94 Ford Ranger 4 liter, 4x4, 5 spd.

My son is having an intermittent starting problems with his 94 Ford Ranger. The truck starts well when it is cold. Sometimes after the truck has run for period of time and the engine is good and warm and the engine is then turned off it will then not restart (i.e. the engine will turn over but not fire) until it has sat for some time. So far he has replaced the fuel inertia switch, fuel relay, temperature sensor and the crank sensor, but the problem persists. On a couple of occasions when the no-start situation arose he has disconnected the battery for a couple of minutes and then the truck would start. In addition he has also noticed with the no-start situation that the fuel pump is not running. I have done a search on this forum and found that the PCM power relay or the EEC relay may be causing this problem. Is this the relay that is located next to the fuel relay?

Other than this nagging problem the truck runs well and is in good condition.

Any suggestions or comments as to what the problem could be will be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

Welcome to FTE!!!

The EEC relay is in the power distribution box along with the fuel pump relay. I'm not sure why you're not hearing the fuel pump prior to starting; any chance you replaced the EEC relay and not the fuel pump relay? Both can cause intermittent no-start conditions. The next time it happens, take your finger and snap the relay's one at a time and try starting. Not a very professional method of diagnostics I know, but it's one that sometimes works.

 

Bill,
Thank you for the quick reply. Will get the EEC relay tomorrow and see what happens. What does the EEC relay do or control?
---
Al

 

Electronic Engine Control, it delivers power to the computer.

 

Bill,
One more question. If the ECC relay fails (intemittent or otherwise) would the engine still turn over?
Thanks,
---
Al

 

Just one word, and based on personal experience, "yes".

 

I should have answered this long ago. Yes, we replaced the ECC cost about $13 and it fixed the problem.

 

Man -o- Man, I'm have the same problem again. I replaced the fuel pump relay a few months ago and it seemed to do the trick. Friday night it did again but never restarted. Went back Sat. night w/tools. Wouldn't start. Pulled a plug wire, held a gap and had my wife crank. No spark, than slipped while she was cranking and grounded the wire. Son of gun, had spark and was running on 5 cyls. Had her shut it off, replace wire and recranked. No go. Tried simulate to no avail. I'm picking up a EEC relay tonight! I'll let you guys know what happens!

 

GEOB,
I hope it solves your problem too.

 

Went back to start the Ranger & it only cranked. Replaced EEC Relay and it started it right up. Thanks guys!!