95 Ranger Problems

[racer90]

I have a 95 Ranger with a 3.0 and I'm starting having some issues. When the motor is cold it will fire up and then quit as if you shut it off 9 out of 10 times, and the other 1 it will sputter for about a second and a half and then quit. When its warm or I've been driving around all day it will start and run fine with no issues at all, it seems to get better as it gets warmer out. But the very next day that it gets cold same problem. I'm hoping to be able to sell this in a few months but I would like to figure it out, any help would be appreciated.

ps it does have 230,000 miles on it.
Matt

 

[RumpRanger98]

I would start with the basics and replace what you haven't done on a tune up for a while. plugs, wires, air filter, fuel filter. cap rotor(not sure if on the 95's)

 

[Earl43P]

Sounds like fuel pressure bleed off.

Prime it 3x, then crank the starter.

Meaning, turn key to run, hear fuel pump run, turn key to off.
Repeat 3x, THEN crank it over (engage starter).

 

[Ranger Rod]

with a cracked head on mine, i noticed this same behavior, turned out when very cold -18c the crack opened wide allowing leakage at faster rate which i think messed up the sensors. by starting over and over the sensors equalized and the motor began to run as usual until ultimatly large damage occured. with the wide spread problem of cracked heads with these motors you should ensure this is not the case by checking that your coolant levels are satisfactory and too oil levels arent rising just to be safe. ask yourself too, do you smell a sweet odor of coolant in the air when shutting down warm?

 

[TomB1269]

If I understand you correctly it will start and then shut off as if you turned the key. It only happens when it is very cold out and the motor itself is cold? You may want to check the IAC, this will tend to give similar symptons when they are on the verge of failing. The next tim you start it in the cold, try placing it in drive (neutral may work as well, just can remember...) quickly to see if the engine stays running, if it does this is a clear indiction of an IAC problem.

 

[racer90]

I have replaced plugs and wires, and dont notice anything abnormal with the oil when i change it. I tried the turn the igniton on 3x and I noticed that I didn't hear the fuel pump everytime i did it, to me if its the fuel pump dont they work or dont work not sometimes they do and sometimes they dont??
Is there a sensor or something that tells the fuel pump to come on??
What bothers me the most is why when its cold or when the motor is cold that it does this??

 

[racer90]

oh and tomb1269 If I try and hurry up and go like trying to pulling out of the parking spot it will still quit

 

[slycer2002]

I have a 92 Ranger 3.0, and I had this exact same problem. Sometimes, it would start fine and I could drive away, but as soon as I came to a complete stop, such as at a stop sign, or in the alley behind my house while taking the trash out, it would just die like I had shut the engine off. No warning, nothing. Sometimes, if I was able to get my foot off the gas pedal fast enough, it would recover. Other times, it would start idling really slow, and eventually die. I posted a similar thread back in February, titled "Problems on cold start" (You can find it on page 11 of the 3.0 Topic) and this is the response that really helped me:

Viper Command - "try replacing your o2 sensors
if you have a scanner do a data stream, check the o2 sensor it is bouncing lean and rich"

I wouldn't have thought of them, but once I got them changed out, I haven't had any problems since. Hope this helps you out.