Q: 2009 ford ranger died while driving

asked by on July 19, 2017

hello-I was driving on road when ranger suddenly died. Pulled over to side of road and tried to start. It turns over but doesn't start. Lights radio and everything else is working so does that rule out battery? Could it be a fuel filter? or does it sound like fuel pump just died? thanks!

My car has 70000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Fuel Pressure Regulator Replacement $126.81 - $1011.90 Get a Quote
Fuel Pump Replacement $145.32 - $1299.70 Get a Quote

This may be related to many different possibilities, some of which may be related to a lack of spark or possibly timing issues and some of which may be related to a fuel delivery problem or a combination of both. Things like ignition coils, crankshaft position sensor, spark plugs, spark plug wires or ignition module are all components that help to create spark and control ignition timing which may cause the motor to not produce spark or the correct timing needed to ignite the fuel in the motor.

In the case of a fuel delivery problem, this may be related to low fuel pressure, faulty or dirty fuel injectors, a faulty or dirty idle air control valve (this relays information about air intake to the computer which makes fuel adjustments), or potentially a faulty fuel pressure regulator or fuel pump. Fuel delivery problems will typically not allow the proper amount of fuel to be delivered to the cylinders which results in a lean fuel condition which can cause backfiring or simply cause the motor not to start as a result of fuel starvation. In some cases too much fuel may be supplied to the motor causing too much fuel to be introduced to the motor faster than what it can burn it. This results in the motor being flooded with too much fuel also causing it not to run properly. Any of the above possibilities can create an imbalance in the proper air/fuel ratio as well which will cause the motor to run very rough or not at all. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and inspect your vehicle.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

What do the green lights mean in the dash?
While your dash contains a number of red and orange lights, it also has several green lights. Green is used to tell you that they’re not critical warnings, but still provide important information. Turn Signals and Hazard Lights: The corresponding...
My car won't start and they battery is working fine.
You should ensure that the battery is in a good state of charge. There is a test that can be performed to confirm this. Let say for now that the battery is in a good state. The clicking type noise,...
Battery light on, alternator good, battery changed, changed starter week ago but it's missing a little cable the old one had.
Hello. Yes. The small cable that is on the battery generally is for grounding purposes. Without that cable you won't have complete connection as far as electrical goes. If you need to have this checked, a qualified professional like one...
Tail gate won't release
Hey there. The rods connect to the center control handle using plastic clips and these clips or the handle breaks. You will need to have a mechanic remove the inner tailgate cover to gain access to the latch handle and...
Cracking/popping sound in driver dashboard area - 2013 Jeep Compass
Hi there. The noise heard and the sluggish A/C may be related. It is fairly common for an air distribution actuator to fail. These actuators change positions of doors in the HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) distribution housing. Typically, a...
Hi! I Was driving on the highway with the A/C on and noticed some fumes/smoke coming through one of the vents and it smelled like exhaust.
Hi there. Check the blend doors to the air conditioning and heating system. If the outside blend door actuator is not working properly or if it's open to the outside air, it will draw air from inside the engine compartment....
I replaced solenoid and and sensor in my transmission still won't shift properly 1997 Dodge RAM 1500
Hi - the lack of up-shifting (https://www.yourmechanic.com/question/down-shift-at-stop-upshift-from-stop-reverse-by-jason-t) in your transmission could be an internal speed sensor, or line pressure failing to engage higher gear clutch packs. With your higher mileage, this is difficult to tell without real diagnostic testing. Check...
Low tire presure Advance track and service power steering now
As you may know your vehicle is equipped with electronic power steering which is very different from the traditional hydraulic power steering systems we have known for decades. To provide steering assistance, an electric motor mounted to the side of...
Is unplugging MAF while engine running a good way to test it?
Hey Jarod. Thanks for the question tonight. Yeah, when you unplug the MAF sensor it should stall the engine automatically if it's working correctly. If it doesn't stall, the MAF is likely damaged.

Related articles

A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Ford Focus
The The 2012 Ford Focus brings a lot to the world of compact cars. Available as either a four-door sedan or a five-door hatchback, the Focus has great fuel efficiency and European styling that sets it apart from other cars...
The Best Used Cars to Buy If You Need a Lot of Trunk Space
Many Many people focus more on interior room than cargo carrying capacity. That’s natural if you have a large family or regularly carpool, but what about drivers who need to carry a lot of stuff most of the time and...
How to Use the Ford Active Park Assist Feature
There There are few driving maneuvers as universally disliked as the parallel park (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-to-park-your-car). Most people still remember that terrifying sequence of movements in their driving test. Even people who live in metropolitan areas, people who must regularly parallel park,...