Hi - I'm new here, but I have a very frustrating issue:

My 2004 Ford Ranger XLT 3.0L, 75K miles will NOT re-start on a hot / humid day. When cold, it starts and runs great. If I shut it down after driving around a bit, the engine will crank normally, but will NOT start, no matter what. I've been stranded a few times now.

I've changed out the spark plugs, fuel pump relay, the coolant temp sensor, the thermostat and put in fresh coolant. Checked the inertia switch, it seems ok. No blown fuses that I can see. I asked my local Autozone if they could pull some codes for me, they said they wouldn't touch it unless the Check Engine light was on (which it isn't). WTF.

When trying to start it hot, I watched the RPM guage, it seems to stay at 0 until the engine coughs, then it indicates a few hundred RPMs, so it seems like crankshaft sensor is working. I popped the gas cap off and turned the key on, didn't notice any primer pump hum / noise, but maybe too much outside racket to tell.

Ok, so I was thinking maybe the fuel pump, but once I get the truck running, it stays running fine / steady. I would think that a bad fuel pump would cause it to stop running at some point, but not sure.

Anyone have any experience with this issue...?? Any suggestions...??
It's driving me nuts. HELP!!

 

When it's hot and won't start, is there any small of fuel from the engine bay ?
How's you fuel economy ?
When was the last time the fuel filter was replaced ?
When you're at the gas station do you fill it right up to the neck or stop at first click ?

 

Hi Jeff R –

I haven’t noticed any gasoline smells or anything coming from the engine compartment. I typically fill up a bit past the first click, but a bit short of the neck. Fuel filter has never been replaced, but am skeptical that this would cause a hot start problem vs. a consistent no start / performance issue...(?).

 

I was thinking the EVAP system may be at fault if the carbon canister became choked with fuel.
With that said, that should throw up a code _ one would think.

On the left side of the upper intake manifold, at the front near the bottom is a vacuum line, at least that is where the EVAP system line is connected on my 99.
The line is large and feeds into the EVAP solenoid on the drivers fender well.

Pull that off, it should not smell like fuel.
When it's off, try staring it when it's hot, and doesn't want to start.

I'm thinking that there is a vapor lock somewhere caused when it gets hot out.
That's why I was thinking of the fuel filter.
Gas expands when it gets hot, although not a huge amount.
If the filter needed changing and ran fine when it was cool, perhaps marginal fuel filter is the problem _ a bit of along shot, but cheap to find out.

 

Welcome to the forum


Get some Quick Start(ether in a spray can) or some gasoline in a spray bottle.

Drive the truck until it is good and hot, and take it home
Shut it off and try to start it, to confirm a No Start
Pop the hood and pull off the large air tube from the intake
Open throttle plate and spray fuel into the intake
You can leave air tube off if it won't hit the fan
Try to start

This is the 50/50 test

If it starts then Fuel is your problem, or lack of it, spark is working
If it doesn't start then Spark is the issue

So 50/50

Spark starts when Crank sensor does, as does fuel, crank sensors rarely fail but not never, however they do tend to fail out right, same as fuel pumps, just one day they do not work and strand you, lol, intermittent for either is very very rare indeed.

 

I have the same issue as you do with the warm start up issue. I checked and I do not have fuel pressure when it is hot and not starting. I too have changed out multiple parts with no change and no error codes. I am now thinking that the computer is not allowing the fuel pump to get power. Not sure why but that is what I am leaning towards. I have to measure for voltage at the pump when I am having this issue to see if I am getting power to the pump. If I am getting voltage then the pump is bad if I am not getting voltage then the computer is not sending voltage for some reason. Any thoughts or easy checks that anyone knows of? Thank you all. 2004 Ford Ranger XLT 4X4