Truck will crank over but won't start ! What could be the problem?

Tiny
APRIL1980
  • MEMBER
  • 1991 FORD RANGER
  • 200,000 MILES
The Ranger was just in the shop for a water pump and the day we got it out, it was drove about 20 miles to work. That night it would not start. It would crank over but was not starting. Starting fluid was sprayed in hopes that it would start but nothing. There was no fire to it. The vehicle was towed home and a new distributor was put on but it still won't start. What could the problem be?
Thursday, December 29th, 2011 AT 7:31 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
FIXITMR
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,990 POSTS
Still no spark?
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Thursday, December 29th, 2011 AT 7:33 PM
Tiny
FIXITMR
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,990 POSTS
Have you checked voltages at coil and distributor?
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Thursday, December 29th, 2011 AT 7:35 PM
Tiny
APRIL1980
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
UPDATE: I have read some questions/answers and gave a few suggestions to try. Took the battery cable off to reset and it fired up. Ran a few minutes. Then shut back off. I suggested the fuel pump relay switch(whatever that is) and he apparently found it and it started again, he let it warm up and has now taken it around the block. He stated that the RPM's is acting a little crazy now but with all this hopefully he has at least fixed it. The voltages have been checked. Could it possibbly be the fuel pump since it didn't want to stay running and it only moved about a few feet? With all hopes, maybe my suggestions helped out a little. Just waiting on him to get back home !
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Thursday, December 29th, 2011 AT 8:13 PM
Tiny
FIXITMR
  • MECHANIC
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Dont sound like pump. Sounds like ignition issue.
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Thursday, December 29th, 2011 AT 8:41 PM
Tiny
FIXITMR
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,990 POSTS
Could even be ignition switch on that old a vehicle.
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Thursday, December 29th, 2011 AT 8:42 PM

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