1991 Ford Bronco !991 Bronco won't start

NDRCVRMGL

MEMBER
1991 FORD BRONCO
V8
4WD
AUTOMATIC
57,340 MILES

Not sure if the mileage has rolled, seems low... Anyways...
It seems that there's fuel getting to where it needs to go, but there's no spark, I think. She wants to start (does that "rrrr, rrrr, rrr... I'm dead" sound), ready to turn over, but nothing. I bought her used for cheap from a lemon lot, so I knew there would be problems, and of course my Chilton's is no where to be found. She had a few times where I'd go to start her,and it would take a few tries before she'd fire up. This is what I've done so far:
-New starter solenoid
-new alternator
-replaced all the vacuum hoses
-new spark plugs and spark plug wires
-new battery
-checked fuel PSI ( good)
-bypassed fuel pump just in case, fuel pump not the problem
Oh, and for some reason, there's a rear cargo light in the that doesn't seem to want to ever shut off. Any ideas on that? Pulled the bulb, it was annoying...
Thanks for the help in advance, and sorry I couldn't donate more!

5 Replies

RACEFAN966

MECHANIC
5,029 POSTS

OK so what was the fuel pressure? I want the numbers. I also would like you to pull a spark plug wire off from a spark plug and put an old spark plug in it or a philips screwdriver and put near metal like the valve cover and crank it over is there spark? The light is probably a door pin switch but we can get that later. Let me know what you find.

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Tuesday, April 13th, 2010 AT 8:22 AM

NDRCVRMGL

MEMBER
5 POSTS

I honestly don't know the numbers for the fuel PSI. The ex checked that, but I did the test that you said to do, and there's spark. Since he was so adamant that it couldn't be the fuel pump, I'm thinking it is, I don't hear it priming, that one time could have been it's last gasp.

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Tuesday, April 13th, 2010 AT 10:08 AM

RACEFAN966

MECHANIC
5,029 POSTS

I am thinking you are correct. If there is spark and there was fuel it would start and run. Anyway if you don't hear the pump hum for the first 3 seconds you turn the key on then you need to check the pump. What I would do is take the gas cap off and as you are near the filler have the key turned on (no need to try to start it) you should hear it hum for about 3 seconds if not then plan on dropping the tank and replacing the pump. The pump is about 170 dollars so not to terrible. Replace the fuel filter too if it hasn't been replaced yet ok. Let me know how things go ok.

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Wednesday, April 14th, 2010 AT 9:44 AM

NDRCVRMGL

MEMBER
5 POSTS

There was no hum, so I went to the junk yard and got a $75 fuel pump. 4 beers, some new swear words invented, and some bolts that I don't think were touched since '91, got the tank down. Once we got the new pump in and primed, she starts like there was never anything wrong. Thank you so, so, so much! I never would have thought in a million years to try a test like that, and would have spent more money trying to fix things that didn't need to be replaced (yet). I'm still fairly new to working on my own vehicle, so your help was and is greatly appreciated!

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Wednesday, April 14th, 2010 AT 4:00 PM

RACEFAN966