A couple of months back I did not use my Ranger for about 4 weeks. I had left the fuel tank low, which I have done many an other time, and felt secure that it would start the next time I needed it. Not so! After numerous attempts to get it to start I realized that perhaps the angle it was parked in was not letting the fuel get to the fuel pump. It was slightly downhill which has caused me once or twice to require adding fuel to get it to start.

With that in mind I added another two gallons and tried again to crank it over and see if it would start. Did not happen! So by now I am frazzled and decide to leave it for now.

In the intervening weeks I have had prostate removal surgery and am still in the recovery stage but I need to get the Ranger running so that I can have it inspected in January.

Questions for the group: 1) has anyone gone through this experience? 2) did it require having it towed to a repair facility to get the issue resolved? 3) is there a way to resolve the issue without having to tow it to a repair facility? IOW any help would be appreciated.

Thanks all,

Joe

 

If you've already checked the battery to make sure it has a good charge (the number 1 issue for vehicles in your situation), you can check the fuel pump by turning the key to the "ON" position (not cranking it up). You should hear a slight hum coming from under the floor for a couple of seconds. That is the fuel pump priming up. It may take you doing this a couple of times to get it properly primed before it'll start.

Try that and we'll see what you come up with.

 

Ok, I'll give that a try and see what happens.

Thanks, bravetitan24

 

Yes, ^^^
Ford computers Prime the fuel system for 2 seconds when key is turn on, this means fuel pump runs for 2 seconds, but only 2 seconds
So you may want to:
turn key on
Count to 3
turn key off
Repeat 2 or 3 times to build up fuel pressure

No, you can't build up too much pressure

Just to narrow down possible problem points, get a can of Starting Fluid(ether).

Remove Power Brake vacuum hose or PCV Valve hose from upper intake manifold.
Spray Starting fluid into intake, replace hose.

Try to start engine
If it fires up and then dies, you have a fuel problem.
If it doesn't fire at all then spark is the problem.

 

To see if you are building up fuel pressure, push in the shrader valve in on the fuel rail and see if fuel sprays out (it looks like a tire air valve). Mine has a light blue cap on it but it could be another color.

 

Have you checked to make sure you are getting fuel from the tank to the fuel rail system to the injectors. You could need to replace your fuel pump which is in thegas tank. Also you can rent a tester to check the fuel pressure at the fuel rail. I believe there is also a fuse that controls the fuel pump. Hope this helps. Hope you fell better and get your truck up and running.
From Dcobb