Help me, smarter than me people!!

[Redneckryder]

1995 2wd ex cab 2.3 5-speed. Been sitting all winter, threw a battery in and she fired right up. Been driving it for about a week, filled it up with gas Saturday, and drove 20 miles each way to work and then home. Sunday morning, I go to the store to get breakfast, and as I pull in, it dies. No sputtering, no bucking, no dying, come back to life and die again.....nothing. I am in third gear, and no longer accelerating. Tried starting it and it spins over fine, just wont fire.

After I regain my composure, I pop the hood. Leave the key on, I poke the schrader valve on the fuel rail with my jacknife, and get nothing. No blast of gas, no dribble of gas, no anything gas related. I hear the relay kicking on and off, and I swore I heard the fuel pump, but I may have been mistaken, as the parking lot was wet, and alot of cars were driving by.

So I ask of you, Ranger Gurus....Did I dump a fuel pump? Maybe a mouse ate a wire? Why would the relay kick off....I thought those were connected to a pressure switch? I don't know much about the fuel system....please teach me?

 

[black_demon69]

First off check the inertia switch located just above the carpet on passenger side push button and try again

 

[RonD]

No, no pressure switch.

Computer turns on fuel pump for 2 seconds each time key is turned on.
Computer starts fuel again when RPMs are above 400, it stays on as long as key is on and RPMs are above 400.

Computer uses the Fuel Pump relay to pass power to the fuel pump.
Two relays should "click" when key is turned on, EEC Relay(PCM Relay) comes on first, then Fuel pump relay immediately after, then 2 seconds later fuel pump relay will "click" again to cut power to pump.
Both of these relays are in the engine power box.

There is also a Fuel pump fuse in that box, 30amp

Power is:
Battery-----Fuse------FP Relay-------Inertia switch---------fuel pump-------Ground

Inertia switch is a re-settable motion switch, 12volts IN and 12volts OUT, there is a heavy weight inside, if vehicle should roll over or come to a sudden stop(accident), the weight will shift and Open the switch contacts, cutting power to the fuel pump.
It has a reset button on the top, but once "tripped" they often need to be replaced as they will "trip" easier after that, i.e. getting towed, hitting a sharp bump or even slamming a door

 

[Redneckryder]

Where exactly is the inertia switch? I ripped my passenger side kick panel off, and there is a big blue thing (I imagine that is the ECM) and a little black thing on the firewall. neither of them had a reset switch that I could find.

 

[RonD]

Picture of it here: http://troubleshootmyvehicle.com/ford/4.0L/how-to-test-the-fuel-pump-2

It is where you are looking, maybe you just didn't know what to look for, it isn't very big

 

[enjr44]

Start over. Spray starter fluid or maf cleaner into the intake and see if it runs or tries to run. If so fuel problem, if no spark problem.

Have someone turn the key to run. With gas cap off and your ear to the hole you should hear the pump run for a couple of seconds. IF yes, pump runs; but, may not be making pressure or filter is completely clogged.

IF no, check the voltage at the inertia switch (once you find it). You check both wires if you are like me and don't know which one is in and which is out. Should get 12 volts on both wires for two seconds when key is turned to run and then to something less (like 6 volts - computer monitoring pump voltage) and then to zero when key goes to off. Each time the key is turned to run the same thing should happen.

You have now troubleshot and eliminated half the system. If you got voltage (on both wires), then all the relays/computer, etc. is working correctly and your problem is in the back half of the truck (wires or pump or filter). IF no voltage, your problem is in the front half of the truck (relays or wiring or fuses, etc.). Once you know where to look you are over half way to "fixed!!".

Report back!!