86 Ranger won't stay running

[NvrNoWht2Pik]

I bought an 86 Ranger 2wd 2.9L a couple months ago. It has fuel injection. The truck had been sitting for several years. It needed a clutch and had run out of gas so the previous owner just left it in a field. I've changed the clutch and slave cylinder, given the truck a complete tune-up, installed a new fuel filter, and put fresh gas in the tank. The truck starts right up. After it runs about 5 minutes it dies and has to sit several minutes then will start right back up. I replaced the ignition control module (on the distributor) and even have taken the catalytic converters off (in case they were clogged), and it still acts the same. Truck starts, then dies, and so on and so on. I've only been able to drive it back and forth in the driveway. Does anyone have any ideas what the problem may be? I really need to get this truck running right asap. Thanks for any help.

 

[Big Jim M]

Does it start right up again? Or does it seem to take a while for one of the parts to cool off? Did you put a new coil on it?
Big JIm

 

[NvrNoWht2Pik]

It has to sit for about 5-10minutes then will fire right up again and die after it runs a bit. I haven't replaced the coil.

 

[dennis461]

look underneath

had been sitting for several years.

Look for collapsed rubber gas lines.
Most of the gas line runs are steel lines, but transition to the tank with rubber sections(could be other places also)
My mustang sat for ten years and the lines had to be replaced, yours may be leaving a small amount of gas to get through but...

Also, you may need to get the tank open and REALLY clean it out.
Even if the truck ran out of gas, there was still some fuel in the tank below the pickup that has turned to gel. Now it's floating around in the tank because it won't recombine with clean gas.
I can't begin to tell you how many times I flushed my tank, cleaned out the carbs, replaced fuel filters, etc etc before the engine would stay running.

 

[holyford86]

the stock lines on an 86 ranger are nylon, I doubt they rusted through, at the tank the sender lines are metal but they transition to nylon within 6 inches of the tank . Pull codes, that might help you find a source to your issue. Check your fuel pressure as well as proper function of both the in-tank and externally mounted fuel pump.

 

[NvrNoWht2Pik]

There isn't an engine light on so I can't pull any codes. I'll try to read up on how and check the fuel pressure tomorrow, as well as check the lines.

 

[Psychopete]

There isn't an engine light on so I can't pull any codes. I'll try to read up on how and check the fuel pressure tomorrow, as well as check the lines.

You won't see an engine light come on either. You can still pull codes. Look for ECC-IV Diagnostics in the technical library.

When it dies out, are you missing fuel or spark? A quick test would be to spray some starting fluid into the upper intake plenum once it dies. If it starts, more than likely fuel delivery, if not, ignition.

Pete

 

[NvrNoWht2Pik]

Pete,
I tried what you said with the starter fluid. It started right up and ran till it used it up then died. The spark seems to be fine, I can get it fire up after it died, but just for a second then it dies. Leave the truck sitting several minutes and it fires up and runs on it owns for another five minutes or so. So does this definitely mean its a fuel delivery issue? Where should I start looking for the problem?

 

[Big Jim M]

Filter first..
Big Jim

 

[Psychopete]

Filter first..
Big Jim

Filter is definitely important to replace if it's old. It causes stress on the pumps and causes them to fail early.

Kind of shooting in the dark without knowing the fuel pressure. I wouldn't keep an intermittent connection out of mind that might cause the injectors or fuel pump/s to loose power.

On the bright side, at least it's not intermittent..

Pete

 

[1987rangerxlt]

Sounds like my lawnmower

The advice I've gotten talk about the fuel line on it too.

 

[NvrNoWht2Pik]

Fuel filter was the first thing i changed. I havent run across a fuel pressure meter I can test with, but I did try this...While the truck was running I pushed the pressure valve on the fuel rail (looks like a tire valve) gas sprayed out, and then i tried the same thing immediately after the truck died, some gas did trickle out (I figure it didnt spray since the car had died and the pumps cut off). So does this mean my problem is more a fuel injector problem or could it still be a fuel pump issue?

 

[IMenriched]

Might be possible that you have 2 filters....1 in line just after the inline fuel pump.

the other filter maybe in the canister/resivour just outside the, or in front of the tank.
It has a screw off bottom. and yes you can still get them

it maybe also the mesh on the end of the pickup tube inside the tank is all gunked up only letting so much in.

 

[NvrNoWht2Pik]

The canister filter (underneath on the drivers side right under the door) is the one I replaced. I havent seen any other filters, but I'll look again.

 

[IMenriched]

If you have a inline filter...it should be on the frame after the inline FP, maybe behind a panel attached to the frame....?

approx up near the exhaust manifold on the Drivers side. If it isn't there...no worries, mine didn't one there either...some have reported both filters, but rare.

If only 1filter...then would lean towards something in the tank...and would definatly replace the canister filter again to