fuel pump problems

[matt12305]

I'm having problems with fuel getting to the engine(2.9l v6) on my 1988 ford ranger, I just got the truck a few weeks ago, it has been sitting for 14 years before that. I checked the relays, not sure which one is for the fuel pump but all of them make the click sound so I'm assuming they're fine. I also checked the fuse and it was fine. I then thought of the inertia switch, the windshield had a water leak before I got it fixed, and water could've damaged the switch.. so I bypassed the switch and then I hear a short buzzing (less than a second) under the driver door. this buzzing only happens when I switch from the rear and front fuel tank so I assume this is the fuel selector valve making the noise. so I found one of the problems that for now can be bypassed, but still I don't hear any of the actual fuel pumps buzzing. so I'm guessing they just aren't getting power or even less unlikely all of the pumps are just dead. does anyone have suggestions of what to check next to find the problem?

I appreciate any responses.

 

[tw205]

Setting for 14 years? Have you drained any old fuel out? You don’t want to pump that old fuel into your system. If the tanks are steel you may also likely have solids from corrosion in the tank that may block the screen on the pickup tube. You can use the EEC test port to trigger the fuel pump relay. This will make the pumps run constantly with the key on assuming the inertia switch is working or bypassed. The EEC test port is by the relays. It may have a cap saying EEC test or the cap may be gone. With key on jumper the appropriate connections. This will trigger the relay and the pumps should run.

If you don’t hear the relay click on then your relay may be bad. If it does click then the pumps should come on. If they don’t then they may be bad or you may have damaged wires.

 

[matt12305]

Yes i did siphon the fuel out, it was very red in color. for the EEC test, do I just plug that into the fuel pump relay or do I need a special tool? and if it does click but fuel pump doesn't run, do you know where I can find wiring diagrams for the fuel system so I can check the wires before I try replacing the pumps?
Thanks.

 

[tw205]

The only special tool you need is a piece of wire. The EEC port is a test port for the electronic engine control. Take a piece of wire and strip 1/2” off the ends. The diagram I sent points out the connections on the EEC test port. The second sentence states how to jumper for fuel pump test. Put one end of wire in computer test ground and the other end in the fuel pump test port. The tech library has all the wire diagrams

Ford Ranger Wiring Diagrams - The Ranger Station

DISCLAIMER: Activities and vehicle modifications appearing or described at The Ranger Station and it’s pages may be potentially dangerous. We do not endorse any such activity for others or recommend it to any particular person – we simply describe … Continued

www.therangerstation.com

Look under 83 thru 91 engine controls sub section 2.9 electronic engine controls 1 of 3. Fuel delivery will be there.

 

[matt12305]

Oh okay, before you responded I looked it up and ran a test by sticking a wire in position 2(malfunction indicator light) and into the sti ground port, then a light tester hooked to the battery and position 4(check engine light, computer). it gave codes 21 and 24 I don't think those were very relevant though because the engine isn't warm. I'll have to give it a try with the fuel pump test port to see if the relays working and check the pump's. I did briefly look at some of the wiring for the pumps, at least the wires inside the frame channel and all that looked fine so its likely the fuel pumps are dead from sitting for so long. thanks for the help I'll let you know how it goes

 

[helpme]

If the fuel was very red, then mostly thats rust from your metal tank. Ethanol separates and forms water. My Gremlin had a metal tank. That's why new tanks are plastic.
Most likely the pickup screen is clogged with jelly.
And you fuel lines are clogged with jelly too. Check the fuel filter for jelly too.
Its not that difficult to pull your bed off by yourself and check/change them. I just did mine last week on a '94.
And your filler tube has probably rotted as well. If its not too bad you can fix them with Ultra-Black.

 

[matt12305]

the screen could be clogged but I don't imagine that would make the pumps stop working all together. I was planning on replacing the fuel pump anyways. also it is dual tanks so I have the 14.5 gal and 13 gal aux tanks. ideally I don't want to replace two tanks and the pumps, is there a way to clean them enough to be usable? or should I just replace them. thanks for your response.

 

[helpme]

I think I'd pull the fuel filter first. See what you've got there. See if its clogged with jelly. Fourteen years is a long time. That's also a convenient point to blow out your fuel lines with compressed air.
If you plan to pull off your bed, I'd start spraying the bolts (from underneath). It may take a few sprayings over a period of days to loosen them up. Especially in an area that uses salt on the roads in the winter.
Your fuel system needs some serious TLC!

 

[matt12305]

Hey, there was a break in the rainy weather so I started looking at the truck again.
I managed to get the bed off and take off the fuel pump and like you expected, rust..lots of rust, on the pump in the tank. the outside of the tank doesnt appear rusty so i dont think it would cause problems with holes or anything..is it better to attempt to clean the tank?(if so, how?) or is it better to just replace it?
Thanks