89 2.3l cranks but no fire! What gives?

[DNGRNGR89]

I have a 1989 2.3L 4x4 5-speed Ranger. The other day I parked the truck to fix the drum brakes, when I was finished with the brakes I went to drive the truck and it would crank hard but would never fire. I've done a little diagnosing so far but am starting this thread because tomorrow I'm really going to try and tackle this issue, I really need my truck back!

So far I have turned the key to run and can not hear the fuel pump humm.
I checked all my fuses and all were okay.
I pressed on the schrader valve and a small amount of fuel came out the first time but the first time only.
I removed the inertia switch and am unsure if it needed reset or not. I'm going to temporarily bypass it.

Tomorrow I am going to check for spark, pull codes, and remove my distributorless ignition system pack & my fuel pump relay and have Oreilly's test them.

What else should I check? OR in what order would you attempt solving this problem?

I bought this truck about half a year ago and have had to replace just about everything on it. So I wouldn't be surprised if it's just a bad fuel pump especially since it will be the hardest part to replace and the tank is full of gas. It's got new spark plugs, plug wires, and coil packs. The battery and alternator are brand new. I'm just hoping it's not a short somewhere.. I just think it's weird cause it was running fine when I parked it two days ago!

 

[scotts90ranger]

it sounds electrical, and fuel pump related.

If the fuel pump is bad, pull the bed, it's 20 times easier, if it was an explorer that's a different story as it was apparently designed to be removed from the bottom, the ranger tank was apparently designed to be unbolted from the top for some unknown reason...

 

[06RangerXLT]

crank position sensor loose, wont send power to the pump or for spark. if you have no spark, check that sensor.

 

[DNGRNGR89]

Okay. I'm about to get started. The crank sensor could be a possibility especially since I just changed the timing belt. But I better start with wd40in the bolts to my bed.

 

[DNGRNGR89]

I fixed it. The first thing I went to check was the fuel pump relay and when I pulled it off it was really corroded. So I got a new one and used PB Blaster, Que Tips, and a Jeweler's flat head screw driver to clean up the electrical connectors. Once cleaned I used Canned Air and blasted them dry. Went to turn the key on and it fired right up!

 

[scotts90ranger]

that'll do it every time...