2000 Ranger starting issues...

[Doofy]

Just curious if there are quality gauges made for a permanent mount. Now I have to look... Great Idea.

 

[Doofy]

Tons of permanent mount fuel pressure gauges out there. Just need to find the proper fitting. The perfect "at a glance" tool.

 

[cbxer55]

There are options, that's for sure. There are a lot of guys over at LightningRodder.com that wouldn't conceive of driving a Lightning without at least a fuel pressure gauge. I've not done it yet myself, really need to. When you're dealing with a supercharger, low fuel pressure is one thing you don't want to see.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Ok, so my brain finally decided to work and I stopped up at the neighbors. He has two fuel pressure testers, of course he could only find the Matco that he wasn't sure if it worked. We hooked it up and tried it, but I want to try it on like my F-150 to verify that the tester is working correctly.

If it's working correctly, I need a new pump. Key on engine off was 14 psi, idle was 33 psi and opening the throttle some dropped it to 29 psi.


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[cbxer55]

Are you not drinking enough coffee in the am? I'm useless without some high power, make your hair stand up coffee. LOL

That's even lower then mine was. Mine was getting down to 32. It would start out okay, then drop as it warmed up. In any event, I was betting on that being the problem, based on your description of how it responded to throttle.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Lol! I thought my usual 4-6 cups was adequate, usually seems to be enough high octane to get me going. Must just be my forced inactivity during recovery from surgery or having too much on my mind that is causing the coffee to not be enough or something.

Yea, I want to check the tester, the neighbor said that he bought another tester because he thought something was wrong with this one, but can't remember what. But I'm getting a suspicion that the tester is right. I'll mess with it tomorrow, I had had enough adventure by the time I got home (my hip was hurting, lol).

But if the pump really is that weak, it would explain why a new fuel filter helped but didn't eliminate the problem. I'm not exactly excited about potentially needing a fuel pump since I'll need help to do it because I can't drop the tank or lift the bed right now.

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[Doofy]

At least, it looks like a solution may be at hand. That is a good thing.

 

[cbxer55]

Really only need to slide the bed back a little bit. The pump is right at the front of the bed. Put the axle on jack stands and remove the rear wheels, the bed can then slide back enough to do the work.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Except that I can't lift the bed and pulling or pushing is no good either. Hip hasn't healed enough yet to allow me to do stuff like that. May have found a solution though, a girl I've been spending time with just mentioned that her brother who tinkers with cars wants a dusk to dawn light put up. I said I would trade for a fuel pump, lol.


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[Doofy]

That's what I like...a good horse trade.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Well, it's been verified. My F-150 and dads Ranger tested out ok.

My Ranger did 20 psi engine off (with a fast leak down), 32-34 psi idle and dropped to below 25 with revving it.

So I guess I need to pick a pump and get it ordered. I'm leaning towards getting a pump from AutoZone simply for the lifetime warranty. Little more expensive, but if I ever have to replace it...


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[cbxer55]

Well, it's been verified. My F-150 and dads Ranger tested out ok.

My Ranger did 20 psi engine off (with a fast leak down), 32-34 psi idle and dropped to below 25 with revving it.

So I guess I need to pick a pump and get it ordered. I'm leaning towards getting a pump from AutoZone simply for the lifetime warranty. Little more expensive, but if I ever have to replace it...


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The new pump I put in mine doesn't leak down fast at all. Holds pressure for a long time after shutting it off. Vato Zone is usually good, even though most of their stuff is made in Mejico, hence the Vato Zone. ;-)

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Haha! Well, Mexico is usually better than Chinese. After checking and finding my pump assembly is apparently stainless, I think I'm going to try going with a Delphi pump and not replace the whole sender unit


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[cbxer55]

I went with the whole assembly simply because my fuel gauge hasn't worked properly for a few years. When I topped it off, it would read over the F mark for 4 to 5 days, then drop like a brick off a 10 story building. The new one is much more linear in how it works. Only stays above the F for 20 miles or so, then drops very slowly. Now it stays in between full and half tank for a long period of time. Like it better now.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Mine seems to work fine in this truck so far, which is pretty novel for me. Haven't had a truck with a reliable fuel gauge for almost 8 years. The dump truck I used to drive for work, the gauge sometimes worked. Same deal with my F-150. My choptop is stuck on E (the oil pressure gauge is stuck there too). I've gotten so used to setting the trip odometer and working from that, I don't even look at the gauge anymore.


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