Cranks does not Start.

[Steve Dalley]

I just got a sweet stock California 89 Ranger 2.9 5 speed 2 Wh Drive with only 120K original miles. Shut her down last night and now she cranks but does not fire, Fresh fuel and battery. Cannot hear the pump run and no pressure at the fuel rail. Checked the inertia and reset the switch. door glass says Ford Anti-Theft. Could this system shut off the power to the fuel pump ?. Key and ignition does not have the transceiver type keys. Owners manual and Haynes has no info. I'm looking for info/guidance before I drop the tank to get to the Fuel pump.

 

[Nez'sRanger]

Yea, with these old 89's, I don't even think anti-theft exists, at least not as far as this issue is concerned.
I would check the fuel pump fuse in the power distribution box under the hood before dropping the tank.
I've learned to check some dumb stuff before getting too involved. Dumb stuff like rats and squirrels chewing through wires and vacuum lines. I tried jump starting a friend's car, only to find a rat had chewed through the starter wires.
That's especially important to check when problems appear overnight.

 

[hopster]

There is a ground wire near the battery with a connector in it that comes unplugged or gets corroded that causes this a lot