1987 2.9L Ford Ranger XLT No Start

[conner]

I’ve been working on getting a 2.9L 1987 Ford Ranger XLT running, it sat for about a year and a half. I’ve replaced the battery, starter, Fuel pump, fuel hanger assembly, and the fuel pump relay, The Fuel pump wasn’t getting power and the inertia switch was previously bypassed. we ran a wire off the battery directly from the battery to the fuel hanger assembly and the truck started right up and ran but sounded like it had lifter tick. we shut the truck off and got parts to wire the pump to a switch, but now the truck wont start and just cranks, I made sure the air intake and filter weren’t clogged up with debris and I’ll be pulling the plugs and the distributor to check for spark tomorrow but it doesn’t make sense to me for it to be spark unless the computer is telling it not too. is there anything i’m missing? thanks in advance

 

[franklin2]

If you have fuel and spark it should run. Don't assume anything. If you are not getting signals from the distributor to the computer the computer will not turn on the fuel pump. Of course you have bypassed all that but it could be a clue to your most recent problem.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Hows the plug look at the relay?

You also have two fuel pumps. You ran power directly to the lift pump if you ran it back to the tank. The front pump also needs power as both are on the same circuit. The ECM sends signal to the relay when the key gets turned on to prime the pump.

Youll hear the fuel pump running.

Its most likely bad wiring, corroded plug at relay, or bad ECM.

As far as lifter tick...all 2.9's tick. I wouldnt be to concerned with it. The fuel injectors also tick.

 

[conner]

all the connections are okay tested with a multimeter, i have spark at the distributor and plugs, the truck started twice today but wouldn’t stay running was starved of fuel, I pulled the front drive shaft to get the second fuel pump out and bench tested it currently working on getting power to that fuel pump.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

all the connections are okay tested with a multimeter, i have spark at the distributor and plugs, the truck started twice today but wouldn’t stay running was starved of fuel, I pulled the front drive shaft to get the second fuel pump out and bench tested it currently working on getting power to that fuel pump.

Get power to that pump and check fuel pressure

 

[conner]

I got a new UCU relay and swapped my ECU with one from an 86 2.9 4spd and had no change. I ran a jumper wire off the battery to the second fuel pump on the frame and the truck fired right up, i’m planning on wiring the fuel pumps to a switch. i’m sure it’s a relay or wiring somewhere but the old owners relocated and removed a lot Thanks for the help

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I got a new UCU relay and swapped my ECU with one from an 86 2.9 4spd and had no change. I ran a jumper wire off the battery to the second fuel pump on the frame and the truck fired right up, i’m planning on wiring the fuel pumps to a switch. i’m sure it’s a relay or wiring somewhere but the old owners relocated and removed a lot Thanks for the help

no problem

 

[Briguy]

I got a new UCU relay and swapped my ECU with one from an 86 2.9 4spd and had no change. I ran a jumper wire off the battery to the second fuel pump on the frame and the truck fired right up, i’m planning on wiring the fuel pumps to a switch. i’m sure it’s a relay or wiring somewhere but the old owners relocated and removed a lot Thanks for the help

Should be a small ground wire on the battery negative cable that runs the grounds for your fuel pumps that might be disconnected. Had the same problem on 2 different 2.9s