1988 Ford Ranger 6 cyl 2.9 won't start when warm

consolegoddess · #1 12-27-2011, 03:09 PM

I have a 1988 Ranger Fuel Injected V6 Manual I bought new with 170K miles now and it has developed this not starting thing when the weather is warm. All winter it starts right up. Only when the weather is warm. It cranks but won't turn over. If I touch the gas at the right time it starts and runs fine. Once in a while it will stall when idle. Logic tells me something is expanding when it's warm causing the problem. Does that make any sense to you car guys? I remember a bunch of years ago had trouble starting and someone mentioned changing the inertia switch and it fixed the problem. It's been too many years to recall if it was the same problem. I also have a thread going about stalling in neutral when the high beams switch to low beams and vice versa. Could they be related, possibly the voltage regulator?

peppy121 · #2 12-27-2011, 08:06 PM

two thing

ONE that aint nothing my truck got atleast 186000 well got it check for sure but astleast that much

TWO what have you checked ?

ChrisHanson1993 · #3 02-19-2012, 02:04 AM

i have a similar problem with my 89 2.9L v6, when the engine is cold it has no problem starting but when the engine is hot or warm when i go to start it it will crank for like 10 seconds before the engine will turn over

xminnis · #4 02-21-2012, 01:26 PM

I had this on a Chevy before. Tore my hair out replacing part after part then decided to change the fuel pump and relay and wallah, never had the problem again. Something tells me it was only the relay acting up when it got hot though so try that first.

88jerranger · #5 02-23-2012, 10:30 AM

When i first bought my 88 Ranger i would drive it and about 10 to 20 miles later it would just turn off and i would have to wait about 30 mins to drive again.
so mabay this will help you.
Their is a Chip on the back of the distributor call a TFI Chip or something like that
it needs some clear electrical grease on it be cause when it drys up something happens
im not sure exactly how this works but it works for me and i haddent had a problem since
oh and you will need to buy the removal tool i bought one from nappa and it was like 5 bucks.
Good Luck

ChrisHanson1993 · #6 02-26-2012, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 88jerranger

When i first bought my 88 Ranger i would drive it and about 10 to 20 miles later it would just turn off and i would have to wait about 30 mins to drive again.
so mabay this will help you.
Their is a Chip on the back of the distributor call a TFI Chip or something like that
it needs some clear electrical grease on it be cause when it drys up something happens
im not sure exactly how this works but it works for me and i haddent had a problem since
oh and you will need to buy the removal tool i bought one from nappa and it was like 5 bucks.
Good Luck

are you talking about the little plug on the back of the distributor. and i was able to remove the distributer cap and plug with out a special tool

sirfunkeybut · #7 02-26-2012, 03:36 PM

The TFI is a grey rectangular box that screws to your distributor below where the cap seats, TFI I believe stands for thick film integration system

RangerDangerXLT · #8 02-26-2012, 03:44 PM

i had a similar problem, i replaced the fuel pump but it kept happening, so i took it to get checked, they said it was the fuse ,replaced the fuse and havent had a problem since

ChrisHanson1993 · #9 02-27-2012, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RangerDangerXLT

i had a similar problem, i replaced the fuel pump but it kept happening, so i took it to get checked, they said it was the fuse ,replaced the fuse and havent had a problem since

which fuse was it because those are cheap and i would probally try this 1st

sirfunkeybut · #10 02-27-2012, 03:00 AM

I didn't think there was a fuse, but there is a relay. It should be on the passenger side right behind the wheel well. At least that's where mine was and it was green but colors may vary

ChrisHanson1993 · #11 02-27-2012, 04:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirfunkeybut

I didn't think there was a fuse, but there is a relay. It should be on the passenger side right behind the wheel well. At least that's where mine was and it was green but colors may vary

half of the electrical connections on my ranger looks like some one just jerry rigged it up and idk what goes to what

sirfunkeybut · #12 02-27-2012, 07:00 AM

Mine was the same, I found a pinout diagram and traced every wire from the PCM. It shouldn't to to hard to find the three relays, I'll take a picture in a little bit and show what mine looks like for comparison

consolegoddess · #13 02-28-2012, 08:52 AM

I have a Chilton guide and the instructions to grease the TFI Ignition Module which I'd share if I could figure out how to attach a .pdf. As far as the relay goes, I'm not sure where to look for it in the book. Found a chart of the fuses but all were regarding the chassis electrical system.

ChrisHanson1993 · #14 03-02-2012, 02:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by consolegoddess

I have a Chilton guide and the instructions to grease the TFI Ignition Module which I'd share if I could figure out how to attach a .pdf. As far as the relay goes, I'm not sure where to look for it in the book. Found a chart of the fuses but all were regarding the chassis electrical system.

i have the chiltons manual what page is it on and also ive noticed that since i removed my muffler it starts up faster is there any relation to that

consolegoddess · #15 03-03-2012, 08:15 AM

The TFI Module is on page 3-3. The fuses are on 6-47. There is a module in the fuse panel called the R.A.B.S. Module and I don't know what that is. Other than that I couldn't find anything in the book about relays.