Need help 2002 Ranger 3.0 runs great but sometimes when you shut it off and go to start it, it stumbles and dies. Let it sit for awhile and it starts right up and runs great, when it acts up it will not start after repeated tries. usually this happens after it has been run for awhile. Thanks for any advice.

 

Do you have a CEL lit, if so, most autoparts stores will pull trouble codes at no cost, then post All trouble code Numbers found, as they can offer up good trouble shooting clues.

If no code clues, it takes air, fuel, compression & spark to make em run, so you need to trouble shoot to find whats going missing when its acting out.

Could be several things, but since it seems to run ok after it starts & acts out after a shutdown, right now it sounds like a fuel, or fuel delivery problem. So, since its winter time, did this poblem come about suddenly after some event, like right after fueling up????
If so, & the no re-start is always right after a hot shut down, maybe you got a tank of out of spec low vapor pressure winter fuel, thats boiling in the fuel rail, if so, it'll go away after refilling with an in spec fuel????

Next time it acts out, what happens if you cycle the ignition switch from Off to On/Run 4-5 times & pause at Run long enough each time to have the fuel pump run & shut off (about 2 seconds) to have the fuel pump prime the system, Before going to Start to crank the engine??? If it'll start ok each time after priming, suspect a fuel delivery problem, maybe a wimpy fuel pump, maybe a clogged fuel filter, so when its in one of its no start fits, perform a fuel pressure & delivery volume over time test, at the under hood fuel rail schrader valve test port & post up the numbers.

Is the engine cranking speed up to spec on the restart??? If it seems kinda slow/wimpy, have an electrical system load test done, to make sure the alternator, battery & battery cables & their connections are up to the task. Low battery voltage can cause all sorts of starting problems this time of year.

Is this a flex fuel 3.0L???? If so, are you using E-85????

Is the vehicle up to date on All past & present due scheduled maintenance replacement items, with the specified plugs, wires, filters & fluids????

A bunch of thoughts for consideration, let us know how your trouble shoot goes.

 

Thanks for the reply Paw Paw, it is a non flex fuel 3.0 has been meticulously maintained since new, has only 51,000 miles, though I have not changed the fuel filter,I think I will start there, There are no codes. I did not put a press gage on the fuel rail but when I pushed in the valve fuel came shooting out, I will check press, change filter and go from there thanks again.

 

OK, good feedback, checking fuel pressure when its acting out sounds like a good plan, as does changing the fuel filter, as with 51k on it, its lived almost 2 lifetimes.

So, if the fuel in your area isn't clean, it could be clogging up, but if it was bad enough to cause starting problems, you should be finding low delivery rate causing the engine to be wimpy on a steep hill climb, or laying down on hard wot accelerations!!!!

If your having off throttle idling problems, say its idling low, or rough, like it wants to stall when sitting at a stop light, or when you turn the steering wheel & the P/S pump loads the engine, or the A/C pump cycles on, put an acting out IAC on your suspect list. Let us know what you find.