Ok, another update. I got under the truck, and discovered that the high pressure fuel pump, the one on the frame, is tucked behind a bracket, the frame, a crossmember, the floor of the truck, and the front drive shaft. I can't seem to get my hands into the space between all that stuff, so I haven't been able to remove that pump to test it and see if it needs replacing.
I'm assuming there's something I'm missing, but I just can't get around everything, and even if I could disconnect everything from the pump, the manual says the bracket comes out with the pump, and it doesn't look like it'd fit through the gap between the frame and the drive shaft. I REALLY hope I don't have to take out the drive shaft to get access, 'cause it looks like it'd be a pain to reinstall. Any suggestions?
1988 B2 2.9EFI stalls, starts right back up
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RowanAmeth
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Ranger Dave
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Re: 1988 B2 2.9EFI stalls, starts right back up
no need to take the drive shaft out
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RowanAmeth
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Re: 1988 B2 2.9EFI stalls, starts right back up
Ok, that looks like a lot more clearance than mine for some reason, I wish I could get a picture of it for reference. I could just be imagining things, but it really seems to be a lot tighter than that.Ranger Dave wrote:no need to take the drive shaft out
That IS a picture of the 4wd version, right?
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Ranger Dave
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RowanAmeth
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Re: 1988 B2 2.9EFI stalls, starts right back up
Ok, that should be exactly the same, then. I guess it's just the angle I'm working at that makes it look a lot tighter. I'll have to go back under there with a better light source, see if that helps at all. I'll try to get some new batteries for my camera, so I can take some pictures and give you an idea of what I'm working with here. There's also an awful lot of grime under there, 21 years of minimal maintenance, infrequent washings and lots of off-road use would probably do that, though.Ranger Dave wrote:thats from my 88
Right now my priority is to get it on the road again. If I can get fuel to the engine, I just have to do a quick oil/filter change (as it leaks and is undoubtedly low, and probably needs a change anyway), check the transmission fluid and coolant, and it's off to the garage for inspection. The parking brake doesn't work, I'm guessing that would fail the inspection, though I might either be able to convince the mechanic to pass me anyway, or at least fix the brake for me (if all else fails, I guess it's back under the truck to fix it myself). The problem is that the pedal doesn't stay down on its own (though it also doesn't pop back up). I don't know if that means a broken cable, or if some mechanism is jammed, or what, but it doesn't seem to be stuck on, as it rolls just fine.
Wish me luck, I can't wait to get this truck running properly and see what it can do. There are some lovely back roads around here, and I've been itching to explore them. Not to mention I have another insurance payment coming up, and it seems a bit silly to keep paying insurance on a truck that I can't drive.
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Ranger Dave
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Re: 1988 B2 2.9EFI stalls, starts right back up
RowanAmeth wrote:Ok, that should be exactly the same, then. I'll have to go back under there with a better light source, see if that helps at all.Ranger Dave wrote:thats from my 88
that might help
theres 4 bolts,2 fuel line connectors clips and undo a plug and it comes out. maybe unplug the wires and see if theres power gettin to it
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RowanAmeth
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Re: 1988 B2 2.9EFI stalls, starts right back up
Well, good news mixed with a bit of bad. The bad news is, I've given up on trying to fix the truck myself. The GOOD news is, I've managed to find enough money to have everything done professionally. Only the mechanical issues will be resolved, the stuff like the window and the rear glass piston I'll still be doing myself, and if anything else goes wrong I'll still try to do it myself if I can.
The problem is, I'm a novice at working on cars. With the exception of helping my neighbor fix and tune up his old Ranger, I haven't done much past changing oil. I also don't have the tools I need to do it properly, and the result is nothing more than frustration (and the discovery of more spiders).
I've found a great garage, and I'm waiting for them to get back to me with an estimate. They'll be fixing the fuel delivery problem, as well as the leaking valve covers, the transmission leak, and the parking brake, as well as anything else they might find. Also they'll be inspecting it, so after it's all said and done the truck SHOULD run perfectly, and legally!
I'll try to get some pictures of it once everything's done, so I can show off the rust spots from dent pulls that weren't painted over properly and the cracked grill from the PO hitting a deer.
As an aside, I was filling the left side tires (which have slow leaks, and will hopefully be patched at the shop) so it'd roll better when I pushed it off the ramps, and I discovered something a bit unsettling. Apparently, the hubs on the front were locked, and had been the whole time I'd had it. The PO is the kind of guy who would lock them during a snow storm, then forget to unlock them and either ignore or fail to notice the fact that it suddenly turned very poorly on dry pavement. It certainly explains why it sucked going around corners, and why the front tires had so much less tread than the rears. Hopefully nothing was damaged by this bit of idiocy.
The problem is, I'm a novice at working on cars. With the exception of helping my neighbor fix and tune up his old Ranger, I haven't done much past changing oil. I also don't have the tools I need to do it properly, and the result is nothing more than frustration (and the discovery of more spiders).
I've found a great garage, and I'm waiting for them to get back to me with an estimate. They'll be fixing the fuel delivery problem, as well as the leaking valve covers, the transmission leak, and the parking brake, as well as anything else they might find. Also they'll be inspecting it, so after it's all said and done the truck SHOULD run perfectly, and legally!
I'll try to get some pictures of it once everything's done, so I can show off the rust spots from dent pulls that weren't painted over properly and the cracked grill from the PO hitting a deer.
As an aside, I was filling the left side tires (which have slow leaks, and will hopefully be patched at the shop) so it'd roll better when I pushed it off the ramps, and I discovered something a bit unsettling. Apparently, the hubs on the front were locked, and had been the whole time I'd had it. The PO is the kind of guy who would lock them during a snow storm, then forget to unlock them and either ignore or fail to notice the fact that it suddenly turned very poorly on dry pavement. It certainly explains why it sucked going around corners, and why the front tires had so much less tread than the rears. Hopefully nothing was damaged by this bit of idiocy.
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RowanAmeth
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Re: 1988 B2 2.9EFI stalls, starts right back up
Boy, do I feel like an idiot. I had it towed to the garage, and within 20 minutes, the mechanic had it running. The problem? The relay for the computer had burned out. While I'm glad it was something so cheap and simple, it still had me kicking myself, as I should've checked ALL the relays, not just the one for the fuel pump. Oh well, I'm out $65 for the tow, but up at least $200, since it doesn't need the pumps replaced, or the cost of labor for said replacement. Actually, didn't someone here even suggest that something like this might've been the culprit? If so, I'm REALLY an idiot for not following up on that.
Anyway, it's still at the garage, getting everything ELSE fixed up. They've given me a fairly low estimate, about $400, but I'm not holding my breath. Unless they screw something up, though, they definitely have my business from now on. Hell, I'll even put a bumper sticker or something on the truck to advertise for them.
I've decided that, until it's gone a month without anything major going wrong, I'm going to avoid highways and long distance travel. Now, small things or non-mechanical problems I can let slide, I'm talking about breaking down. I know it's a bit silly, but I'm paranoid and would rather not be stranded an hour away from home. Short, local trips I can do, though, and that's what I mostly do anyway so it's not a big deal.
Still no pictures, but I put fresh batteries in the camera, so once I get the truck back I can take a few shots.
Anyway, it's still at the garage, getting everything ELSE fixed up. They've given me a fairly low estimate, about $400, but I'm not holding my breath. Unless they screw something up, though, they definitely have my business from now on. Hell, I'll even put a bumper sticker or something on the truck to advertise for them.
I've decided that, until it's gone a month without anything major going wrong, I'm going to avoid highways and long distance travel. Now, small things or non-mechanical problems I can let slide, I'm talking about breaking down. I know it's a bit silly, but I'm paranoid and would rather not be stranded an hour away from home. Short, local trips I can do, though, and that's what I mostly do anyway so it's not a big deal.
Still no pictures, but I put fresh batteries in the camera, so once I get the truck back I can take a few shots.