95 Ranger start-shutoff-no restart

[gungeek]

2.3, 8 plug with 338k and irritating as hell
The truck starts then shuts right off, attempts to restart are unsuccesful until we walk away and retry anywhere from a minute to several hours later.
Once it restarts then no problem and just runs like it always does.
usually this prob only crops up once every few months but now has done it 3 times in a week and this is the first time it has taken more than a few minutes to start, today was 4 hours.
Any hep? ideas?
Thanks
Barry

 

[Tbars4]

...My first thoughts would be to get both, new battery cables as they corrode inside the sheathing and this sounds like whats happening to you...

...I'm not going to rule at the starter...What does it do/sound like, when you try and start it and it won't start???

 

[gungeek]

to clarify

It wheels over without issue...ie, starter function is fine, just no combustion.
also no fuel dumping during most of these episodes. It has fed fuel and loaded up with it a few times (with resultant chugging at final start) but most times no fuel-no spark.
Barry

 

[Tbars4]

...That would make me more secure in saying that it would probably be the 1)battery cables or 2)bad or loose cable/electrical connections...

..It sounds like you are getting intermittent total loss of electrical power or ground..

 

[gungeek]

To clarify further....

It cranks over fast and fine, problem is fuel/spark related.
It actually acts like older fords when the ICM wires get exposed.

 

[Tbars4]

...I must be missing something...Have you checked for stored codes???

...Your fuel pump won't prime
...You have no spark

..But it cranks over??

...It could be a problem with the inertia switch...What test have you done to find no fuel and no spark??

 

[gungeek]

No stored codes...

...Ever,
It acts like an ICM gone wonky like fords from 1981-on had issues with.
No spark or it'd light off ether, no fuel most times or it would smell like it and act flooded when the fire finally lights.
I guess I'll have to find the ICM and replace it, but on the old fords the problem was more often in the wires than the module.
Barry

 

[Tbars4]

...I've seen a loose connection at the inertia switch do the same thing...

 

[gungeek]

Thanks

I'll pull the kick and check it out, just seems like without prodding or bumping that the circuit should stay open if it did get loose.
Thanks for the insight, even though the truck runs great and looks better than most 1 year olds I see, if this intermittent problem gets any worse I may just shoot the damn thing to put it out of my miserey....I keep telling my girlfriend that at 330k+ it has had a damn good life and may just be better off being someone elses problem.
original engine, 3rd trans, 2nd rear, never hit, even the green paint looks great.
Barry