Intermittent starting please help
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From: Spokane
Intermittent starting please help
forgive me if I post this in the wrong thread but ok I got a 99 ford ranger 3.0 and lately it has a problem with starting like I’ll drive it for 10 minute then shut it off and it won’t turn on again if I wait 30 minutes it will be cold then I can start it again I started the truck drove it and parked it so I could get it to where it was having the problem so I could check stuff and I checked the spark spark was good I checked fuel fuel was good and when it goes back to running again I literally can’t notice any problems no idling weird no misfires nothing but then there’s weeks where the problem will completely go away and it will start every Time like I’m so confused I don’t have the money to spend on throwing parts at it till it runs so was looking for ideas and thank you so much for reading.
Welcome to the forum
Fuel pump can act that way until it quits for good, maybe fuel pump relay
Get a can of Quick start(ether), warm up engine, turn it off, confirm a No Start, spray ether into the intake, try to start engine, if it starts and then dies, then most likely the fuel pump is the issue
Its called a 50/50 test because it tells you instantly if a No Start is a spark or fuel issue, 50/50
There is no way to test if spark is at the right time, unless you use a timing light
There is no way to check if fuel is getting into the cylinders unless you pull out spark plugs and look for wet tips
Spark tester and fuel pressure tell you squat, lol, sorry but useless when you have a No Start
50/50 test is what you need to do
Electric motors, like the fuel pump, can get heat sensitive, once they start running they stay running even if temp sensitive, but getting it to start working again can be the problem until it cools down.
When you turn on the key you can HEAR the fuel pump in the tank run for 2 seconds, it only runs for 2 seconds, but it does that EACH TIME you turn key from off to on
So repeat the on/off/on as much as you like, doesn't hurt anything, to confirm you KNOW what the fuel pump sounds like
At the next No Start, listen.....................
Fuel pump relay is a long shot, its in the engine fuse box, FP Relay, if this fails it usually doesn't start to work again
1999 Ranger with a V6 was the first year of PATS(passive anti theft system), this disables the fuel pump and injectors if the wrong key is used in the ignition
BUT...............Theft Light on the dash will flash rapidly if PATS has disable fuel system, which you don't mention
Fuel pump can act that way until it quits for good, maybe fuel pump relay
Get a can of Quick start(ether), warm up engine, turn it off, confirm a No Start, spray ether into the intake, try to start engine, if it starts and then dies, then most likely the fuel pump is the issue
Its called a 50/50 test because it tells you instantly if a No Start is a spark or fuel issue, 50/50
There is no way to test if spark is at the right time, unless you use a timing light
There is no way to check if fuel is getting into the cylinders unless you pull out spark plugs and look for wet tips
Spark tester and fuel pressure tell you squat, lol, sorry but useless when you have a No Start
50/50 test is what you need to do
Electric motors, like the fuel pump, can get heat sensitive, once they start running they stay running even if temp sensitive, but getting it to start working again can be the problem until it cools down.
When you turn on the key you can HEAR the fuel pump in the tank run for 2 seconds, it only runs for 2 seconds, but it does that EACH TIME you turn key from off to on
So repeat the on/off/on as much as you like, doesn't hurt anything, to confirm you KNOW what the fuel pump sounds like
At the next No Start, listen.....................
Fuel pump relay is a long shot, its in the engine fuse box, FP Relay, if this fails it usually doesn't start to work again
1999 Ranger with a V6 was the first year of PATS(passive anti theft system), this disables the fuel pump and injectors if the wrong key is used in the ignition
BUT...............Theft Light on the dash will flash rapidly if PATS has disable fuel system, which you don't mention
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From: Spokane
Yeah ok wel idk I kinda just fix the stuff I can to save money so I don’t know a whole lot per say but I can here the fuel pump turning on every time I know there’s fuel at least getting out the fuel filter and I tried ether and it didn’t do anything but I’ll try more tomorrow
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From: Spokane
Oh and the pats system is what I thought it was at first but if that went out wouldn’t it just not start ever? Oh and also I switched my relays around from the fuel pump too to see if maybe that was the issue still nothing
1999 was first year Rangers got PATS and many didn't have starter motor disable until 2001
And PATS reads the number inside the Key in the ignition, its a Radio signal so can be hit and miss if reader or key is weak, so can be intermittent, but just effects startup, PATS can not cause a running issue or stall the engine once it starts
Try the 50/50 test just to see if spark is working, simple test
And PATS reads the number inside the Key in the ignition, its a Radio signal so can be hit and miss if reader or key is weak, so can be intermittent, but just effects startup, PATS can not cause a running issue or stall the engine once it starts
Try the 50/50 test just to see if spark is working, simple test
Last edited by RonD; Dec 24, 2018 at 01:25 PM.
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From: Spokane
Yeah I tried using ether and it wouldn’t start I feel like it’s something that’s coming undone or loose cause just today it was starting no problem even after it warmed up just I looked around couldn’t see anything and my pats light never blinks at all when I’m driving
So not a fuel problem
You have a Spark problem
You can test the red wire at the coil pack, it should have 12volts with key on, also test any fuel injector's Red wire, it should also have 12volts key on
Only things that can prevent spark in 1999 are the Crank sensor, these usually fail and don't start working again
And the CAM sensor, these should set a code and turn on engine light if intermittent
You have a Spark problem
You can test the red wire at the coil pack, it should have 12volts with key on, also test any fuel injector's Red wire, it should also have 12volts key on
Only things that can prevent spark in 1999 are the Crank sensor, these usually fail and don't start working again
And the CAM sensor, these should set a code and turn on engine light if intermittent
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From: Spokane
Ok
Ok so I finally got back to it and I found out that the problem was flooding the engine lol usually every car I’ve had was always old carberated trucks and a diesel or a couple Honda’s never knew you could flood a fuel inject car that easy but basicly when it started having the problem I pushed the gas pedal down all the way and bam it started
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