Hard Start

[Quill]

The 89 Ranger I bought is hard starting. You can only do short bursts with the starter to start it. If you try to keep cranking you will just run down the battery and eventually ruin the starter. There are no codes showing. The previous owner gave up on it. He put a lot of parts in it including the wrong ECU. I had a mechanic who knows a whole lot more check through everything. Tested everything. He is the one to figure out the ECU and starting it with short burst of the starter. Any ideas why it does this and how to get it work normally?

 

[IMenriched]

got to be something over looked...poor connection....bad ground...wrong/bad resistor or relay somewhere. unless your real handy with electronics and diagnoses. it might be better just to put in a new wiring harness....but that is spendy

 

[piotrsko]

how does it run AFTER it starts?

if it runs OK, then I think you have fuel issues, bad filter, low fuel pressure, or finally, really bad compression. does it start better if you spray WD-40 into the intake?

 

[kimcrwbr1]

does it start after you let off the key could be a wire or ignition switch not giving power to the coil in the start position

 

[Quill]

After it starts it runs fine. Has good power. I've 3 other Rangers and a BII and nothing like this.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

do you have to let off the key for it to start

 

[kimcrwbr1]

you were saying short bursts

 

[kimcrwbr1]

if you unplug the connector on the distributor and check for power to the start circuit that is pin #4 on the TFI module and the run or ignition on is pin #5. look for battery voltage with the key in the start position to #4 from the bottom of the connector

 

[kimcrwbr1]

you can unplug the starter solenoid so your not cranking while testing and check for power to the coil in the start position also have someone turn the key while you testing you can us a test light for this test

 

[kimcrwbr1]

if your not getting power to both of them it is probably a wire a connector or the ignition switch if you get power to one of them then it is a wire or connector and if your getting power to both it is probably the TFI as you know the coil works

 

[Quill]

The battery is crapping out now. I am charging the one out of my Jeep to put into it. I don't where know where the switch is since the mechanic is the only one that can get it to start. When he demonstrated I was out of the truck and it seemed simple. Haven't got it started since. He will stop by this week and show me. I want to get it back to the way most vehicles start. Thanks for the ideas. I will check them out.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

are you saying it dont start with the key

 

[kimcrwbr1]

there are alot of reasons why it wont start. what motor and tranny do you even have an ignition switch you need to give more info

 

[piotrsko]

going to show my mazda ignorance here, BUT in a ranger, there is a PCM function that defaults to a static set of limp home commands for about 2 minutes or sometimes until it warms up. Ford called it push start mode.
if you have a manual trans, see if it push starts. If you have an automatic, remove the start wire from the start solenoid, turn on KOEO and jump battery voltage to that post and see if it starts then. or crowbar the two heavy posts.

I'm betting the ignition switch is not connecting to the electrical system in start mode (bad switch)

 

[Quill]

The switch is used to start. I just don't know if it kicks over when the switch is let go after the starter engages. The engine is the standard 2.9 for an 89 with a 5spd. It is a 4x4.