I need help! After my '96 Bronco sat about 1 month, it won't start. I have left it much longer in the past with no problems. After I charged the battery, it will turn over like normal, but won't fire. I'm sure it's a simple problem, but I don't know.
Any feedback would be appreciated.

 

First you need to determine why it won't fire. It's either because there is no fuel getting to the engine, or no spark getting to the plugs. Get some starter spray ( I can't remember what the technical name is) but it's an aerosal can that you spray into the throtle body when the engine is cranking (obiously this takes two people) that will burn in the cylinders. If it try's to run, then you know you're getting sparks and it must be a fuel problem, if it doesn't, then you know that you're not getting any spark so it's an electrical problem. See what you find and we can go from there.

 

I used some ether in the air intake and it fired up, but would not continue running (problem just burning off the ether). What would be the best way to check fuel flow? I read something about grounding the fuel pump to determine it was running (also to listen for it whining within a second or two when ignition is turned on). I'll try this today. Any other suggestions?
Thanks,

 

That's true. Just turn the key to the "run" position and you should hear a humming sound for a second or two right below your feet on the frame rail (at least that's where it is on my '89). Odds are that the fuel pump relay went bad. It's located in the engine compartment near the computer testing onnection, along with a few other relays. Find the correct one and then you can check this the easy way by listening for it to click on when you turn it to the run position. However, since there is more than one relay under the hood, you'll hear quite a few clicks. It's easier if you can have someone actually touch the fuel pump relay to see if they feel it click on when you turn the key. If it doesn't then you've found your problem. If it does, then either the fuel pump is bad or it's not getting a good connection (either positive or negative). Hope this helps and let me know what you find.

 

Fuel pressure regulator? BIG vaccum leak? PCV valve? Mass air flow disconnect? In my efforts to work on my rig, all of these would affect something...

 

No luck yet. The relay is clicking. A friend suggested changing the fuel filter again. I changed it a couple of years ago (only about 5,000 miles ago), but I did it anyway. No luck. I have not been able to hear the fuel pump running when turning the ignition on from the cab (usually don't have anyone to help). Next, I guess I'll attempt to ground out the fuel pump terminal on the diagnostic DLC under the hood to run the pump constantly. My DLC terminals look different from the one in the service manual I've been using (Haynes Ford Truck and Bronco '80-96). Do you know which it may be (I am concerned that if I ground the wrong one, I'll fry the electrical system--my kind of luck lately)? If that doesn't work, I'll try the connections feeding the pump. If all else fails, should I drop the tank or let the dealer rob me, I mean fix it (ie. is it an easy to moderate fix)?
Thanks,
--LR.
'96 Bronco, 351, 6" Superlift, 36" Swampers

 

Oh man, I just remembered the second half of my same problem. There is a fuseable link (at least on my '89) from the starter solenoid to the fuel pump, which is where the relay gets it's power. Although you say that your relay is clicking, maybe the power source of the relay isn't going through. Look at the color wire going to the relay and find the same color on the starter solenoid (near the battery). About 12 inches from the solenoid, there should be a thinner piece of wire spliced into the power wire. This is the fuseable link. It's a primative form of a regular fuse where the thin piece of wire breaks when overloaded or in this case, if it's just old. Splice in a nes link or put in a fuse holder. I remember that this problem drove me NUTS because I didn't know about the fuse. I don't know if this setup is the same as yours, but maybe it will help. Good luck.