Hi all,

My 99, 4.0 ranger has a hard time starting when its cold out and it has sit over night. I usally have to crank it twice until it will start and when it dose start it hesitates a little and then idles fine. I have replaced the idle air control and the fuel filter. The engine runs good and strong. Could bad plugs and wires cause hard starting? Any Ideas:
thanks,
mike

 

Any one,

This is a returning probem. I bought the truck in october snd it had the same problem plud it would idle rough and die. I cganged the iac and it solved the problem. the truck would start in the coldest conditions, but now it returned minus the idle problems. On tuseday it was about 40 degrees out and it fired instanly.

 

With the truck turned off, fuel pressure should remain in the fuel manifold. If an injector is leaking off the pressure, it may cause your problem. It will also bleed fuel into the oil system (past the rings). Does your oil smell of fuel, or does the level increase slowly over time? Also, you can check for pressure at the fuel pressure test port on the fuel rail after the truck sits overnight. Just push in on the valve stem, and you should get a spray of fuel. Good luck.

 

Man, I like this guy sjwoody, it's like he is reading my mind. Another test you can use is to turn key for prime cycle of fuel pump without cranking, return key to off position and wait 5 seconds then try to crank if it fires quicker you have an injector leaking or fuel pump not holding pressure at rail.On a side note to your original ? Yes poor tune up equipment will also give you a hard start issue.

 

Thanks, for the help! were is the pressure release at. I checked the oil qnd it dose seem fuller, although it is the first time I checked it since my oil change a month and a half ago. I triedcycling the ignition swithch like mentioed and that didnt help. I noticed that the negitive battery cable looks really corodide. I am going to replace it and see if it helps. thanks

 

Well, I replaced the cable and it didnt help. I will chck the pressure release when I find out where it is; I cant even see the fuel rail.
could a senor be causing this problem? It only dose this when it is below freezing, other then that sarts fine.

 

Ok, I checked for pressure at the rail and there wasnt any pressure there untile I turned the key on. Is there anyway to figure out where it is bleeding off for sure? I had someone replace the fuel filter, could that be leaking?

 

Well, I decide to look at the fuel filter, and down from the filter about six inhes werethe line from the filter conects to the hard line I noticed a little dampness around the fitting. I checcked to see if it was loose and it was, so I tightend it with my hand. Im not sure if that was the cause or not. Do they tighten like that? Just wondering if I atually did anything. I guess I will see tomarrow when try to start it. When I drove the truck after that it did seem like it had more power when I tried to pass a car, butit may be all in my head. thanks

 

Mike, my first generation fords (91-94) are likely different than your 99 as far as fuel filter and fittings...sorry I can't help you there. However, it sounds to me you're on the right track. One other thing I don't know is if there's a check valve at the pump itself inside the tank. We might be barking up the wrong tree here, but it sure sounds like you're losing manifold pressure somewhere. Hopefully, tightening that line solved your problem.
Thanks for the comment wheelsup...I consider that a compliment. Sometimes I do get things completely wrong though....[&:]

 

Well, I went out this morning and tried to start it and it started a little better, still took 5 sec of cranking and still stumbled, but it was a lot warmer this morning. Is there sensors that could solve the problem. when its just above frezzing or warmer it starts ok. I still havent had time to have the fuel pressure yet because of work and school. The truck runs hard and strong even at high speeds.