Truck Died While Driving

[Ranger97XL]

So leaving my girlfriends house this morning and while passing a guy doing about 50 mph. The truck just dies. When I try to start it sounds like its out of gas. I can hear the fuel pump clicking when the truck is on. But I'm not entirely sure a fuel pump is supposed to click. Any Ideas?

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

youre probably hearing your fuel pump relay clicking. have someone else turn your key to the on position while you stand back by the tank and listen for the pump to pump up.

 

[Toms01PSD]

Beat on the tank with a rubber mallet or something of that sort while someone turns the key. If it starts, your fuel pump is the culprit.

 

[anchorshot]

Check your fuel pump inertia switch. It's located on the passenger side under the dash above to floor mat. It's meant to switch off the fuel pump in case of a crash. The switch should push in and stay.

 

[scotts90ranger]

is it a 2.3? if so, timing belt...

more info: miles on engine, what engine, etc...

 

[Ranger97XL]

Yeah it's a 2.3.... I'll hafta check Tuesday or Wednesday I'm currently outa town

 

[scotts90ranger]

timing belt broke, very common, should be fine once you put a new one on, might want to make sure the crank sensor wasn't hurt by the bunching belt...

 

[Straekar]

Just died

If by any chance you have a flex fuel truck you might want to look at the flex fuel sensor. It should have a code if you scan the truck. I'm not sure but po176 seems to ring a bell, but dont hold me to it. My truck did the same thing two states away and it turned out to be that sensor. It is located on the drivers side frame rail inboard just about under your feet.

 

[Ranger97XL]

what damage might I have done if it's the timing belt?

 

[PickupMan04 FX4 L2]

what damage might I have done if it's the timing belt?

not much man from my reccolection its a non interference motor i broke mine on my 95 2.3 and i had no issues re timing it or running afterwards

 

[dschott]

sounds about lik the prob i had with my ranger check if u have ignition if u dont the its the fuse should be a big one on my ranger i was drivin down the road and it all just died so i tried to c if it was the f. pump nope it was good then i went to c if it was the ingnition yes it wasnt workin so a few weeks went by trying everything asking on here and so i decided to check the fuses the fuse that was bad i think it controled the ign. and the f. pump and more idk y but it did n after i changed it. it ran right back up

 

[scotts90ranger]

like I said, about the only thing it can do is misalign/break the crank sensor, it's a non interference engine. On your first attempt to change one, I'd give yourself a good saturday afternoon to do the work, it's nothing too hard.

 

[Ranger97XL]

okay so following my haynes manual it said to make sure the enigne is at tdc, however seeing as i broke my timing belt i reallized that i can't line my engine up at tdc with everything in line so my question is how do i get everything back the way its supposed to be?

 

[snake]

Having never worked on that particular engine, I'm not sure. But as a rule, the crank pully/harmonic balancer should have a timing mark on it somewhere, line that up with a notch or some other mark usually near the top of the crank pulley on the timing cover or block. The cam will have a mark somewhere as well, but may be difficult to find on a Ford engine (last one I worked on was a bitch to find). I happen to have a timing belt book and can tell you exactly how to line it up, but it is out in the shop (100 feet away). PM me and I'll give you my phone # if you don't have access to it anywhere else. Remember, the crank turns twice for every time the cam goes around, so if you have a distributor, take that into consideration too- it'll have to be on the proper stroke.

 

[scotts90ranger]

set the crank at TDC, there should be a notch on the crank pulley and a timing mark on the timing belt cover (yes the crank turns twice for one turn of the cam, but without a timing belt on, the cam isn't turning so just set it at 0*). With a '97 there isn't a distributor, but you will have to line up the auxiliary pulley because of the cam sensor. The Haynes manual should show where the marks on the pulleys go, either that or do a search on the 4 banger board for timing belt and you'll find numerous posts with pictures of the alignment.