What did you do to your Ranger today? (Part Deux!)

[ekrampitzjr]

What in the heck kind of Mopar wiring jackassery is up with the starter system in a '97? Oddly enough I think the starter is original on this thing, it's a Motorcraft with an F1 part number...

I've replaced plenty of alternators in different vehicles over the years, but (knock on wood) never had to replace a starter. Some vehicles are prone to going through starters. Most aren't.

 

[Rick W]

Alternator, tensioner and belt changed. Again, I went with the 130 amp. We’ll see.

And a little tip for those who might not do something like this: six or 9 inches of duct tape can save five hours when trying to put the serpentine belt on when it’s bent in all the wrong directions from the packaging

And this is what we have now.

And a “howcum” for the group. Howcum no matter where you are working on the vehicle, I mean, if you were pulling the license plate bolt in the rear, it always falls inside the fan shroud? That probably added 20 or 30 minutes to the job, but it’s done, no red light and the gauge is reading half again higher. Woohoo

EDIT/afterthought. I never jacked it up for this, but I still had to lay underneath the spoiler to get the belt around the crank pulley. So Lincoln wasn’t able to come and lick my face to help. So when I was flat on my back pinned underneath the spoiler trying to wiggle the belt on, Lincoln just came up on my belly and laid down until I was done. I started laughing and I banged my head on something down there, but it was kind of worth it.

 

[Bill]

And a “howcum” for the group. Howcum no matter where you are working on the vehicle, I mean, if you were pulling the license plate bolt in the rear, it always falls inside the fan shroud? That probably added 20 or 30 minutes to the job, but it’s done, no red light and the gauge is reading half again higher. Woohoo

I have another "howcum." Howcum there is always something in the way when you are working on a vehicle that doubles the amount of time to complete the job? When I was removing the passenger side control arm the bolt wouldn't slide all the way out because the catalyic converter was in the way. I had to unbolt the exhaust from the manifold and leverage the bolt out, which can be done if you have a 2.3L. I was looking on Youtube and it appears Ford put the exhaust in the way on all four engines available on the 1998-2011 Rangers. If the catalytic converter isn't in the way the exhaust is routed in the way, then makes a bend to go toward the back of the vehicle. So, I had to find my very long extension, which I never found and had to stack up shorter extensions as a workaround. It wasn't too difficult, but it really seems like one of those things designed by manufacturers as a "gotcha!" If I lived someplace where rust is a problem this potentially could have resulted in a lot of cursing.

 

[SenorNoob]

I swear engineers do that sometimes just to show their buddies and say look how I screwed the mechanic. LOL

 

[scotts90ranger]

Was out hunting with my buddy in the '00 Explorer when we stopped for a stroll one time and the sploder wouldn't fire up, he's conveniently a mechanic and redneck as well so he pointed out it was the fuel pump not turning on, so he grabbed a stick and banged on the bottom of the fuel tank (we were not near anything but trees) then he asked where' the inertia switch, somehow that thing got tripped after I shut it off on an uneventful parking job? I mean I utilized the welded rear diff in the mud to flip it around right quick beforehand but I turned it off... weird...

 

[JoshT]

And a little tip for those who might not do something like this: six or 9 inches of duct tape can save five hours when trying to put the serpentine belt on when it’s bent in all the wrong directions from the packaging

If it takes you more than half an hour to change the bely on a Ranger you're doing something wrong. Are you sure that you didn't pass out for a couple of those after hitting you head? Maybe Lincoln was really asking you to hand over the tools because you were taking too long and it was cutting into his riding time.

somehow that thing got tripped after I shut it off on an uneventful parking job? I mean I utilized the welded rear diff in the mud to flip it around right quick beforehand but I turned it off... weird...

The inertia switch kills the fuel pump not the engine. Maybe it was tripped in your thrash session, but retained enough pressure to keep running until you cut it off. Those do operate at 65 PSI returnless, and it probably wasn't drinking a lot of fuel at low speeds. Residual pressure drained off while parked and not enough left to start and run.

 

[Bgunner]

The inertia switch kills the fuel pump not the engine. Maybe it was tripped in your thrash session, but retained enough pressure to keep running until you cut it off. Those do operate at 65 PSI returnless, and it probably wasn't drinking a lot of fuel at low speeds. Residual pressure drained off while parked and not enough left to start and run.

I didn't know that it was a returnless system but I thought the same thing when I first read it. I also thought that maybe the switch is getting a little weak and is tripping a little easier so that when the truck was swung around caused the trip.

 

[Rick W]

If it takes you more than half an hour to change the bely on a Ranger you're doing something wrong. Are you sure that you didn't pass out for a couple of those after hitting you head? Maybe Lincoln was really asking you to hand over the tools because you were taking too long and it was cutting into his riding time.





The inertia switch kills the fuel pump not the engine. Maybe it was tripped in your thrash session, but retained enough pressure to keep running until you cut it off. Those do operate at 65 PSI returnless, and it probably wasn't drinking a lot of fuel at low speeds. Residual pressure drained off while parked and not enough left to start and run.

You’re not considering the feeble old fart factor!

The new belt was kinked pretty good. Every time I tried to slip it on something on the left, the right would fall off, etc. I’ve had that before with serpentine belts, so usually when I go to put one on, I just start out bringing the masking tape or duct tape to hold it on while I’m tugging at the other end. Again, old fart factor, I forgot to do it this time for the first however long.

& Lincoln doesn’t get his hands dirty with such things

 

[JoshT]

I didn't know that it was a returnless system but I thought the same thing when I first read it. I also thought that maybe the switch is getting a little weak and is tripping a little easier so that when the truck was swung around caused the trip.

Yep the 5.0L Explorers switched over in 1999.

You’re not considering the feeble old fart factor!

I get it. I'm not there yet, but getting closer every year. My report for today is I thought about it. That's it. I thought about what I should be doing on it.

Should have gotten out and finished putting the EGR back together. Instead I sat in front of the computer, browsing, posting, and aching. Don't really know why on the latter. I suspect it had a lot to do with the bed I slept on Friday night, the beds mom and dad put in the hunting camper suck. I didn't pay for them and I'm not complaining that much about a free bed. I'll probably have my own camper in the next couple of years and I'll put what I want to in it. That followed by 4 hours of helping dad clean deer. He's likes doing it, but getting slow at it in his condition. I'm finally getting where I can stand to get my hands in guts of it (literally), but don't know what I'm doing yet.

So, yeah. I'm starting to understand some of that age thing.

 

[scotts90ranger]

The inertia switch kills the fuel pump not the engine. Maybe it was tripped in your thrash session, but retained enough pressure to keep running until you cut it off. Those do operate at 65 PSI returnless, and it probably wasn't drinking a lot of fuel at low speeds. Residual pressure drained off while parked and not enough left to start and run.

I'm well aware of all of that, when I whipped it around it was extremely uneventful and came to a gentle stop, my buddy must have bumped the switch just wrong with his boot or something, this thing has seen WAY worse in the time I've had it and even todays shenanigans' were worse than that particular instance...

Nothing of note in Ranger or Explorer world today, I'm getting more accurate with the welded diff when things cooperate now though

 

[Maritime Drag Racing]

Hibernation day 48.....

 

[JoshT]

2005 2.3

That is a very different vehicle than Scott's 2000 Explorer 5.0L. The engine is very different, the ECC is very different, and the fuel system may be very different. Heck, it even sounds like the inertia switch may be different. Any of these things could affect how it responds to that switch being tripped. He also never stated how long of a delay there was between the thrashing that potentially tripped the switch (it that was even the cause and when it happened) and turning off the vehicle.

I can't say where in the circuit the inertia switch is located on your 2005, but I've got the Ford wire diagram manual for the 2000 Explorer sitting right here. The inertia switch is located in the power feed wire between the fuel pump relay and the pump itself. When tripped it directly severs the connection between the relay and the pump.

 

[scotts90ranger]

That is a very different vehicle than Scott's 2000 Explorer 5.0L. The engine is very different, the ECC is very different, and the fuel system may be very different. Heck, it even sounds like the inertia switch may be different. Any of these things could affect how it responds to that switch being tripped. He also never stated how long of a delay there was between the thrashing that potentially tripped the switch (it that was even the cause and when it happened) and turning off the vehicle.

I can't say where in the circuit the inertia switch is located on your 2005, but I've got the Ford wire diagram manual for the 2000 Explorer sitting right here. The inertia switch is located in the power feed wire between the fuel pump relay and the pump itself. When tripped it directly severs the connection between the relay and the pump.

Again, not really sure I'd call it thrashing, it's a 5k pound pig (IE slow actions for the most part) and it was a sloppy muddy spot where I needed to turn around anyway, don't remember exactly but I'm pretty sure after it stopped I put it in park and there was a second or two of idle before I shut it off. On restart it flared as normal but was struggling then stalled and was worse on consecutive tries... 99.975466776% sure it was just a fluke

 

[scotts90ranger]

Here's the starter off my '97 "as found" on Friday, never seen that before...

 

[bobbywalter]

apparently i ordered the wrong radiator.




or ... the wrong radiator is in the right box.