2.3 motor won't idle and dies randomaly

[Jacobtruejello]

I have 94 ford ranger 2.3 2wd. Recently my truck has had the promblrm were I would drive it and go somewhere and the park it and then it won't start After words and had to wait about 1/2 hour or so to start again. Now my truck will have trouble starting and if you do not have a little pressure on the gas pedal it will die but also if you try to apply the gas pedal as if you were normaly driving the motor bogs down and try to die unless you left off the gas pedal. It will get to higher Rpm's if you apply the pedal really slow it also back fires when you try to apply the gas pedal. My father thinks it has to do with fuel. We have replaced the fuel pump, fuel filter, fuel pressure regulator, fuel pump relay, ICM,and spark plugs. It has no catalytic anymore, it also looks like the previous owner replaced the TPS. I really need to get it fixed because school starts in a week or so.

 

[black_demon69]

What brand of fuel pump did you install? Check fuel pressure again

 

[Jacobtruejello]

It is a airtex fuel pump. And how do I check the fuel pressure ?

 

[black_demon69]

It is a airtex fuel pump. And how do I check the fuel pressure ?

replace the airtex fuel pump with something like a carter (pep boys) or precision (o riellys)


on fuel rail there is what looks like a tire valve and you will need a tool called a fuel pressure gauge (loan a tool from one of the above). your truck should have around 35 psi with engine running.

 

[snake]

A dirty IAC could cause this also, as well as a bad vacuum leak

 

[stuntsunltd.]

Idle Air Control

A dirty IAC could cause this also, as well as a bad vacuum leak

+1 on the above. Idle air control motors can become plugged up with carbon and stick in the open, closed, or anywhere in between position. Check for vacumn leaks first (I dont know what possesed ford to think that the hard plastic vacumn lines were a good idea) and if no leak is found pull the IAC and give it a bath in carb cleaner. Make sure you shake out all the luquid and allow ample time for it to dry (evaporate) before reinstalling. Also disconnect the battery cables while the IAC is drying to reset the computers memory as it has most likely "learned" how to run with a dirty IAC and all the problems associated with it. Let us know what you find.

 

[rangerin]

Rule out the EGR. I recently had mine stuck open. Vacuum leaks don't play kindly with engines.