I am looking for some advice on my new purchase. I recently aquired a 1996 ranger that has been slammed including many mods. One of the mods was a new fuel tank from a mustang. Not sure what pump assembly was used. This tank was installed before the bed was put into place. Will be a major project if I need to access the pump. It has the stock 4-banger (2.3 liter) in it and there are some problems. It doesn't run. It will start and run for about 4-5 seconds and then shuts off like it is out of fuel. After cranking it for about 20 seconds, it will repeat the cycle. I have plenty of fuel in the tank. The pump is operating when it should after a wiring repair. The wiring to the inertia switch was cut and by-passed directly to ignition 12 VDC for some reason and the fuel relay was missing. I have replaced the fuel filter and checked the fuel pressure at the schrader valve. The pressure will not hold. It bleeds down rapidly after the pump shuts off. I am thinking that the check valve in the tank may be leaking. Any one with ideas??

I did also do a code scan on it today and it returned a PO340 which is a camshaft position sensor error. I checked the wiring and cleaned the pickup end since it was covered with metal shavings?? This did not help the situation.

 

Here a guess. I bought a junked ranger and it would start for about 5 seconds and then quit. fuel pressure was dropping and here is what i found. when you first turn key to "on" the fuel pump builds pressure and then stops(enough to get it started). then when motor starts it switches to run and the fuel pump runs as necessary to keep fuel pressure up. Someone had taken the fuel pump relay out and hence no pressure after start. put a new relay in and all was ok. Problelly not you problem but might give you some ideas.
Dave

 

I have traced out the wiring for the fuel pump circuit and replaced the fuel relay with the same results. There is little pressure at the fuel rail when the pump kicks on. I can get it to build pressure if I cycle the key on and off but the pressure decays quickly. Could this be the pressure regulator?? Has anyone had a similar problem??

 

Well it seens to have been “reworked” for some reason. What engine do you have? Also if you turn the key to on and don’t start it what is the fuel pressure reading and if you turn off the key without starting it how long does the fuel pressure stay up?. It sounds like the fuel pump isn’t running or its not able to get the fuel to the injectors. What is that about shavings found?
Dave257

 

Here is the latest.....

Cam sensor was replaced. We now have fuel pressure... Replaced Fuel pump... Holding @ 40 PSI... The truck is starting a little easier but it still only runs for approx. 10 sec and shuts down..... Popping through intake and exhaust as well. I am kinda leaning toward timing but am not sure. Any creative thoughts?

 

if it's popping through the intake and exhaust at the same time, here's a quick idea... you have the 2.3 with dual coils. if your primary coil is lazy... (bad) it will fire to slow causing all sorts of firing errors. but if you switch it for the secondary coil, the truck should start and run albeit with less power, try taking the coil that fires the plugs for the exhaust side and installing it on the other side, leaving the exhaust side plugs unfired... might not be the right answer, but at least there's no money invested in parts.