86 ranger 2.3 randomly dies problem got worse and will only run for a few seconds

[joeschmo2190]

Hi everyone I'm new here my names Joe.

I'm in the process of picking up a 86 ranger with a 2.3l engine and 5 speed manual. The guy I'm getting it from said it is an injection problem. Basically from what he said it would run and drive then randomly die once in a while, but the problem got worse and worse to the point that it would die every mile or so, and now he says it will start run for a few seconds then die. I'm trying to figure out what the problem could be before I go and pick it up. Can anyone help me figure this out? Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[Road Angels]

1986 has 2 fuel pumps if the feeder pump in the fuel tank goes bad then this can cause this, I found on mine when the tank was full the problem was less pronouned and as the tank emptied it died more and almost always going around corners, have some one turn the key and listen for the 2-3 second hum back by the filler neck under the bed could also be inertia switch under the center of the dash as well as a harness that has a poor connection, and if its california model it could be emissions vapor system problem

 

[Mark_88]

^ I agree it does sound much like the in-tank fuel pump...had the same problem with my Tempo...replaced the pump 4 or 5 times in 14 years...Ford said there was an issue with them and replaced it free every time...except the last one that actually turned out to be the inertia switch was fried...

 

[RonD]

Yes, fuel delivery issue is most likely cause.

Besides fuel pumps, there is the fuel filter and the fuel screen in the tank, that could cause described problem.

I would ask him about fuel filter, if it hasn't been changed then that is where I would start first.
Because it will start and run even for a few seconds I would think the fuel pumps are coming on, if one was bad then I don't see it starting again.
But as a fuel filter clogs up you get the described symptoms, the fuel pressure on the pump side of the filter should be 30psi, so some fuel will be forced thru a partially clogged filter, this will allow engine to run for a while, but eventually the pressure at the injectors drop enough to cause engine to stall.
As clog gets worse over time the running time will get less and less, pressure can still force some fuel thru if is sits for a bit so you can restart engine.

Clogged screen in tank can show similar symptoms.

 

[joeschmo2190]

Ok great thanks guys. I'm probably gonna trailer it home just to be safe as its a 80 mile trip to bring it home, and i dont want it dieing on me on the way, i'll just fix it once i have it home where i have access to junkyards and lots of tools.

 

[joeschmo2190]

Ok I went and picked up the truck, I'm trying to fix it now.

So heres what happens i can get it started and itll run for like a minute or 2 no problem, then it will randomly stall out, but if i open the throttle it'll catch itself and stay running. I think both fuel pumps are good and the guy said the fuel filter was replaced not that long ago.

I'm thinking its a bad sensor or something but i'm not sure can anyone give me any ideas?

 

[Mark_88]

Does this have a MAP sensor? Look on the back of the firewall just above the blower motor (passenger side) and there should be a black module with a vacuum line and a connector...that is the MAP sensor...when they go wonky it can cause sporadic idle (not always, but enough) and that includes fluctuating rpms where the tach goes all over the place...runs and idles fine mostly but can die when idling...usually starts right up though.

If you have one...they are easy to find in junkyards...as opposed to the $100 or so that Ford wants for a new one...

 

[joeschmo2190]

Well the weirdest thing happened the truck seems to be fine now. All I did was run a can of seafoam through the intake and now it seems to idle fine and not die at all, I guess maybe the problem was carbon build up somewhere. Or I just got really lucky

 

[Road Angels]

It will be back, more than likely what ever connection was bad corrected its self due to being moved, bumped or weather change

 

[Mark_88]

Or it could have been bad gas...thanks for the follow up...glad it went away...

Hmmm...maybe plugged cat too...