running rough... fuel problems??

[cscott9016]

I have a 86 ranger 2.9. It randomly starts to sputter and loose power (sometimes dies)when idling and when driving at low speeds (under 35). Revving or accelerating usually fixes this temporarily. I can hear the fuel pumps running and have already replaced the canister filter and fp relay.

I don't think its getting enough fuel.
Any ideas?

 

[Terry]

I have a 86 ranger 2.9. It randomly starts to sputter and loose power (sometimes dies)when idling and when driving at low speeds (under 35). Revving or accelerating usually fixes this temporarily. I can hear the fuel pumps running and have already replaced the canister filter and fp relay.

I don't think its getting enough fuel.
Any ideas?

Did you replace the fuel filter on the frame rail?

 

[mk42gunner]

I went through pretty much the same thing on my new to me 88. It turned out it was the intank fuel pump. The only way I for sure found out what it was was to buy a fuel pressure guage and when the truck died, I immediately checked the fuel pressure.

After pulling it home the last time, I got under it and had my daughter turn on the key while I was touching both the HP pump and the fuel tank. The HP pump operated; the tank was quiet.

Good Luck,

Robert

 

[cscott9016]

I thought there were 2 fuel filter, but could only find 1. I replaced the canister filter on the rail because I didn't.see the other 1.

 

[cscott9016]

I went through pretty much the same thing on my new to me 88. It turned out it was the intank fuel pump. The only way I for sure found out what it was was to buy a fuel pressure guage and when the truck died, I immediately checked the fuel pressure.

After pulling it home the last time, I got under it and had my daughter turn on the key while I was touching both the HP pump and the fuel tank. The HP pump operated; the tank was quiet.

Good Luck,

Robert

Was your intermittent at first? Mine will start right back up when it dies.

 

[Dugan]

Sounds just like my month long issue I was trying to find... In tank fp filter ...

 

[armadillon]

Sounds just like my month long issue I was trying to find... In tank fp filter ...

*snicker*

 

[cscott9016]

Replaced the in tank fuel pump. Will see if that fixed it. I thought it was weird that my gas gauge still doesn't work.

 

[mk42gunner]

Was your intermittent at first? Mine will start right back up when it dies.

Somewhat. The guy I bought it from said that "sometimes it would miss." I think I had it about four days when I finally figured out the fuel pump was bad.

It would die, then after cooling off for an hour or more it would start and run fine for a while, but it started dieing quicker as the pump got worse.

Replaced the in tank fuel pump. Will see if that fixed it. I thought it was weird that my gas gauge still doesn't work.

The fuel guage sending unit, while attached to the fuel pump isn't part of the pump that gets replaced on these model year trucks. My guage is a little screwy, it stays on full longer than it should then drops fast. When it reads empty, I rarely have to put in more than 10 gallons, with a ~17 gallon tank.

Robert

 

[cscott9016]

I drove it today and I'm still having the same problem. It seem a little better and less frequent, but its still doing it. Any ideas? HP pump going out? Or fuel pressure regulator? Those would be my guesses.

 

[RustedRanger]

Did you find and change the other fuel filter yet? It is in the frame up near the engine.

 

[cscott9016]

Did you find and change the other fuel filter yet? It is in the frame up near the engine.

I still can't seem to find it. Maybe I'm blind. I followed the fuel line all the way back. Maybe they didn't have 2 in the 86s.

 

[Psychopete]

They only had the canister filter... Your eyes are working OK.

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

I get the feeling its a electrical issue.

Try by passing the inertia switch.

Try checking your ground wires.

Try checking the injector plugs and harness.

Maybe there's a O2 sensor wire grounding out on the exhaust?

 

[cscott9016]

To bypass the inertia switch, do I just splice the wires together?