Need to fix this ASAP.

[shr3dd3r 09]

I had this problem several months ago, but miraculously fixed it by replacing the canister purge valve...because it was the very last thing I tried....and now just as miraculously as it was fixed it is now back again to haunt me.

My Ranger (5.0L V8 5sp. manual) dies randomly while driving. I can be accelerating or coasting, but it will hesitate and die independent of engine load. Starts right back up every time. Seems to get worse as it warms up.

It is annoying beyond belief. Here's the deal...

I have replaced all of these within the last 3 months:
1. fuel pump
2. canister purge valve
3. ckp sensor
4. cam sensor
5. fuel filter
6. fixed an exhaust leak
7. cleaned throttle body and MAF sensor
8. replaced IAC valve
9. Checked fuel pressure and it holds steady at around 60psi. Fluctuates slightly down to maybe 55psi when it dies then goes back up to 60.

I did all of the above to no avail, then I replaced the canister purge valve as a last ditch effort....and I gained a power boost and then I had no problems for 3 months. But now it's happening again.... So I don't know if it's just coincidence or what but I have no idea what to do anymore....

I need to sort this out. I have no other vehicle to driveto and from work and I have to drive it 400 miles on Friday.... PLEASE HELP! I will try just about anything at this point.

Truck is chipped. Had to have it tuned to kill the auto trans codes, but I don't believe that is the problem...

 

[shr3dd3r 09]

Also, if I let it idle and stand and watch the motor with the hood up, when it stumbles and nearly dies it makes a wierd noise from the airbox. Like it's laboring to suck air in or something. It shouldn't be laboring, because it will die even with the throttle plate wide open. But in any case it does make a wierd noise as it stumble. Just extra info...

 

[HAPPY+RANGER+GUY]

My Ranger (5.0L V8 5sp. manual) dies randomly while driving. I can be accelerating or coasting, but it will hesitate and die independent of engine load. Starts right back up every time. Seems to get worse as it warms up.

What about fuel pressure regulator or coil is crapping out.

 

[HAPPY+RANGER+GUY]

But now it's happening again.... So I don't know if it's just coincidence or what but I have no idea what to do anymore....

Hard to think the purge valve would have been related.

 

[HAPPY+RANGER+GUY]

Is it tripping any trouble codes at all?

 

[ashleyroachclip]

Fyi or the distributor module .
Easier and about the same money to replace the distributor when replacing the module.

 

[shr3dd3r 09]

No codes. One coil pack is brand new, the other is factory. There is no distributor on this model year. It is a 2000. All electronic.

 

[shr3dd3r 09]

Also, the ignition circuitry is built into the pcm I believe. Don't quote me on that, though...I am not 100% sure. I just don't see how the problem disappeared for months and then showed up again for no reason...

If it were the FPR on the fuel rail I would assume it would not have cured itself and then decide to crap out again. And I can still floor it and it will accelerate fine. The stalling is completely random.

Wish I had something I could datalog with.

 

[HAPPY+RANGER+GUY]

Here's a whopper for you....how old is the battery?

 

[shr3dd3r 09]

Here's a whopper for you....how old is the battery?

Not certain...Maybe three years at the most. Doesn't seem like it's losing power all together. Hell I can still hear the fuel pump running after it dies until I turn the key off. Also, it absolutely will not start back up until I turn the key off and back on, cycling the power. If it dies and I just try to immediately restart it will just crank, but if I turn the key off and back on it fires right up.

There is no CEL, but perhaps I should scan for codes anyway. Could any of the EVAP equipment cause this? The Ranger was a 3.0L flex fuel, so the vent solenoid and charcoal canister are flex-fuel compatible. I replaced the original purge valve 3 months ago with one for a 5.0L engine, and the problem stopped simultaneously. Unless it was by sheer chance...and the new fuel pump is a stock 5.0 Mountaineer part....

 

[HAPPY+RANGER+GUY]

mainly thinking about the computer and it's need for stable power to operate correctly. Likely a long shot.

 

[HAPPY+RANGER+GUY]

maybe you have a ground wire that's corroded and losing it's contact. Always a good idea to inspect and clean these up once every so often as they can have a huge impact and cause many intermittent problems.

 

[shr3dd3r 09]

maybe you have a ground wire that's corroded and losing it's contact. Always a good idea to inspect and clean these up once every so often as they can have a huge impact and cause many intermittent problems.

The grounds appear to be in good shape. I guess I can try and replace the pcm power relay/fuse. It's getting fuel, so something is causing it to lose spark when it hesitates and dies. But, one coil pack is new, so it sounds like the pcm is powering off somehow....maybe. I just don't know.....nothing would surprise me at this point.

I've also done a wiggle test. I wiggled every wire I could get my hands on and never recreated the problem.

 

[shr3dd3r 09]

Did it again this morning twice on the way to work. I don't know what to do.

 

[HAPPY+RANGER+GUY]

??

Tough to say...when something comes and goes like that can be really difficult to pin down. You could hook up some strategically located test lights and see if you can observe anything unusual when it acts up. Maybe this way you could identify the correct path to go down.

Once you have a solid lead....start down the path with a fine tooth comb and cover every aspect of each circuit.

Be confident, you'll get there, just takes patience and of course the time to go step by step little bit at a time.