? Can you check for any applicable trouble codes?

is the engine light on or other warning lights glowing

if so there are fault codes in the ecu to be read

can be a fuse
or fuel delivery to the motor
or coil /spark problem

Make sure battery has a full charge. Cranking is starter motor action, meaning the starter motor is cranking the engine. If the starter motor won't crank the engine, then we need to test starter motor wiring circuits.
If it cranks good, but, won't start, have a helper crank it while you check for spark at the spark plugs, where applicable. If spark everywhere, use a gage and check proper fuel pressure and also, check for fuel injector pulse, engine cranking.
Can you check for applicable trouble codes?
I can only make suggestions, you have to do the testing. I give the same info to guys and gals, I don't know how to do it any other way.

engine cranks but won't run may be caused by either fuel delivery or ignition issue. are you sure when you had the motor rebuilt that the shop put the cam and crank on correct engine timing?

which engine?
post the symptoms, please.
my guess, it wont start?
or stalls?
and spark is 100% good (tests)
and now you suspect fueling system loss?
fuel is last check.
after good engine, good spark and if good , try test fuel (spray)
if motor starts for 3second test fuel, then you have lost fueling
we then do the fuel pressure checks in the FSM , every step, (6)
we check pressure cranking, many engines must crank to get fuel..

To clarify, the engine cranks and starts. If it cranks but won't start until 4 or 5 tries, I would check the fuel pressure before and after the first attempt. The check valve in the pump may be faulty and allowing the fuel to flow back to the tank when it is not running. The pump only gets power for the first 3 seconds during crank time until the engine starts.

It's very likely your fuel pump has failed. Have somebody thump on the fuel tank while you're cranking the engine and see if it starts. If it does, replace the fuel pump. Otherwise get your fuel pressure checked, and check for spark. If no spark, check to make sure the distributor is turning(if applicable) If a 3.3 motor with no spark, suspect the crank sensor or cam sensor. Crank sensor is much easier to replace if experimenting.

Nate, I'm not sure what you mean when you say,"I can get it to whine but not turn over. The starter is trying to get it to turn, but I don't think it is getting any gas".

Separate and aprt from not getting any gas is the fact( if I understande you correctly) that the motor is not being cranked by the starter motor. You say "it whines". You are referring to the starter motor, right? the starter motor should not "whine". If this is what's happening by guess is the Bendix spring in the starter motor is broken. The bendix spring is a heavy spring that is mounter on s worm gear in the starter motor. When you go to start the motor by turning the key the starter motor turn and the spring travels down this worm gear and engages tthe geared flywheel and cranks the engine. As soon as the engine starts the flywheel is now turning the bendix spring faster that the starter motor and the spring kicks back to its original position. If the spring is broken it never engages the flywheel and the engine wont crank.
The fact that you say the starter "whines" is what I would expect you to hear if the starter is at fault.

As far as no fuel flow there are 2 ifs: if you have an electric fuel pump, then there is a problem in the fuel flow. If you do not have a electric pump then the fuel pump runs off of the engines motion and since the engine is not cranking, the pump is not pumping and the fuel is not flowing.

Anything else you can add before we conclude that the starter has to come off?

Loringh