Hi all,
This is my first post! Yay. So, I have 2000 Ranger 2.3L 4cyl with about 189K miles on it. It ran hot a few years ago and sat until I got around to fixing it a few months ago. I installed a new radiator and fuel pump and everything was groovy. Recently, I've had an incredibly difficult time getting the truck to start. It will crank right up and then just cut off and usually takes me about 10 tries to get it to stay started. However, once I get it cranked, it runs just fine and if I stop at a store and come back out it cranks right up. It seems like maybe there is an issue with fuel pressure being built up prior to cranking? I also want to mention that I've gotten a faint whiff of gas on occasion. Not sure if it's from me pumping the accelerator to get it crank (which doesn't seem to do anything), but I just wanted to throw that out there. Again, it's a new fuel pump - I know that doesn't mean it can't be the pump, but I'm hoping it's something simple like a sensor or something? This gal is not a mechanic, but I know my way around an engine a little but this one has me stumped. Any and all help is greatly appreciated!

 

Welcome to the forum

First the gas pedal is an AIR Pedal, so leave it be

Try cycling the key on and off 3 times, and THEN try to start the engine
If it starts up faster and stays running then your problem is the loss of fuel pressure when it sits with key OFF

Your 2000 Ranger needs at least 30psi pressure to start and stay running, it runs with 60psi pressure
The Fuel pump only runs for 2 seconds with key on, its a safety thing
And that 2 seconds adds about 10psi to existing pressure
If it was 0psi then you only get 10psi so it would start and then die

If you cycle key on and off 3 times that should get you 30psi

The system should hold 40psi pressure with key off for MONTHS and MONTHS
The reason it wouldn't would be in the gas tank in 2000, the fuel pump or the Fuel Pressure Regulator are BOTH in the gas tank on the assembly you just changed

So if its under warranty you may want to swap it out

Anyway try the test and see if loss of fuel pressure is the reason for the startup issue

 

Thanks! I actually cycled the key a few times and it would start. It got to the point where I couldn't get it start at all. So today, I replaced the fuel filter and the plugs and wires (sheesh, what a pain in the **** it was doing that). After everything was on, I got in, cycled the key a few times as I has just intalled the new fuel filter and voila - it cranked right up and I let it run for 5 or so minutes and the idling smoothed out and I was ecstatic. I turned the truck off, hauled my tools in and went back out becuase I wanted to hear it start just one more time - and I have not been able to get it to start sense. All I changed were the plugs, wires, and fuel filter. It ran like a dream and after I turned it off it will NOT start. I'm beyond baffled. I checked for spark and I'm getting spark. I do not have a fuel pressure guage but I pressed in on the valve and fuel shot out so it appears to be getting fuel. Any ideas on what to look at next?

 

You have a 2.5l SOHC by the way, same as the 2.3l SOHC just longer stroke, 1983 to 1997 Ranger had the 2.3l SOHC, 1998-2001 Ranger had the 2.5L SOHC

OK, so no start
When you turn on the key the CEL(check engine light) will come on, that means the computer is on
When you turn the key to START, and engine starts to spin, CEL should go OFF, that means computer is getting a timing pulse and will start spark and fuel injectors

Fuel pressure does not mean fuel IN the engine, just means fuel AT the engine
Spray some fuel INTO the engine, 50/50 test
See if it starts

These SOHC engines used a timing belt and they can break at any time, and No Start
If it does not start by adding fuel manually look behind the timing belt cover and have someone crank the engine, you should see the timing belt turning, if not its broken

 

Today's update:
Btw, CEL comes on when key is turned to on but goes out when engine is cranked. The check engine light has not come on and when I checked yesterday, it isn't throwing any codes.

Again, as of yesterday - I could not get the truck to start again after the intial start after the tune up/fuel filter replacement.

This morning I decided to go out and just see if it would start. I did not cycle the key on/off - I turned the key and the truck started right up. I turned it off, turned the key again and it wouldn't start. A family member came by about an hour later and I was explaining the issue to them so they took the keys out to try and it started right up. They turned the engine off and then started it again. I'm beyond baffled at this point.

Ok, I waited a few hours and went out to try again. Again, I turned the key and it cranked right up. Idled up to about 2000rpms and then went down around 1100. (Just something I noticed.) At no point today was the key cycled before the first start. I still haven't tested the fuel pressure, but it seems like the pressure is holding when it sits now. I did try cycling the key when I was having trouble trying to re-start, but it didn't make a difference at all today.

As of this evening, I went out again and started it, immediately turned the engine off and started it again and let it run for a few minutes. I turned if off and then tried to restart but it wouldn't. It's almost as if the problem is reversed now. All day today, it has started just fine every time on the first try, after it has sat. I know there are like 25 things to check like MAF, IACV, sensors, fuel pump relay, etc - I'm not sure where to go next. Any and all thoughts are welcomed and appreciated. :)