Okay. First post here we go. truck is a 97 ford ranger 2.3 automatic. about two days ago I was working on my back speakers (since we all know they need an upgrade) and after I did this i started it up and put it into gear cold and it died. so now when it starts up , if not let sit for about 20 minutes it dies when i put it in gear. After it dies It just cranks, but wont start. If i let it sit for about another hour it will start up again. if its not really warm then it will die when put into gear , but when warm drives just fine. its had a tad of a rough idle when at a stop light, but nothing serious. I've had a small coolant leak for the last couple of weeks, but just drips here and there. I noticed today when i got it started up and was letting it sit that the drips of coolant have sped up and now a small pool forms if i leave it sitting for twenty minutes. I dont know whats happening or where to start, but as a college student i dont have much money, but im decent with trucks especially this one. today after it died I tried getting a jump to see if it was the battery, but it didnt start up just cranked and cranked.

thanks guys

ok first question has she run hot at all? If not what I would suggest first is actully pretty simple, get some start fluid or gas I perfer to use gas starter fluid always has a chance it will start a fire, at the intake right before the throttle body get some gas or starter fluid into the throttle body it doesent have to be alot, and then get in the truck and try to start it if it starts up pretty quick or noticebly quicker you have a fuel related problem, just out of curiousity where was she leaking at?

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1996 Ford Ranger 2.3, 4 on the floor with OD on stand by.

I cant see where its leaking from its dripping off a bolt on the oil pan (front right, if your sitting in the drivers seat) i can see it coming from above but i can't get in there at all. she runs perfectly fine when hot, no issues what so ever!

I started her up for the first time in a couple of days and let it sit in order to get warm and the coolant started leaking in quick dripps. but once it got hot it stopped leaking. Then when I shut it off the coolant resivoiur started to bubble pretty loudly. Still shuts off when put in gear if not let sit till warm.

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is it possible that my coolant is leaking into someplace its not supposed to be? Im thinking the engine may be flooded with it or something and when I let it sit and get warm it flushes it all out and that lets it run when i put it in gear? I really dont know im just spit ballin here. Im just trying to figure out if theres a connection between the coolant leaks and the reason why i cant put it into gear without it shutting off when cold. and then theres the issue of it not starting up again and only cranking when it does shut off when i put it into gear cold. like i said above it starts right up if i let it sit for about an hour. it starts up strong too.