Trying to fix a buddies truck. Here's the scoop. 86 SuperCab Ranger, single tank, 2.3 Fuel Inj., 5-speed, 2WD, 150,XXX miles. He bought it after sitting a year. Has replaced plugs, plug wires, cap, rotor, TFI module, air filter, fuel filter. He would drive to work (30-40 minutes) and it would start losing power, cutting out, then die. He said he would turn the key on and off and it would start up and get him the rest of the way. I said fuel pump. He bought high pressure pump (one on frame) and we put it on. Truck ran great for 10-15 minutes then died. After priming the pump to get it started, it would run for 3-5 minutes. Repeated for about 5 hours. Unhooked everything. No restrictions. Could hear pick-up pump in tank humming away. Would get restarted and would listen to pumps as it started dieing. Both where humming away. Let sit over night. Today, hooked up fuel pressure gauge. Started up and hit 30 psi. Removed vacuum from regulator and jumped to 40 psi. Rehooked. Sat around for 10-15 watch gauge. Then it started to twitch. Unhooked regulator. Stumbled, jump to 35 psi. Rehooked. Went back to 30 psi and slowly just went to 0 psi and died. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Sounds like you're describing a faulty pressure regulator. When you pull the vacuum hose off it, is there any gas leaking from the fpr?

 

Not that I seen. Will go fiddle with that. Just did a leak-down test. Primed pump to 40 psi. After about 5 minutes it was around 25 psi. I was told the lift pump in the tank is the culprit. Does that sound right?

 

Add my name to the stumped list too. I am having some similar issues. I don't know if any of the info in my post will help you.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=231497

I don't know if your issues have anything to do with the inertia switch, it sounds more like what Dealford said. Could be bad FPR.

 

This may be totally off-track, but I used to have a Datsun 280ZX that would die off and on, and it ended up being a cracked coil. It would run fine until it got really warm, and then (I'm guessing) the heat would make the coil expand enough that the crack opened up and the car would die. I'd have to pull over, and wait until it cooled down enough to run again.

But, since you're seeing weird fuel pressure it's probably not the same problem.

 

Seems possible.
I was just having thoughts about disconnecting the fuel line before the hi-pressure pump and aiming it into a gas can and letting the in-tank pump run.
If the engine has run for 10-15 minutes, that's when the problem occurs? So, run it, then shut it off & set up the gas can gig. If the pump is going to fail, it should happen before the gas can (5gal) fills up?yes?

 

Hmm...sounds like a good theory. That made me think. When I was disconnecting lines and I disconnected the feed from tank to that deal (vapor seperator?) between it and high pressure pump no fuel came out. Would prime pumps to get fuel flowing and shut it off. Since the line was below the tank it was siphoning out at a steady rate. Shouldn't the flow stop since pump was stopped? Which pump holds pressure in the lines?

 

I agree that this would be a good test. Just be VERY aware that you will be dealing with open fumes and gasoline. Watch out for sparks, static electricity, or any other source of ignition. Have a class 2 (minimum) fire extinguisher handy.

 

Sorry. I meant a class B ext. One that is rated for fuels.

 

FoMoCo_Rlz - Sorry to be asking quesions in your post, but no one seems to be answering the most important question I have in my post. Where on the Rangers do you measure fuel pressure? I have a FP gauge that I bought today and I don't see any fitting to connect to up on the fuel rail. Where is this thing?????

 

The schrader valve on my 97 2.3 is on the top of the fuel rail right close to the front. They look alot like a tire valve with a plastic cap on it.....
.....The in-tank pump should have the check valve in it to keep fuel in the entire system.

 

Dealford - Thanks for the info, but I hate to say this does not help. Your 97' must be different than my 88' 2.3L. I think my truck will closely resemble the 86' 2.3L that FoMoCo_Rlz is working on for his buddy. I don't know what happened to my signature that use to say what truck I have. I read the instructions that came in the FP gauge kit that I bought that refers to this Schrader valve, the trouble is, it can't be found. I have been all over the area where the manifold is and where the fuel rail goes under it. The front end is right behind the alt and the FPR sits right around the 2nd injector. What am I missing, or is the 88' just a fuel injected version of a R/H stepchild?

I am not sure who the second sentence was for? Is there a way to test the proper operation of the in-tank pump?

 

Sorry for the late reply, Wraith. It's on the fuel rail behind the intake manifold toward the firewall, not front of truck. Where the lines come in on your fuel rail, it should be right next to the first injector. It took forever to find mine. Had a black cap on it. Unscrew it and should resemble a bicycle valve perfectly. Becareful screwing on the adapter. Take it slow or you will tear the little o-ring. I did. When to parts store and got one size bigger than stock o-ring. Works great. If you do tear the o-ring, be careful that the depression pin doesn't fall out. Mine did and I almost lost it. Back to fuel pressure check valve, it angles towards the passenger side. If you still can't find it, let me know and I will take a pic tonignt on my digital and send it to you. I'm going to replace the lift-pump and see if that cures the problem. I will definitely let you know. Later.

 

Bump for Wraith

 

I think I found it. If It is what I was looking at, I could just see it looking from the driver's side between the manifold and some large solinoid mounted to the TB. I could not get a good hand on it..... so let me guess, you have to remove the upper part of the intake manifold with the TB just to get to it? Part of the problem was the prop rod for the hood is in the way.

I am not so sure I will learn anything from the pressure since my latest tests.
1) removed inertia switch plug and run a paperclip between the two contacts. No change.
2) removed the vacuum line on the FPR to see if there is any fuel in there. Nothing, and still no start with it unplugged.
3) have my wife sit in the truck and turn the key to "ON" with my ear up to the fuel tank. Big mistake! My ear is still ringing the in-tank pump buzzed for a second then let out this noise that I can only describe as a f@rt under water. Like it was releasing pressure back into the tank, and there was no sound after that.
4) hold my last good ear AWAY from the high pressure pump and listen. It buzzed for 1-2sec and then cut off (about the same time the other noise is occurring inside the tank).

Also, I guess I just never paid attention to it but that filter/container??? that sits between the tank and the high pressure pump is a vapor canister???? Is it supposed to do anything?