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Old 11-22-2011, 08:19 PM
Gumsoul Gumsoul is offline
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Default Fuel Pump/Starter problems. Need help/advice por favor

Okay so, to start off, I have a 2001 4.0 V6 thats been sitting for over a year. Before it sat, I needed to grease/possibly replace the U-Joints, replace the valve cover gasket (slow leak/drip on driver side), replace the brake pads, 2 tires, and ideally some new shocks. It still ran though, kept on "truckin," if you will. Well, never got around to until the 94 volvo 850 i was driving for the past year took a massive dump on me. Now the truck wont even start.

So, I've been pouring money, time and parts into both vehicles, desperately trying to get one of em back on the road. Skate boarding to and from work (about 8 miles each day) gets kind of old after a month and a half. With the 850, I think the timing belt slipped a tooth, if thats even possible? Whatever, I'll leave that for another forum, another day. But the 01 Ranger is what im comin to you guys for.

When i tried to start it, the battery was dead as a doornail. Got it tested at advanced autoparts, battery was bad, so i got a new one. Also picked up new spark plugs and wires. Once I got everything replaced, I tried starting it, and again, nothing. Not even a click or a crank. So i turned the key to on position, and bridged the pos and neg terminals on the starter. The starter cranks the motor, but never turns over. So i checked the fuel pressure gauge on the fuel rail on the back of the engine, passenger side. there was fuel in the lines, but once it squirted out, no new fuel came through. I kept turning it on and off, and came to the conclusion the fuel filter may be clogged.

So today, after dealing with "quick release" fuel lines that were neither quick, nor wanted to release, for about 3 hours (yes, you can laugh at my expense, i dont mind), i took off the fuel filter. the fuel inside of it was brown. the fuel coming from the engine to the filter that was in the lines were much more clear with slightly yellowish tint. So, next, I tried turning on the engine, to see if the fuel pump worked. No fuel was coming out of the lines.

Question 1)
Does the fuel filter have to be on in order for the fuel pump to work?

I checked the manual, found the fuses, and the "Fuel Reset switch" (which hadnt been triggered). All checked out fine. I can feel/hear the fuel pump relay click on when the ignition is in the "on" position."

Question 2)
Does this sound like a bad Fuel Pump to anyone else?

I'm no expert, but i know not starting a car is almost as bad as wrecking a car, in terms of the damage it can cause. Im an idiot for neglecting my truck for this long, I am well aware of that. But it doesnt really make sense to me why the startrer/possibly ignition switch/possibly signal wire on starter/fuel pump would go bad while inactive.

Question 3)
Does anyone have any advice on how to best approach the situation, without costing me another $500. I mean, worst comes to worst, I could ask for a fuel pump for xmas, but thats a gift i'd really hate to shake.
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  #2  
Old 11-23-2011, 11:03 AM
crowdpleazer crowdpleazer is offline
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Default Re: Fuel Pump/Starter problems. Need help/advice por favor

i wouldnt think that the fuel filter would have to be in place for the pump to run. it shoulda shot out and made a bit mess. if its been sitting for a year, the gasoline is probably stale. if you do get the engine to run it prob wont be very good until you get some fresh gas. i know its a stupid question, but are you sure the tank has gas in it?

as for the volvo, i have seen cars strip the teeth out of the timing belt and not break the belt. better hope that its a non-interference engine otherwise you might have some bent valves...
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1998 ranger extended cab, 2wd, 4.0 ohv, 5 speed, sony xploid 52 4 way watt radio, 2 pair of pioneer 240 watt speakers, Cobra 29 LX LCD CB radio pushing 100 watts, k&n air filter, 15 inch exploder wheels, dual exhaust with 4 inch stainless tips, 2 12 inch subs with a 1000 watt amp just for the hell of it!

new project: dirt track modified racing at the local saturday night track.
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Old 11-24-2011, 08:46 PM
Gumsoul Gumsoul is offline
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Default Re: Fuel Pump/Starter problems. Need help/advice por favor

yeah, i put 4 gallons of fresh gas in it.
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Old 12-02-2011, 06:46 PM
Gumsoul Gumsoul is offline
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Default Re: Fuel Pump/Starter problems. Need help/advice por favor

Update: Progress.

So, buddy of mine came over and we lifted the bed. Took of the fuel pump, got an awesome headache from fumes, and put a new one in. Truck took some creative thinking, but eventually started up, idles rough, but that could be a few things.

The old pump's filter at the bottom, a small kind of sponge-lookin' thing, had completely deteriorated off the pump and into the bottom of the tank. the tank's walls seem to be really clean, minus the dark reddish puddle sitting in the bottom, which i can only presume to be the old fuel that had been in the tank (approx 3 gallons) for the year and a half it's been sitting, underneath the 4 new gallons of gas i put in the day before. I was able to reach in (next time gloves and mask are a must) and pull out most of the debris from the dead filter, but i really want to get the tank off and cleaned out completely before I start using it as a daily driver again.

I still need to get 2 tires, which should happen tomorrow morning/late afternoon. But I did get my insurance and registration swapped over today, so once it gets on the road, it wont get pulled over. So that's a plus.

Another plus is that I have a good start on getting the ranger in better shape than i got it in.

"It" is really the only non-objective third person term I can use. Off-topic. I have owned a many cars in the 6 years ive been driving, and my friends have as well. We (and especially myself) name our cars. And usually it is a gender-specific name. Never could find a good name for the ranger, other than danger. So thats what it's been for the 4 years I've owned it. Danger. But I digress.

So, the interesting thing about the start up was the "Neutral Safety Swith," according to my friend who helped me, whom hadnt thought of it until a friend on the phone said something about it. I've never heard of it before, but it sounds like a real thing, so thats what Im calling it for now. So if I want to start my car, i have to turn the key over while holding and moving the shifter knob/arm (its an automatic) to a misplaced "sweet spot." I'm not saying I understand this at all, and but that's how we got it started up, so there must be some truth to it. Anyway, if anyone has any prior knowledge/experience with this, advice or direction would be awesomely appreciated.

Theres an exhaust leak on the catalytic converter. Considering upgrading the whole exhaust system. (4.0 V6) Headers, Cat, and cat-to-backs. Any prior knowledge/experience/examples would be awesomely appreciated.

So far I have replaced:
Alternator-@2,000 miles ago

Water Pump- @600 miles ago ((was i supposed to do timing belt at the same time? It obviously hasnt snapped yet. I'll look that up after I post this)

Fuel Pump
Fuel Filter
Battery
Spark Plugs
Spark Plug Wires

I also (unnecessarily) took of the starter, and cleaned it and the contacts/terminals up, and had it tested. Tested out fine, but wouldnt know for sure unless i took it off. Plus, clean engine=happy engine, right?

I also need to repair an oil leak on the drivers side valve cover gasket. Probably just gonna do both, as I dont see the sense in only doing one, other than being lazy. Also need an oil change, but I already have a filter.

So, I got my work cut out for me. Ol' Danger Ranger needs some work/love/time/blood/money. But hell, I don't owe anything on it. Might as well make monthly payments on upgrades, get a new weekend hobby, read some stuff, learn some stuff, make some new online buddies/enemies. Its always a good time (with beer)

Last edited by Gumsoul; 12-02-2011 at 06:48 PM. Reason: dont worry about it.
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