Hopefully someone can give me some incite as to what might be going on here. I sold my 2002 Ranger XLT 4.0 4x4 a few months back to my nephew and he's now having a few issues that I'd like to help him with. The truck is now having a hard time starting in the morning and he has to pump the gas pedal a few times for it to start but will start fine after that for the rest of the day or at least a while. I changed the fuel pump two years ago but didn't get an expensive one, could this be the fuel pump again or is there something else I should be looking at? Last time it was actually the fuel pump regulator that was bad so the turning the key to the on position and waiting test doesn't make a difference this time, it's still hard to start. I should also mention that the EVAP purge value went bad a month ago and although I have it, he's hasn't found the time to come by for ten minutes so I could put the new one on, could this have something to do with the hard start.

He's also concerned about the 4x4. We've suspected the switch needed to be replaced as it turned off on me a few times' last winter but haven't changed it yet as it only did it the one time I was driving. He I guess turned in on while going down a wet/mudding road and feels like it's not rolling as easily as it should. I haven't had a chance to look at it yet, but I seem to remember the truck always feeling like there was more resistance to rolling on its own when it's in 4x4 mode. Is this correct or is this related to the switch issue, maybe the 4x4 isn't engaging all the way because of the switch? Any help would be appreciated! Thanks guys

 

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The dash 4x4 switch never breaks, ever, in any 1995 thru 2011 Ranger
In a 2002 Ranger the 4x4CM(control module) often breaks, its behind passenger side kick panel
When you turn the key on both 4WD lights on the dash should come on and go off(if in 2WD), thats a BULB TEST, all dash indicator lights should come on
When you select 4High you should hear "click" from 4x4CM and the shift motor turning, the the 4high light should come on after that, if no click and no light its most likely the 4x4CM
If you hear the click and then 4WD lights start to flash then most likely the shift motor is the issue


You/he has a Fuel Injected engine
This means there is no "gas" pedal, when you "pump the gas pedal" you are NOT adding more gas, you are adding more AIR, it doesn't have a carburetor that actually pumps gas into the engine using the gas pedal
And gas pedal has no control of the fuel injectors, computer controls the injectors based on RPMs, gas pedal's position sensor(TPS) is there to give the computer a "heads up" that there is more air coming in, or less air coming in


You don't turn key on and wait
You turn key on, then off, count to 3, then on again, 3 times, this runs the fuel pump for 2 seconds each time key is turned from off to on, so 6 seconds of run time, this will give fuel system 30psi of fuel pressure if it was 0psi
Yes, outside of a fuel leak you WILL SMELL, lol, the regulator or the fuel pump in the gas tank are the only places that can allow fuel pressure to drop to 0psi while parked, could be less expensive fuel pump assembly is the issue

2002 4.0l SOHC engine doesn't have a Fuel Pressure test port like the older 4.0l had, which is a pain for diagnosing fuel pressure issues
But you can do this
Crank the engine to see if there is a No start
Do the key on and off 3 times and see if it starts, if so then yes its a fuel pressure issue
If not then it isn't, could be crank sensor issue

Watch the CEL(Check engine light)
CEL should come on with key on, that means computer has booted up
Crank engine, CEL should go OFF, that means crank sensor is working and computer will start spark and fuel injectors
If CEL stays on while while engine is spinning then no spark and no injectors = no start