I got a 1998 ford ranger, automatic transmission, v6 3.0. It had trouble starting up today which was a first. It took about 7 seconds of cranking the ignition but then it started fine. drove fine too until I got home and the oil pressure gauge started jumping up and down like crazy and then the engine died. I put it in park and it started up again just fine. Kind of a weird problem, anyone encountered this?

 

Have you checked the oil level?

 

I did and its right between the min and max marks

 

Welcome to the forum

Oil gauge should flicker if RPMs drop below 600, so that wasn't a symptom or cause of why engine died, it was a result as engine died, same as battery light coming on when engine dies

After engine sits you may be losing fuel pressure, so next time its been sitting longer than 5 hours, cycle the key on and off 3 times, then try to start engine

Also the IAC(idle air control) Valve is used by the computer to set cold and then warm idle RPMs
Its also OPENED all the way to Start the engine to get enough air in
So your engine should REV up to 1,500+ RPMs on startup and then drop down to 1,100 or so if COLD, or 750 if warm
If thats not happening then IAC Valve may need a good cleaning

 

Thanks for all the good info. So you're saying a bad IAC could cause both problems? It could be the reason it had a hard time starting and could've caused the engine to die?

 

Yes, could be a few things, IAC Valve is one of them

Clean it


Just as a heads up, Ford computers need Motorcraft or Hitachi brand IAC Valves, other brands often cause other issues, wandering idle, high idle, stalling.

 

So Hitachi makes the IAC valve for Ford ?

 

No I don't think so, but Hitachi does make a solenoid type IAC Valve that fits Rangers, most 3rd party brands are Stepper/solenoid type
Motorcraft is solenoid type

 

I forgot to say thanks. I cleaned the IAC as well as I could with some carb cleaner I had laying around and she runs good again. I couldn't get all the carbon out so I ordered a new motorcraft IAC. It should run good enough until then. Thanks!! you just saved a broke a** college kid a trip to the mechanic lol

 

Good stuff

Thank for the update and the FIX