Engine will not start and run?

Engine will crank but won't start. Fuel pump is working and fuel pressure is good. Sprayed starting fluid and still won't start (just to eliminate fuel issue altogether). Replaced spark plugs, checked spark all the way to the plug and it's good. Replaced crank angle sensor, camshaft position sensor, and knock sensor. Still will not start. During attempts to start, it would backfire through the throttle body every now and again but not consistent. Visually checked the timing chain and it appears to be fine. Battery is brand new and was tested. Checked anti-theft system by inserting key in ignition and see that the theft light goes off when attempting to start.

I had it checked for codes and it said I needed a new cam sensor and knock sensor. I have not checked since I replaced those.

Engine is 3.0L

My car started to overheat one day add fluid seemed to be okay. The day it died I was going down the road and all of a sudden the heat gauge went all the way to hot. All the lights came on and it died. Oil and coolant showed low, so I added those. I had it towed and a friend looked at it and changed the crank sensor. Still did not start, I paid a mobile mechanic to run a computer check, came up with codes for a new cam sensor and knock sensor, but he said the engine compression was great on it.

I have a 2002 Ford Escape with 100082 miles on it and a V6 engine. My engine cranks but my car will not start unless I have the gas pedal down. It will not idle. If I remove my foot from the gas pedal the car turns off. I revved the engine for a moment and when it got up to about 4000 rpms it makes a strange whipping noise and the car shakes. I just put over 3000 dollars into a new transmission. I am poor college student and I really don't have the money to spend another large repair. Please tell me this is something simple or what I can start to check.

I changed 2 direct coils that had no spark with 2 known good coils that produce spark. I checked the remaining coils and all 6 produce a good spark now. I changed the spark plugs too but it still will not start. It does turn over and I know that I'm getting fuel b/c I pulled two of the plugs back out and they had fuel on them. I can also smell the raw fuel when I try to start it.
Now a little back ground on this Escape. It is my sister-in-laws vehicle and it had been running very rough. She could not get it to go above 45 mph and the RPMs were running 5K. It also used about a half tank of gas in less than 50 miles and finally stopped running and would not start after that. I assume that it was running on less than 6 cyl. When I pulled the old plugs they all appeared to be fouled and the #2 and #5 plugs were eroded very badly. I thought this was going to be an easy fix! Thanks for your help.

This is to "racefan966".
Like I stated in my post, I have fuel and spark with 4 of the 6 coils. I replaced the 2 bad coils with 2 known good coils and all 6 spark plugs are now new. It still will not start. I tested all 6 coils with a test plug and all six coils produced what looks to be a good spark. So right now I have 6 good coils with 6 new spark plugs and fuel, but it still will not start. It does turn over, but it doesn't sound like any cyl. Are trying to fire.
Yes I have a digital multimeter. Thanks

I have 1.5 v at the plug but more than 5 ohms on the CKP. On the auto scale I show.356 K ohms, but on the manual scale for just ohms I get no continuity. Am I safe to assume that the CKP sensor is bad? What about the two coils that didn't show any spark? Thanks

Was the info I provided sufficient or do you need more?
I will be looking often for your reply as I really need to get this car fixed. Please respond as soon as you can. Thanks
Larrye

Thanks for the info, I'll give this a try and let you know what I find out.

OK, I changed the CKP sensor and it still will not start.
What's next?