Starts only after cranking for about 10 seconds

[Jack Schmidt]

2003 4.0L 4WD, 110k miles. When I start from cold the engine smoothly cranks for the first several seconds, then fires up. If I turn the key to "on," wait a second for the fuel pump to stop, turn the key to "off," repeat, then start, the engine fires up fine. If, after idling awhile, I turn the engine off, then immediately restart it, it starts right up.

There's never a smell of gas in the engine bay, nor in the exhaust.

I'm guessing there's a check valve somewhere but I don't know where to look or what it may look like.

I don't own a fuel system pressure gauge but I'll buy one if it'll help.

I love this truck, by the way. Even more than my previous Ranger.

 

[adsm08]

You hit the nail on the head. There is a check valve that holds fuel, if not full pressure, in the lines when the engine is shut off. When they fail it usually takes a few hours for enough to bleed off to affect starting.

Now for the bad news. The check valve in question is part of the fuel pump assembly.

There was a member here a year or two ago, from Honduras, who had this issue. He couldn't readily get a pump, but he was able to splice a check valve into his fuel line and it fixed it.

 

[Jack Schmidt]

Part of the pump assembly... :-( Dropping the tank sounds like a pain in the butt. From a web search I saw a recommendation to remove the bed instead, but that doesn't sound fun, either.

Well, at least it's not critical. I can turn the key a couple times before every start, but I fear I'll make it a habit and never actually fix it.

In the mean time maybe I'll try a fuel system cleaner.

Thanks for the reply, adsm08. Really great to have your help.

 

[adsm08]

A fuel system cleaner is unlikely to help, but it is equally unlikely to hurt, so go for it. With all the corn in our gas these days it should be done somewhat regularly anyway.

As for making a habit of priming the pump before starting, you really should be doing that anyway, so don't worry about it becoming habit. I always wait at least until the first priming cycle finishes before trying to start the engine. Sometimes, if I haven't driven the vehicle for a few days I'll hit it a second time, and none of my vehicles ever have to go past the first try for starting.


Removing the bed, or at least getting it up high enough to do the pump isn't actually that hard. If nothing breaks I can have the bed off my Ranger in 10 to 15 minutes, and I have a tool box and drop-in liner to deal with.

I will say though, if you go that route have a replacement bolt and J-nut kit ready just in case. Especially if you are in the rust belt. Dorman makes one that is pretty reasonably priced.