2002 Ranger 3.0 Wont start-then starts 6 hours later

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XD - 26 Nov 2006 16:10 GMT

Hi all,
This has happened twice in the past 6 months with my 02 ranger,3L v6,latest
was yesterday. My wife went to the store,truck started and ran fine,gauges
were normal. When she came back out,the truck would not start,it cranked,you
could smell gas from cranking it,but it wouldn't start.Both times I was at
work,when i went to the truck 6 or 8 hours later to see what was up,it
started fine and ran fine afterward. This happened 6 months ago,it has ran
fine since,then it happened again yesterday.

I know this is so benign that it will be hard to diagnose,but anyone have
any ideas or similar experiences?
Thanks!

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I. Care - 26 Nov 2006 19:15 GMT

> Hi all,
> This has happened twice in the past 6 months with my 02 ranger,3L v6,latest
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> any ideas or similar experiences?
> Thanks!

So this seems to happen after the truck has warmed and had a chance to
heat soak, then returns to normal after cooling off? Have you checked
for spark when the problem is present? Could be a bad ignitor module in
the distributor if your truck has one. One of the failure modes is just
as my first line indicates.

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I. Care
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mitsurugi3644@hotmail.com - 26 Nov 2006 21:33 GMT

I had a similar problem in my 92 f 150 and it turned out to be a
problem in the fuse box in the engine bay. There was a diode that
wasn't making good connection, it just needed cleaned and stuff.

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Ole - 27 Nov 2006 10:43 GMT

> I had a similar problem in my 92 f 150 and it turned out to be a
> problem in the fuse box in the engine bay. There was a diode that
> wasn't making good connection, it just needed cleaned and stuff.

I had the same problem with my 2002 Fx4. Finally a yellow check engine
light came on. The code said it was low coolant temperature. We
replaced the thermostat and it has never bothered again.

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mitsurugi3644@hotmail.com - 26 Nov 2006 21:33 GMT

I had a similar problem in my 92 f 150 and it turned out to be a
problem in the fuse box in the engine bay. There was a diode that
wasn't making good connection, it just needed cleaned and stuff.

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XD - 27 Nov 2006 04:33 GMT

The first time it happend,it was about 90 degrees outside,yesterday it was
about 60,but the truck had been sitting for 2 or 3 days.I didnt check for
spark,but it has distributorless ignition,I was also thinking vapor lock,but
it isnt carbureted. It's a pain when it happens but at least it started
again i guess. Of course,as is always the case it's just out of the extended
warranty.

>> Hi all,
>> This has happened twice in the past 6 months with my 02 ranger,3L
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
> the distributor if your truck has one. One of the failure modes is just
> as my first line indicates.

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Flasherly - 27 Nov 2006 17:42 GMT

> The first time it happend,it was about 90 degrees outside,yesterday it was
> about 60,but the truck had been sitting for 2 or 3 days.I didnt check for
> spark,but it has distributorless ignition,I was also thinking vapor lock,but
> it isnt carbureted. It's a pain when it happens but at least it started
> again i guess. Of course,as is always the case it's just out of the extended
> warranty.

Coil packs - $5 inline tester lights up if there's spark going to the
plugs. There's something like it for checking signal to the injectors,
and a valve stem thing (bleeder) on the fuel rail that'll let
pressurized gas out if it's present. The fuel pump can be heard
clicking inside the tank as can the injectors with a screwdriver
listening through the handle.

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