87 Ranger SERIOUS ISSUES!! Please Help

[Shadow92]

1987 Ford Ranger 2wd, 2.9L V6.

This is my first truck, it sucks. I have been driving it fine for the past 3 months then something went wrong. It died on the freeway and then 10 mins later and then the day before that. I assumed it was vapor lock as everyone else did, after the first time it died i started it a few hours later and it ran fine. Now its in my garage. It had trouble starting and then when it did start it ran ok for a minute then died and wouldnt start for a while. I figured probably a fuel pump issue. So I changed the internal fuel pump and no improvments. then external rail pump, Now it starts everytime but still dies, even with the idle turned up. Then i changed the fuel filter, No improvments. 2 months before i had changed the fuel pressure regulator. It is running way to rich, you can smell raw fuel in the exaust. I pulled the oxygen sensor out but didnt change it. Im only 16, School starts monday and I have a very limited amount of money. My insurance is $151 a month, Transmission payment is $100 a month and gas is about $100 a month. I have to pay all of this on my own plus all of the parts I just changed. Please If you have any Idea or even think you do. Help me

[moon lake rick]

Hi! I have no real answers for you. Just wanted to give you some support. I'm so glad to hear your trying to solve the problem yourself by whatever means you can. I'm not 16 anymore but sure can remember them good times when a couple of us would work and work on our rides. Sure makes you so proud to get the problem fixed. This is how you learn and you will never forget it. Keep looking for the answer. Might even be electrical. Sometimes weird little thing can cause a problem. Best to you. Best times are ahead for you. Enjoy your youth working on cars and other things. Wish I was there again....USA is the GREATEST

[strongoak]

Try replacing module inside distributor. I previously owned an 86 ranger (2.9 V6) that would stall and not start until it cooled. I found that by replacing modules inside distributor every 80,000 miles it prevented future problems. I also found that my gas mileage had dropped about 5 miles per gallon and replaced the o2 sensor and it restored the gas mileage to normal which ran from 22-25 mpg (mostly open road). I kept the truck until rust became a problem. I had 218,000 miles on it and sold it to my brother who is still driving it. Let me know if this works for you.

[mark v]

Your best help is to post in the Ranger section and describe what is happening, most people come to this section just to introduce them selfs to the forum.

Welcome to the forum.

[sabby]

hey shadow, good for you! i too started out like you except i had my dad by my side and he drove me nuts he would make me guess what was wrong and then if i settled on something he would make me change it wether i was right or wrong, taught me some lessons quick when it was my own money. first rule of car repair- k.i.s.s. keep it simple stupid- sorry but thats the saying, start with simple stuff, like testing for spark and fuel pressure, even replacing fuel pump relay is a good idea- lord knows how old the you have is and they fail often enough. i didnt hear you say you replaced the fuel filter.... start with things like that. fuel relays get hot in a few mins and if its worn it will cut out on you. i hope this helps and best of luck ~sabby

[mytoy]

Hey im new here but yeah i would agree with the strong oak guy but it would be under neath your dist. it's flat on some car's and has two wires attached... shouldn't be inside and it's probably gonna cost you 35 to 50 bucks and it's got two screws and stuff like that.. if you need a walk through let me know