my son was driving his rangerit left him on the side of the road it has spark changed the fuel filter the fuel pump runs for a sec then stops any thoughts any help welcome

 

What year is the Ranger, engine, mileage ect.. Any check engine light?

 

its a 97 ranger /2.3 / 151190 / standard trans / check engine lite not on and the testor i have says no codes found

 

How about the fuel reset button? That device that shuts down the fuel system when in an accident. I wouldn't know though where that is on your truck.

 

i thought about the reset button but i can't find it

 

If the inertia switch trips, the pump won't run at all, and would need to be manually reset.. It doesn't reset on it's own.. If you say you 'hear' the pump run during a start attempt,or more so when'bumping' the starter, if it runseven for a scond or two which it would normally do to build spec fuel line/system for a start then the inertia switch should be closed.. The pump pressure would be the next thing I'd check since you state you have a good/hot spark.. Could be the fuel pump itself, or a fuel pump relay.. If you have a gauge I can post the info to test the pressure, and for the fuel pump relay connector to 'run test' the pump and check for power distribution on down to the at least the inertia.. Bridging the fuel relay connections will take the PCM, Fuel Relay or of the diagnostic loop...

 

i have gauges the other thing is i had the fuel filter off to check for gas it has a good steady stream for about 3 sec then quits when i turn the truck on shouldn't the fuel pump stay running the whole time the key is on?

 

No,,

If the engine doesn't start, the fuel pump will time out with the key released.. The PCM is in control of pump run time.. With a higher mileage truck, and if its the original pump, the pressure as well as fuel volume should be checked as part of the diagnostic since they have a fairly high failure rate with age.. If you have a fuel pressure gauge, you can tap into the fuel rail valve and either cycle the key/bump the starter to run the pump and check for pressure, or bridge the pump relay to run the pump continuous.. Could be other issues causing it to not start as well, but as part of the diagnostic sometimes you need to rule out whats not the problem... PCM, shorted sensor, ignition, harness/circuit problemsect could all be possibilities..

 

sounds like a plan thanks for your help i'll see what this thing does

 

Something else to check...Would also check for a "GREEN" ground.Start from the battery and check all ground connections. This will cause the PCM module to have a faulty ground causing the fuel injectors not to operate even though everything else checks out. Had this happen on my 88 ranger. Was driving down the highway and the engine just quit running as if the key was turned off. Drove me bonkers for about 3 days. Found a bad ground coming off the battery going to a 5-point splice that fed the PCM module. Everything worked like it should except for the injectors. The engine would run as long as I fed it fuel thru the intake. The PCM didn't have a good ground to signal the injectors. Fixed the ground and all was OK.