First symptom was just a second or so like it was running out of gas.
Then being concerned I decided to floor it to see if it would happen again. Well then it got worse and actually stalled out.
Being as the fuel gauge has been slow to read upon start up I thought maybe I was actually out of gas and filled it up. No change. It is now at the point where it won't stay running for more than a few seconds. Once it dies it doesn't usually want to start till you wait a while. A few times it's started and ran for a couple of minutes, just enough for me to drive it down the road and have it die again.

So far I've changed the fuel filter, new fuel pump, changed out the two relays and have no change.

The fuel pump cycles when you first turn on the key. The pump runs while you're cranking the engine. It occasionally starts. If I move the plunger on the inertia switch the pump no longer comes on when you turn the key.

Is there an oil pressure switch that powers the pump after start up?
any other suggestions?

The wiring that passes through the housing that seals up the gas tank is famous for having damaged wiring for the fuel pump. Don't know if you replaced it when you did the pump. Also you should use a meter to check the voltage going back to the pump.
Sounds like you are having fuel delivery problems again.

JP

did a little more testing. Seems the problem only shows up once the engine reaches operating temp. The fuse still has voltage when the fuel stops delivering. The fuel pumps seems to still be working when the problem arrives. There is still good spark when the problem arrives.
So could this be something like the Air flow sensor or the throttle potentiometer?

did a little more testing. Seems the problem only shows up once the engine reaches operating temp. The fuse still has voltage when the fuel stops delivering. The fuel pumps seems to still be working when the problem arrives. There is still good spark when the problem arrives.
So could this be something like the Air flow sensor or the throttle potentiometer?

Sounds like it might be the ignition amp.

(scurrying around looking for a silly unrelated picture to insert here)

wouldn't that cause a spark problem?
What controls the flow of fuel to the injectors?
The problem seems to be that it is running out of fuel, yet the fuel pump appears to be working the whole time.

Get a pressure gauge hooked up.

wouldn't that cause a spark problem?
What controls the flow of fuel to the injectors?
The problem seems to be that it is running out of fuel, yet the fuel pump appears to be working the whole time.

What makes you think it is fueling related?

Seems to me that when the vehicle/engine gets warmed up, it begins to run erratically. Without a reason to rule out ignition, I see no reason why it couldn't be ignition or fueling.

What controls the flow of fuel to the injectors?


computer fires the injectors. signal to fire comes to the computer from the ignition amp. It is possible to have spark but no squirt, so just because there is spark does not rule out an ignition amp problem - especially if yours is mounted on the distributor.

Or you could have what I recently found, bad connection / corrosion on the fuel injector wiring harness. I just ordered a matched replacement set of injectors, should arrive early next week.

Might want to carry out the fuel injection system electrical test procedure, if you have the manual.

What makes you think it is fueling related?

Seems to me that when the vehicle/engine gets warmed up, it begins to run erratically. Without a reason to rule out ignition, I see no reason why it couldn't be ignition or fueling.

It doesn't run erratic, it acts like it's running/ran out of gas. When it starts it will continue to idle for a long time but if you rev it or try to drive it it then runs out of gas(so it seems).
I ran it with a timing light conected and the spark seemed nice and steady. When it died the spark was still smooth up to the end.

so if the ignition amp actually controls the injectors too that sounds more likely than just a spark problem.

If it is a fuel pump / flow issue then it should perform differently when you rev it in neutral or when you try to accelerate in gear.

If it happens at high rpm whether the engine is loaded down or not, I would be looking at electrical 'stuff'.

However, there are wiser minds than mine here - wait and see what they recommend!

so if the ignition amp actually controls the injectors too that sounds more likely than just a spark problem.

OK you have presumptively ruled out ignition problems.

The ECU receives a signal from the coil indicating that the engine is running and the fuel pump must run. In an '89, it will be the pigtail that hangs out of the harness running to the MAF.

Unfortunately, the Rangies lack a hatch for access to the pump.

Fuel pumps are a bitch to diagnose when they are not easily exposed.

Where oh where to start...

So the POS still isn't fixed.
replaced fuel pump
fuel filter
checked pump wires
swapped fuel regulator
swapped TPS
Swapped MAF
replaced ignition module
reset timing
tightened alt belt
topped up radiator
kicked tires
slammed doors
swapped around relays.
Haven't replaced the main relay. I still have power at the fuse when the problem arises. Yet to check the voltage at the pump, but I can hear it running.
I guess I'll rig up a pressure tester

When it won't run, are the plugs wet? (I'm wondering if it is a fuel supply issue, an ECU issue, or maybe even a mehnical issue with injectors)

You've done everything else, I'm sure you've pulled a plug when ti wouldn't run right:flipoff2:

the saga continues.
checked fuel pressure-35-40psi
swapped out coil-no change
swapped distributor-now seems to say running, but the idle surges up and down.
Often after you rev it up it will have a high idle speed, after a few seconds it drops down(like normal) but then it drops down again and again till it dies.
It does seem to keep running now if you keep it rev'd up. Took it for a short spin and it seemed low(er) on power and whenever you let off the gas it will die if you don't catch it by hitting the gas.

Again it's an 89 RRC. The distributor is from my 94 D90, seems to drop right in, I had already replaced the ignition module or is it the ignition amp or are they the same(thing on the side) with a new one so it plugged right in.

Oh and I checked a plug and it wasn't wet, but it did smell like fuel(normal?)

Often after you rev it up it will have a high idle speed, after a few seconds it drops down(like normal) but then it drops down again and again till it dies.
It does seem to keep running now if you keep it rev'd up. Took it for a short spin and it seemed low(er) on power and whenever you let off the gas it will die if you don't catch it by hitting the gas.



Vacuum leak?