1994 4cyl Engine Problems

Sunlow · 04-16-2008, 11:58 PM

I have a 1994 2WD Ranger with a 2.3L 4cyl engine. The truck has about 195k on it. The original motor was replaced at 155k with a motor that had about 55k on it. All total, the new motor is coming up on 100k miles.

After the motor swap, I noticed that the truck would fail to start at random times...I'd drive it for anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, shut it off for 5-10 minutes and then it would not start. The starter would keep cranking, but the motor wouldn't fire. Usually, waiting for 5 minutes or so would fix the problem and the truck would start right up again. After doing this for several months, the motor started dying while I was going down the road...cool weather, hot weather - it didn't matter...I'd be driving along and the motor would just quit. I'd have to sit for 5-10 minutes and then the motor would crank again.

I had a mechanic look at it and he replaced the fuel pump. This worked for about two months. I had the same mechanic put in another fuel pump...two months or so later, the problem re-appeared. This time I took it to the Ford dealer who also said it was the fuel pump and replaced it with a Ford fuel pump. This time, the problem re-appeared within a couple of weeks. The dealership claimed to have checked everything they could think of and couldn't find the problem. The original mechanic kept the truck for almost a month and got it to re-produce the problem. This time, he replaced the ignition module. After that, the truck sat for a couple of weeks and now won't crank at all. The starter tries to turn the motor over, but the motor won't fire.

So far, the truck is on its third fuel pump in about 8 months. I did read another post dealing with older pumps vapor locking at high temps, but since Ford has replaced the pump with an OEM part, I assumed I'd get the upgraded one that wasn't prone to vapor locking. Aside from that, this problem surfaces even in cooler weather. There are no warning lights or check engine lights associated with this problem. The truck just fails to start or the motor quits.

I'm not very mechanically inclined and am at my wits end with this truck...it's a great little truck when it runs! I searched the forum prior to posting this, but only found one thread that might help with my problem...any advice would be greatly appreciated.

jonmark1985 · 04-17-2008, 05:21 AM

Right now you need to check if your getting any fuel or any spark.

Sunlow · 04-21-2008, 11:42 AM

thanks for the info. I did some checking and I think I have isolated the problem to the fuel cutoff inertia switch under the carpet on the passenger side. Today, it ran for a little while, but when I parked it for about 10 minutes, it wouldn't start again....starter chugged along, but motor wouldn't fire. I held the ignition down while jiggling the wire plug connected to that inertia switch and it fired right up. I've ordered a new switch...if that don't work, I'll try a new plug...maybe a bad/loose connection. Anyway, thanks for the advice.

naturallysmashed · 04-28-2008, 01:10 PM

to me that sounds like what it could be... didn't think of it until you mentioned it, neither did the mechanics i'm sure. good luck!

joel_sfb · 04-30-2008, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunlow

thanks for the info. I did some checking and I think I have isolated the problem to the fuel cutoff inertia switch under the carpet on the passenger side. Today, it ran for a little while, but when I parked it for about 10 minutes, it wouldn't start again....starter chugged along, but motor wouldn't fire. I held the ignition down while jiggling the wire plug connected to that inertia switch and it fired right up. I've ordered a new switch...if that don't work, I'll try a new plug...maybe a bad/loose connection. Anyway, thanks for the advice.

Hope the inertia switch solves the problem for you. If it does it again with the new switch, try push starting your truck when it won't start with the key (if it's a manual tranny). If it fires up with a push but won't start with the key it might be a sensor under the hood. I am struggling with this on my 92 2.3L ranger right now. I think I have it narrowed down to either the Crankshaft Position Sensor or the Camshaft Position Sensor... or maybe the EEC Relay... Haven't found it yet though. Goodluck!