Highway Breakdown Problem

[krh1326]

1999 Ranger Sport 3L engine.

Was driving home (Saturday Night) from work. Was running low on gas, was going to stop and fill up.

Highway speed on a parkway, no problems showing on dashboard. Truck had been running just fine and have had no issues.

Truck engine began to "rumble" and a rapid loss and fade of power, loss of speed. Coasted towards upcoming exit ramp. Looked at dash and found:

Check engine light
check guages light
Temp guage OK
No oil pressure by the gauge
Low battery by the guage.

While truck was coasting, engine died. Was able to put into nuetral and restart. Same dash indications as above. Engine continued to "rumble".

Limped into parking lot, and engine died again.
Attempted to jump start and engine will not turnover. Battery was still good to use dome light, hazards etc, but not turn over engine, even charging and jumping.

Got towed home. Using older heater style battery tester, battery checks out. Checked all fuses ( in cab and under hood), none found bad. After charging, all accessories work AOK. But when turning the ignition, even with 225 starting amp charger, will not turn over.

Will have a few hours Sunday to poke around with it. My mechanic doesn't open up until Monday.

What direction should I be looking in, until I can get it to shop?

Bad starter- Why would truck ' rumble' and die?
Bad alternator- Why can't I get it to turn over with more than adequate assistance?

Something I am overlooking?

Thanks for any help.

Edit: Didn't run out of gas, was just running low. Mention it to try to include all details leading up to my problem.

 

[BRUTUS_T_HOG]

possibly the 175AMP megafuse blew.. im not sure if 99's have them though.

if it did it would be at the end of the positive battery cable going into the fuse box under the hood. it has 2 screws on it and is tested with an ohm meter or test light

 

[krh1326]

Thank you for the idea. Will attempt to check that.

I am a little horrified, as I just read a post:

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/camshaft_position_sensor.html

and am hoping that is NOT what has happened to me.

If my engine lost oil, while doing the highway cruise, it is possible that I am locked up, and that is why starter can't turn over engine.

 

[BRUTUS_T_HOG]

Thank you for the idea. Will attempt to check that.

I am a little horrified, as I just read a post:

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/camshaft_position_sensor.html

and am hoping that is NOT what has happened to me.

If my engine lost oil, while doing the highway cruise, it is possible that I am locked up, and that is why starter can't turn over engine.

yes its possible. does the starter click? or make any noise at all?

 

[krh1326]

It does make a contact sound, but it will not turn. It seems like there is a huge electric draw.

The more I think about it, the more that this scenario seems to fit.
I hope this is hypochondria, like when someone reads too much on webmd.

 

[krh1326]

I think that I just might pull all of my spark plugs, try to fit a socket and breaker bar on my crank, see if I can turn it, after work sunday.

Side Note Edit:
That has to be the coolest profile page picture, that I have seen on any forom.

 

[Earl43P]

Don't need to pull the spark plugs.

If it won't turn with a breaker bar on the crank bolt, I do think your Can Synchro killed your oil pump drive. You have our collective sympathy.



http://www.rangerpowersports.com/forum/f10/what-can-we-do-about-cam-synro-problem-203433.html

 

[pcollins]

yank 'er out and drop in a 4.0

 

[fourwheelford]

Sounds the same as all the rest that this happens to, cam shaft syncro probably took a dump. Has it been chirping kinda like a belt for awhile?

 

[RollinWOT]

Ok my truck does chirp the same way, but I need some help determining if it's a squeaky pulley or the synchro. It doesn't squeak all the time, just after heavy throttle use or a bit of highway driving and it will chirp for a while but if I idle at a stoplight and then take off when it's green it will go away. And it has been chirping just once when you turn off the truck and then stops. Is this just a squeaky pulley or the synchro? I don't want to have to replace it unless I need to for preventative maintainance. The last thing I need is a busted engine, she's my DD.

 

[Earl43P]

Easy way to nail that down is simply remove the serpentine belt.

Run the engine for less than a minute and see if the chirp is gone.

If it IS gone, replace the idler and tensioner pulleys.

If it is still chirping, replace the Cam Synchro, ASAP.

You don't want to run the engine very long with the serpentine belt removed because the water pump won't be flowing any coolant. You can ignore the battery light that will also come on from the alternator not spinning.

 

[fourwheelford]

RollinWOT that sounds like the syncro if your not sure go get a mechanics stethoscope and probe around, they usually make noise on start up also. If you have over 100k on the truck and have never changed it you should.

 

[RollinWOT]

Well it hasn't squeaked at all today and it's almost like it squeaks relative to throttle position. At idle it aqueaks sometimes, but under load not at all. I think the idler is going bad. I'll replace it and let you guys know. I planned on replacing the synchro anyway. Thanks for your input fourwheelford.

 

[fourwheelford]

No problem, a long screw driver is also a good substitute for a stethoscope watch for moving stuff though

 

[RollinWOT]

Haha, yeah I've had problems with that before. Having the alt pulley rip it out of your hand and spit the screwdriver back in your face doesn't really feel too good......