Ranger long cranking starts sometimes
 

Hi, I have a 2001 Ranger with the 4.0 v6. When I go out in the mornings truck always starts right up an runs great.

After being driven around a while if I let it sit with the car off say for a half an hour to an hour while im getting groceries or whatever the car will have a long crank start when I come back out. To remedy this I cycle the key a few times which i believe is priming the system more. Then it will start right up without the long crank.

IF I turn the car off and back on within 5-10 minutes without letting it sit for a while it starts right back up.

I have been driving it like this for the last year or so around town, but this weekend I am going to be about 60 miles into the desert and was hoping to find a remedy as I dont want my fuel pump or whatever else is causing this to fail...

My understanding was that fuel pumps either work or they dont, they do not slowly die... Am I wrong? What else could this be? Maybe the check valve? Fuel filter? I have seen some with similar issues saying battery but thats kind of hard to believe as I have an optima red top that cranks the engine over really good and fast... Have been searching the last few hours with no solution....

Also was thinking of carrying a spare inline fuel pump with a 5 gallon jug of gas in the back of my truck to limp home with in worst case scenario... not sure if this is feasible or not yet still researching that.

Im just looking for someone with more insight than I.... If it was the battery or the fuel pump check valve, or the fuel filter, than why does it start right up in the mornings after sitting more than 12 hours? But not when I shut the engine off for an hour or so?


Thanks so much for all the great info on here and any helpful input is appreciated.

I am having a similar problem. It starts perfectly normal when cold. I have tested with a fuel pressure gauge and when I first turn the key on the pressure rises for about 2 seconds then falls quickly to 0 psi. After a long crank ( about 5 seconds) it starts there is 70 psi and it runs perfectly normal? The check valve in the tank must be bad?

The fuel filter on Ford "Returnless" fuel system has a return line, so it will have a check valve inside, I would replace the filter if it hasn't been replaced in the last 5 years.

As far as the symptoms, maybe you are leaking fuel into the intake from an injector or Damper.
This could cause Flooded Engine after a half hour or so.
But just after shut down leaking fuel would evaporate fairly fast in warm intake so no flooded engine after 5-10 minutes.
And after sitting longer, overmight, fuel would also evaporate.
Damper is at the end of the fuel rail, near firewall, it has a vacuum line attached.
Remove this vacuum line and check it for fuel, there should be no fuel or fuel smell.

After driving it home from work or ??, shut off engine and remove air plenum(big air tube) from intake.
Give it 20-30 minutes then open throttle and smell intake for gas smell, there should be none.

All fuel injection computers have a Clear Flooded Engine routine
Turn on the key
Press gas pedal all the way to the floor and hold it down