hi all, my buddy has an 88 f250 with a 460 in it. the problem we are having is that it will not run(by itself). i pulled the check engine code which pointed to a faulty throttle position sensor(23) would this keep the engine from running? if i put a couple drops of gas into the throttle body, it runs. i also did the fuel pump test by grounding the plug the fuel pump runs. there is fuel in the rails as well.
any help pointing me in the right direction would be greatly appreciated.

Being an 88, this truck should have two fuel pumps. Most trucks and vans 87-89 had a low pressure transfer pump in the tank which supplied fuel to the high pressure pump which is mounted externally to the frame rail under the drivers seat toward the front. If the in tank pump goes bad, the high pressure pump cant suck enough fuel thru it to maintain enough pressure. If the high pressure pump goes bad, the in tank pump doesnt supply enough pressure to the system. Which pump are you testing? When you say theres fuel in the rail, have you checked the fuel pressure? Pressure at idle should be around 30-35# and around 40 wot. Check both pumps and the fuel pressure before buying the throttle pos sensor. It may in fact be bad if youre getting that code, but it shouldnt keep it from starting.

1.the rear pump ran when i grounded the fp test pin, also i hear the front pump kick on when the ign is on.
2.i didnt think the tp sensor would keep it from running but i was not sure.
3. i could not check the fuel pressure because the car only ran when i trickled gas into the tb.
4. it seems there is another problem keeping the injectors from turning on. is it possible the computer is bad? is there something i can test to see if the injectors are getting a pulse?
5. so far i have determined it is a fuel problem. the truck should run poorly even if the pressure is low,it should at least fire on its own?