New, and have a problem.

[Beast13]

Hello all, not sure if this is the right place to post this, forgive me if its not.
Just bought a 90 Ranger today, its a 4 cylinder, 5 speed, 100k miles.

Well the guy i bought it from drove it here to me from about 15 miles away, when he got here i drove it another mile or so, decided to buy it, and parked it in the driveway. About 10 minutes later i went to drive it to the dmv to get the tags done and all that. I stopped at the gas station on the way, when i came out, the truck wouldnt start. Just kept on cranking, seemed like it would try, but if it did it'd only run for a couple seconds. I had someone spray starting fluid in the intake while i cranked, and it would run. I went and bought a new fuel filter, and that helped none. (The old one was dirty) I'm getting spark, but it seems like its not getting fuel. I can hear the pump though, and it was driven here. What could this be?

Any help would be appreciated

 

[ianthegreat]

It is fuel injected?

 

[92ranger2wd]

It is fuel injected?

If it's a 1990 then yeah it should be.

Check for fuel at the engine. On the back of the fuel rail, there is a capped valve. Turn the ignition to ON a couple times and then uncap the test valve and press a narrow screwdriver in there. Gas should come squirting up.

 

[Beast13]

I feel like an idiot here, but i dont know. I believe it is.

One other thing i forgot to mention, there are a few broken vacuum lines, i didnt think that could be the problem since it ran fine before this happened.

 

[pocket-rocket]

Vacuum lines will make it not want to run right and can give weird symptoms like not wanting to idle smooth, high idle, ect. If a hard plastic line is cracked or broken, you can use rubber line that fits snug over it to fix it. I've broken plenty of hard lines and fixed them this way. Also, maybe there could be some water in the fuel and it needs some Heet run through it to get rid of it. Also check your fuel pressure.

 

[Beast13]

Idk about water being in the lines, but i do know i need to replace the vacuum lines. My main thing right now is to just get the truck running, i dont have a fuel pressure tester but i did turn the key off and on a couple times then pushed the little shrader valve on the fuel rail and it squirted a good few inches.

So it seems like the fuel pump is working, but i just dont get why it wont run unless i spray fuel (starting fluid) directly into the intake.

 

[modelageek]

Idk about water being in the lines, but i do know i need to replace the vacuum lines. My main thing right now is to just get the truck running, i dont have a fuel pressure tester but i did turn the key off and on a couple times then pushed the little shrader valve on the fuel rail and it squirted a good few inches.

So it seems like the fuel pump is working, but i just dont get why it wont run unless i spray fuel (starting fluid) directly into the intake.

one thing you can check is the fuel pressure regulator. I think it is on the fuel rail. pull the vacuum line off and make sure there is not any gas in it. if there is that is your issue. you should try and get a fuel pressure gauge and check that it should be about 40. also you do have enough good fuel in the tank right? I guess there migh be a chance that the timing belt slipped a tooth.

 

[Beast13]

I bought a new fuel pump relay, and it didnt help anything.

I also looked up the symptoms of a bad fuel pressure regulator, and that definitely could be it. I'll take a look in the morning.

I might look into buying a tester too.



Yea, i know there's at least a couple gallons in the tank

 

[Bryan22]

a fuel pressure guage is only like 10 bux at harbor freight.

 

[Beast13]

Changed the fuel pressure regulator today, and it still wont run. I does run when i just constantly tap the gas pedal, but if i hold the pedal steady, let off, or accelerate, it'll die.

 

[modelageek]

Changed the fuel pressure regulator today, and it still wont run. I does run when i just constantly tap the gas pedal, but if i hold the pedal steady, let off, or accelerate, it'll die.

what made you decide to change the fpr. was there fuel in the vacuum line, have you done a pressure test on the fuel system

You have enough good fuel in the tank right?

also it sounds like symptoms of a dirty or bad iac valve or equivalent

fuel filter?

 

[Beast13]

Fuel filter is new, i just changed it.
No i havent done a pressure test yet.

I may take the IAC off tomorrow and clean it real good


Could the little filter on the fuel pump maybe be clogged?

 

[slolearner]

Usually your engine will idle with a bad fuel pump........