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  #1  
Old 06-16-2014, 05:10 PM
djovermind djovermind is offline
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Angry Howdy yall HELP PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD

HI. I am having a fuel system issue and this forum is my last good bet for something substantially helpful (hopefully). I will post my problem here and I hope I can get the help I so desperately need. I work with my truck (no loading or hauling, just driving) so I really need this thing running ASAP for the sake of my sanity! Please help me. I am not worthy of the knowledge that you experts can so graciously bestow upon me.

Vehicle details:

2001 Ford Ranger 2.5L, 4cyl, 8 spark plugs, tune up within last 20K miles.
Oil changed regularly,
New (and oiled properly) K&N filter
Single cab, short bed

History:
Black Lab committed suicide on front end 3 years ago.
Has Issues with the turn signal switch telling the blinkers to do things that they aren't sposed to do, but this is not the problem I need help with.
Some A/C issues in the past (Compressor, Evap Core replaced) but also not the problem at hand.


Current problem:
--Intermittent and unpredictable sputtering and dying.

Problem history:
Timeline:
2 years ago: sputtered and died, put new fuel pump, no problems for 2 years.

6 months ago: Tune up, new plugs, wires, etc. No problems for 6 months.

2 weeks ago: sputters and dies, pushed it into a parking lot. Came back an hour later and it started, drove it home, put a fuel filter on it. Listened for fuel pump before start attempted, and heard normal fuel pump buzzing sound, so drove it home and put the 1st fuel filter in it.

1 week ago: sputters and dies. Waited for help, suspected foul play with the tank (let's just say I put a locking gas cap on it LAST week.) . truck sputtered and died on an uphill incline @ 1/4 tank showing on the fuel gauge. Waited 5 minutes, attempted restart--sputtered and died. Waited 10 minutes, attempted start--again, sputtered and died.
Waited on help to show up, put 5 gallons in it, (took about an hour to get back to the truck), attempted start, SUCCESS!!!! it started. Got it to my dad's house, and Diagnosed fuel system pressure with OEM brand Fuel pressure tester kit. Showed 65 psi at the fuel rail. Fuel pump made buzzing sound. Put new fuel filter AGAIN. SUCCESS!!! IT STARTED AN RAN UNTIL....

Today:
Drives fine all day, up and down hills, through the meadows etc etc. I get to all my appointments just fine. I go to leave my last appointment of the day, and start truck... guess what? sputters and dies. Revving the engine seems to result in drop in RPM's (as in ALL previous cases), except if I can get it to 3,000 RPMs or higher it seems I can force it to stay running but stoplights suck. Got ride home. Came back with friend. Started up fine, drove about 1/2-mile and guess what... sputters and dies.. pushed it into a parking lot, again. Came back to truck 1/2 hour later, had friend listen while turn key forward, and he does NOT hear normal fuel pump buzz, he hears squealing. I go to listen, sure enough, not normal pump buzz but a squeal. Got fuel system pressure tester and tested pressure (62 psi at the gauge), and truck started just fine after sitting for 1 hour. Drove it home and here I am posting. O yeah, the steering wheel was shaky during turns, is this cuz I turned it while pushing it to the parking lot without power steering? Can I bleed the power steering in this truck without special tools? Also, what the heck is wrong with the fuel system it's driving me crazy!!!!

O yeah, my name's Jay
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  #2  
Old 06-16-2014, 05:12 PM
djfllmn djfllmn is offline
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Default Re: Howdy yall HELP PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD

i would check all grounds...a loose/dirty ground can cause intermittent issues
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  #3  
Old 06-16-2014, 05:16 PM
djovermind djovermind is offline
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Angry Re: Howdy yall HELP PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD

the plan at this point is to take off the bed, pull the fuel pump assembly, and replace the fuel pump, checking for sediments in the tank...
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Old 06-16-2014, 05:16 PM
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Old 06-16-2014, 05:17 PM
djovermind djovermind is offline
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Default Re: Howdy yall HELP PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD

the problem is that it's intermittent, Heisenbergs uncertainty. Every time I check for a problem, it decides to act right before I can check it. I'm trying to track down the pump relay and catch it in the act (with a friend--so I can turn the key and friend can feel the relay and see if it's clicking).
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Old 06-16-2014, 05:33 PM
djovermind djovermind is offline
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Default Re: Howdy yall HELP PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD

Just got out from under the truck again, my undercarriage is the cleanest of any vehicle I've ever owned. I reached up and felt a pigtail on top of the gas tank, it felt like a tight connection, there was also a nearby ground strap on the frame, also clean and tight. rrrrr but the squealing sound on the fuel pump today might have been the monster finally rearing it's $93.00 head.

----------

Quote:
Originally Posted by djfllmn View Post
i would check all grounds...a loose/dirty ground can cause intermittent issues
checked what I could see underneath. The grounds I could find looked good.
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Old 06-16-2014, 06:09 PM
dangerranger94 dangerranger94 is offline
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Default

With the truck running turn the head lights on and drive it or rev it, if it's worse it's a alternator/ground had similar issue on my old 95, could possibly be a coil pack
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  #8  
Old 06-16-2014, 08:25 PM
Yamahakid88 Yamahakid88 is offline
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Default Re: Howdy yall HELP PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD

Fuel pump ground, check it.
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Old 06-16-2014, 09:02 PM
Ordinary Biker Ordinary Biker is offline
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Default Re: Howdy yall HELP PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD

Quote:
Originally Posted by djovermind View Post
checked what I could see underneath. The grounds I could find looked good.
I would so more than look at them. Take them off, take a wire brush to them, clean the mounting point, then re install. Corrosion is usually hidden.
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Old 06-17-2014, 08:58 AM
djovermind djovermind is offline
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Default Re: Howdy yall HELP PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD

Quote:
Originally Posted by djfllmn View Post
i would check all grounds...a loose/dirty ground can cause intermittent issues
by the way, DJ, thanks. I now have all but one bed bolt removed, looking like the last one's gonna break. Waiting on my dad to show up to help me move the bed out of the way. Got the tail light assemblies removed, wires hanging, filler tube capped and underneath the truck... woo saa

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And yes, it could be a ground, but I am not sure which one is the fuel pump ground... and who was saying it was alternator or coil packs?!?
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Old 06-17-2014, 09:44 AM
R4u2 R4u2 is offline
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Default Re: Howdy yall HELP PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD

While you have the bed off check your tank inside and make sure it's perfectly clean inside. Check your main fuel fill hose and return air hose to the filler neck for cracks, etc... You have a sealed tank and fuel system including the gas cap.

Good Luck and welcome to the Forums!
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Old 06-17-2014, 11:54 AM
djovermind djovermind is offline
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Default Re: Howdy yall HELP PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD

Ok, we got the bed propped back, apparently without breaking anything. pull the pressure sensor and SNAP 285 dollars, you're welcome Ford. Waiting on the part to come and wondering why the autozone fuel pump does not appear to be compatible (two-prong)...

----------

Quote:
Originally Posted by R4u2 View Post
While you have the bed off check your tank inside and make sure it's perfectly clean inside. Check your main fuel fill hose and return air hose to the filler neck for cracks, etc... You have a sealed tank and fuel system including the gas cap.

Good Luck and welcome to the Forums!
Thanks man!

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btw... it smelled like moth balls at the big round cap on top of the fuel tank after we moved the bed... is that normal?

O yeah, I have a trash bag taped over the whole thing to keep rainwater out of the tank until the new fuel pressure sensor gets here.
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Old 06-18-2014, 05:25 AM
djovermind djovermind is offline
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Default Re: Howdy yall HELP PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD

Quote:
Originally Posted by R4u2 View Post
While you have the bed off check your tank inside and make sure it's perfectly clean inside. Check your main fuel fill hose and return air hose to the filler neck for cracks, etc... You have a sealed tank and fuel system including the gas cap.

Good Luck and welcome to the Forums!
the hoses are a little cracked, and as soon as we have ALL the parts then the big job goes down. I plan to do as you and others above have suggested. Bed's off, no excuses for not checking tank and ground. Everyone! Thank you for your help! I will continue to check this post in case anyone has any more suggestions.
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2.5l, 2001, fuel filter, fuel pump, intermittent

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