2.9 Runs fine until long idle

[Predator130]

If I leave my truck running for 10 minutes or so, it starts doing a rev stall rev stall and then dies. Once it does this I can't start the truck for a few minutes because it just spins over stuttering but won't fire and go. I have replaced the canister filter, the only one this model has. And I have used the test lead to make sure both pumps were running. After I replaced the filter it did seem to take longer to behave like this, but it drives down the road all day just fine, and idles fine for periods of just a minute or two. But if you ignore it for more than 5 you get a surging and then dead. Any ideas?

Thanks,

Greg

 

[Jspafford]

Sounds like it might be flooding out. Are you noticing any rich exhaust smell, or the use of a LOT more fuel?

 

[Predator130]

I don't think it's rich because of two reasons, 1. I open the throttle when it's doing the surging thing, or during a brief recrank and it kills it until I let off the throttle and it kind of catches up. 2. I opened a cap on a vacuum hose by the brake booster and it also seemed to lose it's breath.

I had one of those light up if it's sparking lights on the coil and it was still sending fire. Not sure but I'm still suspecting a pump failing somehow or the one in the tank no working correctly.

 

[chazzone]

CEL? Have you checked for codes? How about fuel pressure?

 

[IMenriched]

Greg
not sure of the vintage of your unit??

It might also be a simple fuel filter??

but yes...agreed.... getting code will help point you in a direction

 

[Predator130]

Well I replaced the filter so that's not it, I am thinking about opening the filter and making sure the pump from the tank is pushing something out. And will be taking it to the zone to get codes pulled.

Thanks,

Greg

 

[Predator130]

I also noticed my thermostat seems stuck open, at least the temperature stays low so I bought a new one to install. Wonder if that would make it stay rich and eventually die out.

 

[IMenriched]

I also noticed my thermostat seems stuck open, at least the temperature stays low so I bought a new one to install. Wonder if that would make it stay rich and eventually die out.

shouldn't cause it to die....but it would make it run very rich.

 

[Predator130]

I have an additional update. 1. Autozone or Advanced can't pull the codes since it's older than 96.... whatever! weird. 2. Today it died on me at a stop sign.... wonderful! I let it sit for a while and it was really hard to start. Had to remove a vacuum line and give it full throttle for it to start up and once started had to keep it wound up for a few to keep it going until it would idle- rich maybe? Drove home with vacuum unplugged and it ran fine. Let it sit and idle in the driveway and it eventually goes dead even with the vacuum line open allowing more air into the intake. If I disconnect the EGR sensor not much seems to happen, unplug MAP sensor and it dies. I think it's running too rich and maybe the thermostat is to blame for that, have to change it tomorrow and see what happens. Any ideas anyone?

One more thing, when trying to recrank it from a idle dead, it is really hard to turn over. Draws mucho amps from the battery and makes the solenoid super hot. If I disconnect the coil from the distributor it cranks over nice and easy. Could the rich condition be causing this also?

Thanks

 

[stevesb2]

If that's a '88 or older, I think it has 2 fuel filters. Both are on the driver side rail. Turning over real hard sounds more like timing issues. Advanced too much.

 

[Predator130]

After further diagnosis and pulling codes, it seems my in tank pump isn't keeping up, and the condition is lean not rich. I was going up a mountain the other day and it cut out on me something horrible. I let it sit for a while and it cleared up. On this model there is only 1 filter, I bought and looked for the other one, it's not there. I made it do this condition again, drive a bit then idle till dead, and was able to keep it running with shots of carb cleaner, running out of gas I'd say. My sending unit needs replacing anyway so I'll through the whole unit in there and see what happens.

 

[greaseyfingers]

After further diagnosis and pulling codes, it seems my in tank pump isn't keeping up, and the condition is lean not rich. I was going up a mountain the other day and it cut out on me something horrible. I let it sit for a while and it cleared up. On this model there is only 1 filter, I bought and looked for the other one, it's not there. I made it do this condition again, drive a bit then idle till dead, and was able to keep it running with shots of carb cleaner, running out of gas I'd say. My sending unit needs replacing anyway so I'll through the whole unit in there and see what happens.

Will a high pressure fuel pump and sending unit, from a 89 to 92 Ranger, fit into the center fuel tank of a 87 Ranger for replacing the low pressure fuel pump and sending unit, thus eliminating the frame rail high pressure fuel pump and therefore no longer needing to depend on a low pressure in tank fuel pump to provide fuel to the high pressure fuel pump on the frame rail??