2001 Ranger cranks but won't start

[livnlife]

I have a 2001 Ranger with 43,000 miles. Several weeks ago when I went to start the truck it would not start. I made 7 or 8 attempts but it would not start. It cranked over but would not start. As I was on the phone to the tow company I gave it one last try and it started right up and I drove it home. Ever since then it starts right up. The fuel pump was replaced 5000 mi ago so I do not think that is the problem.

All indications point to the cam position sensor but with such low mileage I hardly think so. Does anybody have any idea what could be wrong?

I had this same occurrence happen a couple of years ago but since the fuel pump got replaced all has gone well.

Thanks, Jim

 

[snake]

I'd guess fuel pump relay. They can be pretty intermittent, try swapping it with another in the under hood fusebox. Another guess, check for an overheated/melted inertia switch, although that occurs in the 04 year model more than others for some reason- but worth looking into. Next time it does this check for gas and spark. That'll get you on the right track quicker than anything.

 

[tony314]

Check your crank position sensor. I had the same issue and after replacing it, it fired right up. They are pretty cheap.

 

[livnlife]

Thanks for the reply. I have already replaced the relay. Never thought about the crank position sensor. I have to replace something and that is a cheap item.

Thanks, Jim

 

[livnlife]

Well, it happened again...cranks but won't start. This time it happened in my driveway so I didn't have to have it towed. I have troubleshot it down to no fuel pressure. There is power going through the relay but pump will not work. Has anybody had problems where the fuel pump works intermittently as this seems to be the case even though the pump was replaced just 5K miles ago.

Jim

 

[snake]

They may have put an aftermarket el-cheapo pump in the tank. Next time it does this slam the hell out of the bottom of the tank with your flat hand- this often gets the pump to run if it is sticking. You can also hear the pump make a zzzzzzt noise when you first turn on the key- it is supposed to run for 2 to 3 seconds before startup to pressurize the system, then the PCM takes over once it is running. If you can't hear the pump due to bad hearing, take the gas cap off and listen or lay under the tank and have someone else hit the key for you. It requires a key cycle (off and on) to hear it a second or third time, as it is supposed to cycle ONCE for 2 or 3 seconds every time the key is turned to the on position. One more thing, we have seen (in rare instances) a bad connector at the relay under the fusebox- the connectors that actually plug into the relay, they are crimped onto the wires at the bottom of the box and we've seen these have a bad crimp connection. Next time its dead, try wiggling those wires and see if you can get the pump to run. At least you are on the way to a good fix since you know the problem now...

Also, a bad crank angle or cam angle should throw a code, fuel system problems never do...

 

[pxbacher]

I had an 86 Bronco a while back that used to just die on me intermittently. Pull it over, try to start it - cranked but no joy. Wait maybe 20 minutes and try it again, it would start right up and drive fine the rest of the (day/week/month - whichever was least convenient).

The biggest problem was it was so damn intermittent and I couldn't reproduce it. Took maybe a year, and my mechanic is the one who eventually figured it out... one of the fuel pump connections was not actually on the terminal - it was *next to* the terminal, but the connector boot or whatever it had held it in place just good enough so it made contact... *most* of the time.

I doubt this is your problem, but if you're grasping at straws, figured I'd throw it out there.

-Pete

 

[naford]

You have the inertial fuel cutoff switch that could be causing the problem.

 

[livnlife]

Thanks for all the replys. When the pump was changed out the mechanic put in a Motorcraft pump so it wasn't an el cheapo. I have checked out everything in the system...relay, inertia switch, wiring, fuse and everything is ok. Somehow the pump just sticks in one certain spot.

Jim

 

[Yellow_Ranger_FTW]

I'm having similar problems, my dad said if I get the truck running I get to keep it so I'm trying to figure out what's wrong. I think it may be an item called the Crank Shaft Position Sensor. But I am unsure any help here on what could be wrong.

 

[TxGasRacer]

http://troubleshootmyvehicle.com/ford/4.0L/how-to-test-a-no-start-condition-1