2000 2.5 sat for 6 months, won't start - where do I start?

[BoogieBot]

As the title says, my 2000 2.5L M5OD Ranger sat in storage for the past 6 months (extended illness). Now the ol girl won't start.


I need some help making a list of issues to investigate. I'm somewhere between "beginner" and "intermediate" in term of mechanical aptitude - rebuilt some ancient Honda small motors in the past, but haven't worked much on autos or trucks. I know that the engine needs 3 things: fuel, air, and spark, to start.

Battery's charged - it was dead due when I looked at it the other day, so I put it on a trickle charger and now it's fine.

When I turn the key in the ignition, the starter cranks just fine. But the engine never "catches".

Already tried the fuel inertia switch - didn't solve the problem.

What else should I be looking at/doing to try to get the ol girl running again?

Thanks in advance. Happy to provide more info if needed.

 

[adsm08]

So you know that you need fuel and spark but you never verified that you have either. Go check that.

 

[BoogieBot]

So you know that you need fuel and spark but you never verified that you have either. Go check that.

Yeah, that's what I meant. How do you check a fuel pump? Or a fuel filter? How do I check spark on a bigass truck (have only ever done this on really old small motors where everything is within arm's reach)? What other components in the fuel and ignition systems should I check?

 

[adsm08]

Some of these tests just take two people.

Get a fuel pressure gauge and test your fuel pressure. Cycle the key off to run 4 or 5 times, or until the pump stops sounding like it is sucking air. It will be much quieter and less buzzy once primed. Pressure should be at or above 60 PSI. If if is not you need to listen for the fuel pump. It should be audible in a quiet space. If you can't hear it from the seat you need to get your head down near the tank and have someone else cycle the key. If you still can't hear it you need to test for power to it.

In 10 years I have yet to see a fuel filter cause a no start on an automobile. If you suspect it at all, and I wouldn't, just change it, which I would.

Spark is fun. I like testing spark. There are two ways to do it, but you need a second person. You don't have a pacemaker do you?

To test spark get one of the plug wires off at the plug and get a screw driver. Jam the screw driver in the plug wire. Now is where the two methods diverge.

The more conventional method is to hold the plug wire by the boot and the screwdriver by the handle with the shaft an inch or so away from the intake or some other piece of metal. Then have someone crank the engine and look for spark.

The more definitive method is to hold the screw driver by the shaft with one hand and put the other hand on the fender while the engine get cranked. Less safe, but it will leave you with little question as to whether or not you have spark.

 

[tomw]

If your heart stops when using the second method, don't bother replying any more as you won't need the truck.

You can also stuff a spare spark plug(from the Honda engine) into the spark plug wire, passenger side, and lay the plug on the exhaust manifold. Crank the engine and observe(2 people handy for this) for a spark jumping across the plug gap.
You can also check for fuel pressure in the injector fuel rail by depressing the center of the schrader valve after cycling the key from OFF to ON, pause, and then cycle about 3-5 times more to pressurize the system and purge any air. Fuel will squirt and make a slight mess if the pump works, so be careful of sparkage and lit flames.
If you want to skip all the above, and check for spark and lack of fuel in one test, put some fuel, preferably gasoline of some sort, into a squirt bottle that will let you inject the fuel through a vacuum line into the engines intake. Squirt some in, about a tablespoon, and replace the vacuum line. Crank the engine. If it starts and runs for a few seconds, the you know 1)you have spark and 2) you don't have fuel being supplied by the pump & injectors. If it does not start, checking the ignition system would be advised as you did provide some fuel, and it didn't like it.
tom