Cranks has spark, has fuel, only runs on starter fluid

1994 FORD RANGER
48,000 MILES • 3.0L • 6 CYL • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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SKYPILOT_79
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Will not start. At first it would choose to do this intermittently, but it has now refused to start for over a year. It would start like a champ and runs great and then park it and come out the next day and it cranks and cranks without ever trying to start. It does not even cough just cranks over and over and nothing. I replaced the fuel pump. Checked the inertial switch its button is in. Checked the relays they are all good. checked the fuse box wiring and it is good. Checked for fuel pressure at the injector rail and it blows four feet in the air. Replaced the throttle position sensor. Checked the air filters. Spray starter fluid and starts up first crank, but only runs as long as you spray the fluid. You can hear the fuel pump when you turn the key. And as I said there is pressure to the rail. Ia m at a loss does anyone have any ideas? I have read all the forums I can find and tried the things suggested. Everyone else’s ends up being fuel pump or relays or a fuse. Mine is not any of those.
Sep 15, 2018 at 12:41 PM
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ASEMASTER6371
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Good afternoon.

The fuel is good if it primes when you turn it on.

Did you check the actual pressure at the rail? That is critical for it to run.

You can also get a noid light and check the injectors and see if there is a command for a ground while cranking from the ECM.

You can rent or buy one at a parts store. You may have a failed ECM.

Roy

Sep 15, 2018 at 2:24 PM
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SKYPILOT_79
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Hi Roy.

Would not enough pressure cause it to not even try to start? It acts like it is getting zero fuel? I will check the fuel pressure and, get a noid light and check that out. Because of the way it would either start and run great or have this issue intermittently before makes it seem like it is somehow not getting told to inject fuel in the start sequence. It is aggravating because it seems like it has to be something so simple. For a while every time it would not start I would get underneath and there is a splice in the starter wire and if I would tighten up that splice it would fire right up. Which makes no sense because that is just the power wire for the starter.
Sep 15, 2018 at 3:12 PM
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ASEMASTER6371
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With low pressure, it will not even try to start.

Roy
Sep 15, 2018 at 3:21 PM