02 Ranger won't start when hot.... 2nd instance

[Dan2002]

Yesterday my Ranger wouldn't start when hot, this is the 2nd time it's happened. The first time was about a month ago. Truck has 63k miles.

Truck cranks and tries to run, but acts like timing is waaaay off. No OBDII codes or pending codes either time. Let it sit for a while (an hour or more), and it starts and runs fine.

Normally, the truck cranks for ~1.5 seconds before starting. When this happens, the truck fires immediately and tries to run. So I'm wondering if the cam position sensor is the problem.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

TIA,

Dan

 

[bronco_lou]

When it hot outside or when the engine is hot?

 

[Dan2002]

When the truck is hot - yesterday I drove for about 20 minutes, shut it off for about 10, it started fine and then drove for about 40 minutes. It was about 10 - 15 minutes later I tried to start it and had the issue.

 

[Dan2002]

I just replaced my fuel filter, since it was (over)due. Haven't tried to duplicate the issue yet, but the truck definitely idles more smoothly.

 

[bcost882]

sounds like a coolant problem. the truck might not recognize the coolant over heating but that is the only thing i see wrong cause i see the fuel might evaporate if hot but very unlikly

 

[Dan2002]

Update.... so far so good

Last Thursday I duplicated the route I took when the problem happened the first time, and the truck started normally. I've had family in town, so I'll try to re-create the issue this coming week. So far so good.....

 

[ggomez2]

Dan2002,

Try replacing the relay for the fuel pump. It's located in the power distribution compartment in the engine bay.
I had this happen to me on and off for years where I would run it and then if it sat longer than 10 or 15 minutes, the truck would idle real rough; giving it gas or just driving made the condition go away. This past year, though, twice I was stuck for about an hour waiting for it to start and run; seems like it needed an hour or so and it would fire right up, run normal. Last time this happened, I swapped out the relay for the fuel pump with the relay for the A/C Full Load cut off (physically the same) and truck cranked right up, didn't have to wait an hour.
For 9 bucks, worth investigating. I will tell you though, it could turn out to be low fuel pressure/bad fuel pump. So far no issues with my truck, the relay swap did the trick. My truck is a '94 4.0l with about 230k miles. Still runs great
Good luck

 

[Dan2002]

Ggomez2 -

Thanks for the tip, I'll definitely keep it in mind..... so far I haven't been able to duplicate it since changing the fuel filter. I may try again tomorrow, on a normal work day I don't drive far enough to create the issue - so it takes a little effort to duplicate it.

If it does happen again, I'll try the fuel pump relay.

Dan2002

 

[farmer]

I've had this same problem, my 94 has 216k and did it to me twice today, and once yesterday. it had done it a couple times before that too. at least it only needs to sit 10-15 minutes to start... i just replaced the fuel pump so that isn't it, its needs a fuel filter, and a relay is cheap insurance. my buddy had a 4 cyl that did the same and he said he would cycle the key on and off several time and it would start, like it needed fuel to be pushed up to it.

 

[farmer]

so this weekend it was doing it alot, my bro-in-laws a ford mechanic and told me replace the ecm relay in the engine compartment and it hasn't had an issue since

 

[ander1]

can u tell me what the ecm relay is? im not finding it in the chilton book.

 

[Earl43P]

I'll tell you that the PCM relay is in the underhood junction box.

It sits in position 4 right beside the PCM diode, RABS diode and RABS resistor.

However, nothing about your problem indicates that relay is bad.
If it were bad, you would not get a CEL when the key is turned to Run, before starting. You would also never hear your fuel pump run with the key at Run.

I am impressed that you searched well though!

 

[maxwell.hunt]

could try the thermostat or believe it or not a new rad cap. is it overheating or just wont start hot?