3.0V won't idle or run for long?

[IcantDo55]

Went to dads for a turkey dinner and got stuck fixing his truck (what else is new) its a 99 mazda pick up (ford ranger) with a 3.0 V6. Its starts and idles for a few secconds than sputteres and dies. Looks like it has fuel and spark looks good. If ya give it gas it boggs down and dies? If I had to guess its timeing. I had a camshaft sensor go bad on my SC cougar and it felt similar. I see it comes with a crank trigger. Could that have gone bad? Any ideas?
5-spd
40K miles
Thanks
Mike

 

[DeagleDave]

is the fuel filter clogged? does it have a fuel cutoff switch like the Ford's?

 

[IcantDo55]

Prob good it only had 40K miles on it. Fuel cut off switch would kill it compleatly, it still starts. ?????

 

[IcantDo55]

Well, checked fuel pressure (stays at 60 psi)..unplug mass air and it starts and runs...any ideas?

 

[Sandy]

My first thought is the fuel pump not keeping up under pressure, but maybe the mass air sensor is damaged.

When it runs without the sensor plugged in it reverts back to back-up settings just to get you to a repair shop.

Not sure about this, just thinking out loud.

Good Luck,

 

[beachn974door]

try starting the truck and tapping the mass air with the handle of a screw driver and see if it does ok. If so you need a mass air.

 

[TheRepairMan]

You could also try cleaning the maf sensor with contact cleaner. Just spray it, let it dry, then plug it in and see what happens.

 

[jimbo74]

Originally posted by TheRepairMan
You could also try cleaning the maf sensor with contact cleaner. Just spray it, let it dry, then plug it in and see what happens.

i agree... try cleaning it... my explorer ran like crap after wheeling... i did the fuel filter, nothing.... then i was goofing around one day, and said, well, imight as well clean the maf... took it out and the contacts were covered in mud... i blasted it off with o2 safe carb cleaner... it ran fine when i plugged it back in....