My 88 300TE wouldn't start yesterday after running fine earlier. Turns over fine, I put a spare spark plug in #1 wire and laid it on the manifold to ground it and it is showing a good spark. The fuel pump is getting power and it runs for a second when you first turn on the key (then shuts off - I assume it has reached full pressure) When cranking, the fuel pump runs, but no start!

For some time now, I have been hearing a slight backfire on starting. It starts, little backfire and dies, then a bit of cranking and it starts and runs fine. Same thing this time, a little backfire, but this time it won't start. I have at least a half a tank of fuel.

It appears to me that fuel is not getting to the cylinders. Is there a filter or trap that could be clogged? Any suggestions for a fix would be very warmly welcomed.

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