1991 3.0 fuel delivery problems

[drnsdad]

Hey folks,

I bought and am trying to resurrect a 91 Ranger that has set for what looks
to be about 4-5 yrs as best I can tell. Was parked due to what was
supposed to be bad starter. Turns out it was the solenoid. But the problem is
from sitting so long, the fuel pump was toast (all gummed up and not working)
I have replaced it and cleaned out the tank and replaced the fuel filter and
now the fuel pump works and I get fuel to the fuel rail but it seems that no
fuel is getting into the cylinders. It will crank up for a sec or two using
starting fluid. I checked where you hook up a fuel pressure guage on the fuel
rail and it spewed gas pretty good.

The question is, is there a way to check if the injectors are actually pumping
or taking them out and cleaning them ? Thanks, Robert

 

[sloth69mustang]

are you sure you are getting spark? and just bc gas is coming out of the fuel rail doesnt mean it is enough pressure. you need to get a pressure tester on the fuel rail. and if it only cranks for a sec or two without starting and doesnt crank anymore you are still looking about a starter or battery problem. if it was a fuel or spark problem it will sit there and crank and crank and crank.

 

[drnsdad]

When I say it cranks for a second or 2, I mean the engine starts. I got the
starter/solenoid problem fixed. The engine cranks over with no problems. I
know it is firing because it starts up briefly on starting fluid. I just have
concerns that the injectors are gummed up from sitting so long but the only
way to get to them is to take the upper intake off to get to them.

 

[mentalbreakdown00]

First check fuel pressure, period. If pressure is in spec, then check for power to an injector with the key on and a test light, if power is present on one, put the clamp of the test light on pos terminal and go to the other pin in the injector connector and have someone spin the truck over, if the test light flashes you know the computer is firing the injectors. Then you know the injectors are more than likely clogged...

 

[drnsdad]

Ok that is what I was looking for. Couple other questions. 1) If I determine
that the injectors are working and the fuel pressure is within specs, do you
know if I can clean the injectors or will I basically have to replace them?
2) can I soak them or take them apart?

I suspected the injectors based on the fact that it will not even sputter
unless I used some starting fluid. Then it fires up for just a moment and
then dies.

 

[mentalbreakdown00]

you can try soaking them, that's about it...

 

[drnsdad]

Thanks I will see what I can find out this weekend and will update on Monday.
Thanks Robert.....

 

[drnsdad]

Update:
Just thought I would say thanks. I got it figured out. Looks like it was mainly trapped air in the lines. I checked fuel pressure and it was about 10. I let it
bleed off and tried it again several times. It kept climbing each time and each
time I got less and less air bubbles.

Finally I got it up to about 30 and it would not go anymore. I then tried it
again but did not bleed it off, it climbed up to about 35, again it got to about
40 and again but would not go any higher. According to the manual it should
have been about 40psi. So I decided to try it and it fired right up. Ran ragged
for a while but finally cleared up. So it was both lack of adequate pressure
and some dirty injectors. I will run some cleaner through it, but the longer I
ran it the better it ran. So many thanks.

 

[sloth69mustang]

yeah fuel pressure testers are like the best thing ever. makes figuring out crank no starts way easier. glad you figured it out.