Hi everyone,

I've got a 2000 Ranger with the 3.0 liter V-6, manual tranny, and about 41,000 miles on it. It's been a long, cold snowy winter here in Omaha, but my Ranger hasn't so much as flinched on start-up...until this afternoon that is.

I took it to school this morning and got back home around 10 AM. When I went out to start it up around 2:30 PM, it cranked but did not start. It has failed to start up on the first try a few times, but this time it wouldn't start. I've checked the battery, the spark plug wires, and made sure that the fuel pump shut off switch hasn't been tripped. All of the electrical stuff is okay, lights light and bells toll. A few times the motor sputtered and shook like it was going to start, but after about a second it just died. I can hear the fuel pump turning on when I turn on the ignition and I can smell the fuel when I'm trying to get it started. So, I don't think it is a fuel problem.

It has been rainy, damp and cold here for the last couple of days, so maybe some moisture has built up somewhere that would keep it from starting?

I did drive it harder than I usually do on the way home from school this morning. I was getting onto the accelerator and cranking up the RPM's relatively high, (close to 4,000 - high for me). I'm kind of hoping that maybe the engine is just flooded and that maybe I shut it down while the idle was still high and every time I turn it on, it's just not getting any better.

Would moisture in the air keep the fuel in the engine from evaporating? If it doesn't start tomorrow morning, I'm planning on pulling the plugs this weekend.


Anyone have any ideas or suggestions? Thanks for your time.

Judge

 

Since your smelling fuel and hear the pump I would suspect an ignition problem, I would start by checking for spark. Do you know anyone with an ODBII scanner for pulling the computer codes?

 

Ken,

No, unfortunately I don't know anyone with a scanner to pull the codes. I'm pretty convinced it has something to do with the plugs. I read on this board that the coil terminals don't fail very often, so no spark is about the only explanation. I probably won't have a chance to dig into it until Friday but I sure am hoping it's not something pricey!

Thanks,

Judge

 

I am elated and embarassed. I had to run a movie back to the store tonight, so I thought I'd give the old Ranger another try. I re-read the manual and especially the part that says if the engine doesn't start after two attempts, press the accelerator 1/3 to 1/2 of the way to the floor then turn the key to start and gradually release the accelerator as the engine RPM's rise. I'm happy to say that it worked. The accelerator felt "dead" for lack of a better term, but the engine started and within about 5 seconds I was able to release the accelerator and the engine was idling happily on it's own. So, I'm happy that the engine started and apparently there is nothing wrong with it, but embarrassed that I didn't read the manual carefully and exhaust all of the simple steps before assuming the worst.

So the question I'm left with is this: What happened and why does this procedure work? Should I be concerned about it, or is this relatively "normal"? Thanks again everyone!

Judge

 

Pressing the pedal down a bit would help to clear a flooded condition.