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YACT: Summertime starting woes

M

mandala

Senior member
When my truck has been sitting for a short period of time (more than 10 mins, less than an hour), during the summer time, I often have problems getting it to start. It never happens in the winter, only during the summer (in the warm Phoenix heat). The starter cranks, but the engine doesn't turn over. I can hear the fuel pump (back in/near the tank) pressurizing the lines before starting. The starter is about a year and a half old (as are the spark plugs/wires).

For example, yesterday I stopped at a customer's location (after driving about half an hour) at around 8am and was there for only about 10 or 15 mins. But when I went to leave, it wouldn't start. I'd let the started crank about 10 times before shutting it off (normally it starts on about crank 4). I tried it about every 5 mins until it finally started 20-30 mins later.

It's making me crazy and I'm sure what to try to figure out the problem.

Truck in question: '93 Ford Ranger, 5speed, 135k miles

So vehicle gurus, what's your diagnosis?
 
it could be the distributor. I had a similar problem when my distributor went out. My car would shut off going 70mph sometimes, and it wouldn't start again for another 10 min or so. Are you able to drive long distances?
 
It shouldn't be vapor lock (since the pump is near the tank and I can hear it pressurizing the lines before it starts), but next time it does it I'll confirm this by removing the gas cap (and seeing if that makes it start).

I have no problem driving 45-60 mins. I haven't driven it much longer than that (though tomorrow I may be driving it for about an hour and a half to my friend's house). I've never had problem with it shutting off while driving.
 
I'm thinking starter selenoid. Try tapping the starter/selenoid w/a hammer handle the next time it won't start.
 
Hmmmm. I would be surprised if it was a starter problem - it's only a year and a half old, it's not near the exhaust system, and a solenoid problem usually keeps the starter from working at all.
 
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