Hi i have a 1994 ranger with a 2.3L standard shift. it has little over 200k on it. it runs good when it starts. i started having problems with it starting roughly 6 months ago. it happens randomly. one day it will start fine the next it not. i am even nervous about shutting the truck off whle at the gas station. heres an example. the other day i drove 20 mins with no problems stopped at a fast food joint long enough to eat so i was there 15 mins. Afterwards it started just fine, drove down the block to a gas station. i did not get gas cause i still had 3/4 of a tank. I was in there 5-10 mins and the truck wouldnt start to leave. It cranks over just fine, but there is no fuel pressure in the rail. Because this has been going on for awhile i learned to keep a nut driver and starting fluid in my truck so that i can get it to start. i use to be able to get it to start off one good shot of fluid but lately its been taking alot more to get it to finally fire. Lately it seems im having trouble if i run it for a short amount of time and have it shut off for a short amount of time. Within the past week it has givin me trouble 3 times. In the past 4-5 months i have replaced a few parts and nothing seems to fix it.

things that i have changed: I put in a brand new fuel pump and it was not the cheap brand name. When i changed the pump i put on new strainer and a new filter. still didnt fix the problem. i dont think its the relay because i swtich it with another one.

some people are telling me that it could be a leaky injector, which doesnt make sense cause a leaky injector would give me more fuel. some others are telling me maybe its the fuel regulator. but my problem doesnt happen all the time. it may happen every day for a week straight or it may be a month before it happens again. I need help. Any imputs that i can try would help greatly. Thank you

 

All your symptoms point to the Fuel pressure regulator

Make sure it's getting vacuum

Also check all your electrical connections....ground leads to the chassis and block included just in case

 

I looked over the electrical conections before and didnt see anythin but ill look again and look into the vacuum. Is there a way to test the fuel regulator like a bench press test or something like that?

 

Can't be tested as far as I know

You could get a fuel pressure tester and see what kind of pressure you're getting at the rail
During cold and warm starts.

Should be about 40psi at idle.