Starting/Plugs question...

[Psychowolff]

Hello all, I'm pretty new here, just joined in fact!

I purchased a 2000, 2.5L Ext cab with all the power toys on it. Took me a while to find! Anyways, I have owned it for about a year and was getting about 22-23MPG so I did a tune-up on it. I replaced one bank of plugs and wires (they were burned out to about 0.065-0.080) then couldn't get the Hard bank side, I finally changed them out after about 2 weeks, now I only get 16-18 MPG (same as with only the one bank changed)

Another thing is that it has an occasional starting problem and tonight she left me stranded! Fuel pressure is fine and when I sprayed in a lil starting fluid it starts but rattles like a 1982 VW Diesel! But it cranks over just fine...

Does anybody have any good news for me? After the mile long walk home I could use some! Also, any ball park idea of a timing belt change cost? anyone in Central MN that you would suggest to do the work? (Tenvoorde has screwed me too many times already! they ARE the oldest ford dealer, probley getting Senile!)

Any Help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Mike

 

[SMB2500]

How did you change the "hard bank" of plugs? Did you remove the upper intake and related components? If you did, I would check very carefully for vacuum leaks at all the components you took off then reassembled. I did the same thing on mine. It still ran as it was a minor leak, but enough to cause it to run poorly.

 

[Psychowolff]

I thought about it for a few days and as I was repairing something else it came to me. I have a small pair of pliers with a 45 degree bend on the end (needle nose) so I went to Northern tool and picked up a Large pair about 14 inches long ($7.99)and just used them like a long pair of really strong fingers through the intake runners. Worked great!

The fuel economy went down after I changed out the 'easy side bank', I also changed the oil and air filter at the same time but I figured that because the plugs were so worn (0.065-0.080 gap!) and one bank were new Double Platnum that the Hard Bank wasn't firing but after changine them ALL, the MPG still hasn't gone back up. :-(

This is the third time it has 'Not started' right up though,(in ~ 2 months) the first time I pulled the Fuel Pump relay and replaced it with the Washer relay and she popped over, the second time that didn't do anything, but it worked after about 10 min of head scratching, and then last night it didn't start no matter What I did to the relay, or how much I scratched! The fuel pressure is fine, I didn't check for spark, but she popped over when I sprayed starting fluid in the air filter and Rattled like an old diesel! then died.

Bad Inj? bad CPS? Bad rod? Timing belt? Owner stupidity?

 

[Psychowolff]

Update: The Fuel pressure is only intermittant (sp) and I couldn't work up very much pressure on it so I'm thinking it is either the pump going out, or a connection somewhere, the relay is fine, Tested that out already.

That sounds like it is the problem but why would it knock like a diesel when I put some Starting Fluid into it?? That worries me! LOL well, I already have decided to have the Timing belt done anyways, it's got 130K+ on the original one.

Any info on where to source parts or tips would be appreciated! (T-belt/Idler/fuel pump and gaskets/screens, Etc)

Thanks in advance guys!

 

[Psychowolff]

Also if you goto www.Helminc.com you can order manuals (120 bucks for my 2000 Ranger) or you can join up for a fee.

10 bucks for 72 hours, 20 bucks a month, or something like 100 bucks a year. You can print out the sheets you want but the illistrations are kinda small.

Good Luck Guys and Gals!

 

[Psychowolff]

Thanks to those who sent me thier ideas and assistance! It was the fuel pump, it's replaced and running great!

Thanks All!

Now I'll work on the MPG problem