Geof

I have a Ranger that I got in February of this year. We have had a
continuing problem with the Fuel Pump Shut-off Switch (Inertia Switch).

The switch has "tripped" several times since I got the truck. A few
weeks ago the dealer happily replaced it, it promptly "tripped" again,
and then yesterday the truck stalled in traffic after crossing over
some rough pavement and the switch tripped again.

I called and scheduled it to go into the shop next week to have the
switch replaced again.

Somehow this seems to me to be a fairly important and safety related
issue. While driving the truck at speed and in traffic the engine
quits without any warning. This has happened to me on the highway at
highway speed too.

Has anyone else had any issues with this? Are there other places to
look to rectify this problem?

Thanks in advance -

Geof

Mike Hunter

It is very unusual for it to trip on 'some rough pavement.' The switch
requires at least a 'g' force to activate. Perhaps the mounting is not
secure. I would install a bypass switch until you find a solution.

mike


"Geof" <tfmrox1@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1127562536.967865.247180@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>I have a Ranger that I got in February of this year. We have had a
> continuing problem with the Fuel Pump Shut-off Switch (Inertia Switch).
>
> The switch has "tripped" several times since I got the truck. A few
> weeks ago the dealer happily replaced it, it promptly "tripped" again,
> and then yesterday the truck stalled in traffic after crossing over
> some rough pavement and the switch tripped again.
>
> I called and scheduled it to go into the shop next week to have the
> switch replaced again.
>
> Somehow this seems to me to be a fairly important and safety related
> issue. While driving the truck at speed and in traffic the engine
> quits without any warning. This has happened to me on the highway at
> highway speed too.
>
> Has anyone else had any issues with this? Are there other places to
> look to rectify this problem?
>
> Thanks in advance -
>
> Geof
>

Backyard Mechanic

You dont describe the suspension package you bought with it.

I'd be willing to bet that with 500 lbs of sandbags in the cargo bed that
wouldnt happen.

As it is, I'd pay attention to ride characteristics that might point to a
body integrity problem.

"Mike Hunter" <mikehunt2@mailcity.com> wrote in
news:I6ydnbAoYKBLy6jeUSdV9g@ptd.net:

> It is very unusual for it to trip on 'some rough pavement.' The switch
> requires at least a 'g' force to activate. Perhaps the mounting is not
> secure. I would install a bypass switch until you find a solution.
>
> mike
>
>
> "Geof" <tfmrox1@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:1127562536.967865.247180@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>>I have a Ranger that I got in February of this year. We have had a
>> continuing problem with the Fuel Pump Shut-off Switch (Inertia Switch).
>>
>> The switch has "tripped" several times since I got the truck. A few
>> weeks ago the dealer happily replaced it, it promptly "tripped" again,
>> and then yesterday the truck stalled in traffic after crossing over
>> some rough pavement and the switch tripped again.
>>

Puddin' Man

I dunno. I just dunno.

I belong to '94 Tbird LX V8. In '03, I was backended by
a truck on the side of the switch. Like to took my head
off. $5000+ in body damage. The switch didn't trip.

In '04, I was on the hiway when my garbage Firestone rear
tire exploded. Was passing a truck at the time. The switch
tripped, I lost control. Somehow managed to make it to the
shoulder without getting bloody murdered.

I guess it was just po' me and Geof that got dysfunctional
inertia switches. Couldn't have happened to anybody else. :-)

I'd estimate the chances of getting injured/killed when
the switch trips for the wrong reason are about 50 times
greater than the chance of preventing a collision-related
fire ...

"Quality Is Job One!"

"'Tis a testament to FordGarbage!".

Cheers,
Puddin'

On 24 Sep 2005 04:48:57 -0700, "Geof" <tfmrox1@yahoo.com> wrote:

>I have a Ranger that I got in February of this year. We have had a
>continuing problem with the Fuel Pump Shut-off Switch (Inertia Switch).
>
>The switch has "tripped" several times since I got the truck. A few
>weeks ago the dealer happily replaced it, it promptly "tripped" again,
>and then yesterday the truck stalled in traffic after crossing over
>some rough pavement and the switch tripped again.
>
>I called and scheduled it to go into the shop next week to have the
>switch replaced again.
>
>Somehow this seems to me to be a fairly important and safety related
>issue. While driving the truck at speed and in traffic the engine
>quits without any warning. This has happened to me on the highway at
>highway speed too.
>
>Has anyone else had any issues with this? Are there other places to
>look to rectify this problem?
>
>Thanks in advance -
>
>Geof
--
******************************************************
*** Puddin' Man PuddingDotMan at GmailDotCom ***
******************************************************;

C. E. White

"Puddin' Man" <Pudding.Man@Gmail.com> wrote in message
news:fgudj1pne70ll57nf86c2cgp99sl8qlf37@4ax.com...
>I dunno. I just dunno.
>
> I belong to '94 Tbird LX V8. In '03, I was backended by
> a truck on the side of the switch. Like to took my head
> off. $5000+ in body damage. The switch didn't trip.
>
> In '04, I was on the hiway when my garbage Firestone rear
> tire exploded. Was passing a truck at the time. The switch
> tripped, I lost control. Somehow managed to make it to the
> shoulder without getting bloody murdered.
>
> I guess it was just po' me and Geof that got dysfunctional
> inertia switches. Couldn't have happened to anybody else. :-)

Over the past 23 or so years me and my Father have owned a total of 5
Rangers with a mix of engines (2.3L, 2.9L, 3.0L, 4.0L), cab styles (2 Dr,
Supercab, 4 Door), bed lenghts (long and short beds), and drive type (2WD
and 4WD). We have never had a switch trip. And that includes my sons driving
the truck around the pasture like a maniac, driving acrossed rows in a field
at relatively high speed (I estiamate he was doing 45 and the truck was
leaving the ground when I caught him), a couple of accidents, and having a
tree dropped on one Ranger. In fact, I only know of one closely related
person to have tripped an interia switch in a Ford (and that includes at
least 16 Ford products that include the switches). My ex-sister-in-law
tripped the switch in a Taurus wagon when she enetered her driveway at a
high speed (steep driveway with a significant angle on the entrance from the
street).

I suspect something is wrong with the truck's structure if the iniertia
switch is being tripped during routine driving manuvers. I'd suggest taking
a good look at the cab's floor pan and the cab to chassis mounting points.

> I'd estimate the chances of getting injured/killed when
> the switch trips for the wrong reason are about 50 times
> greater than the chance of preventing a collision-related
> fire ...

The switch should not trip for the wrong reason. Something is wrong and it
needs to be fixed. Looking for a good dealer is probably a key way to get it
fixed. I am not sure I agree with your estimate of the chances of accident
being increased by a factor of 50 compared to a fire if the switch cuts off
the fuel inadvertenly, but then both outcomes are very rare. Clearly Ford is
paranoid about fire related lawsuits. Persoanlly I've had a number of cars
where the engine cut out on the highway,and have never had much trouble
dealing with it. I guess driving older British cars trains you for things
like that.

Ed

C. E. White

"Geof" <tfmrox1@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1127562536.967865.247180@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>I have a Ranger that I got in February of this year. We have had a
> continuing problem with the Fuel Pump Shut-off Switch (Inertia Switch).
>
> The switch has "tripped" several times since I got the truck. A few
> weeks ago the dealer happily replaced it, it promptly "tripped" again,
> and then yesterday the truck stalled in traffic after crossing over
> some rough pavement and the switch tripped again.

I'd suggest entering a complaint into the NHTSA Complaint Database (see
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/defect/ ). I took a look at the
complaints related to late model Rangers and inertia switches and found the
following:

Model Number of Inertia
Year Switch Complaints
2005 2 complaint, no injuries, none with multiple occurrences
2004 1 complaint, no injuries, 2 occurrences caused by passengers
foot
2003 1 complaint, no injuries, 5 occurrences, caused by passengers
foot
2002 0 complaints
2001 0 complaints

4 complaints for 5 years worth of production does not seem to indicate a
major problem. I did think it was interesting that 2 of the 4 complaints
specifically mentioned that passenger's feet caused the switch to turn off
the fuel pump. One of these claimed that he switch connector was dislodged
by the passenger's foot (5 times!). The other was less clear. Is the switch
really that easy to hit with feet? The owner's Guide for a 2005 Ranger shows
the switch mounted on the side of the truck above the carpet near the glove
compartment. I can't imagine the passenger's feet hitting it in that
location. Is it possible you have something heavy in the glove box that is
banging around in the area creating a sharp vibration?

There were actually more complaints related to the rpm limiter built into
the PCM, than about the inertia switch. You have to wonder about the sanity
of people driving Rangers faster than 85 or 90 mph. Especially when they
complain to the Government that the vehicles won't go fast enough. I
especially love the people who complained that since the speedometer was
marked to 125, the truck should be able to go that fast as well.

Ed

Mike Hunter

Remember the time was when the safety nuts in Washington thought drivers
would drive slower it the speedometer only registered up to 85 MPH? ;)

mike hunt

"C. E. White" <cewhite3@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:FZ2_e.4383$vw6.1385@newsread1.news.atl.earthlink.net...
>
> "Geof" <tfmrox1@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:1127562536.967865.247180@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>>I have a Ranger that I got in February of this year. We have had a
>> continuing problem with the Fuel Pump Shut-off Switch (Inertia Switch).
>>
>> The switch has "tripped" several times since I got the truck. A few
>> weeks ago the dealer happily replaced it, it promptly "tripped" again,
>> and then yesterday the truck stalled in traffic after crossing over
>> some rough pavement and the switch tripped again.
>
> I'd suggest entering a complaint into the NHTSA Complaint Database (see
> http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/defect/ ). I took a look at the
> complaints related to late model Rangers and inertia switches and found
> the following:
>
> Model Number of Inertia
> Year Switch Complaints
> 2005 2 complaint, no injuries, none with multiple occurrences
> 2004 1 complaint, no injuries, 2 occurrences caused by passengers
> foot
> 2003 1 complaint, no injuries, 5 occurrences, caused by passengers
> foot
> 2002 0 complaints
> 2001 0 complaints
>
> 4 complaints for 5 years worth of production does not seem to indicate a
> major problem. I did think it was interesting that 2 of the 4 complaints
> specifically mentioned that passenger's feet caused the switch to turn off
> the fuel pump. One of these claimed that he switch connector was dislodged
> by the passenger's foot (5 times!). The other was less clear. Is the
> switch really that easy to hit with feet? The owner's Guide for a 2005
> Ranger shows the switch mounted on the side of the truck above the carpet
> near the glove compartment. I can't imagine the passenger's feet hitting
> it in that location. Is it possible you have something heavy in the glove
> box that is banging around in the area creating a sharp vibration?
>
> There were actually more complaints related to the rpm limiter built into
> the PCM, than about the inertia switch. You have to wonder about the
> sanity of people driving Rangers faster than 85 or 90 mph. Especially when
> they complain to the Government that the vehicles won't go fast enough. I
> especially love the people who complained that since the speedometer was
> marked to 125, the truck should be able to go that fast as well.
>
> Ed
>

Geof

Thanks all for your replies - it seems as if there are other owners who
are having similar problems with their Rangers. I believe that I can
successfully re-create the problem predictably and can go show the
service manager at my local dealer the problem. If I get any
resolution I'll be happy to post it here.

Geof

john367

I purchased a 2005 Ranger Edge for my 17 year old daughter. Just
returned from dealer with THIRD reset of inertia switch. Even had
switch replaced on second "Death". Dealer has no idea of what is
causing problem ... my daughter says she's not getting back in it?
Any chance this may fall under Lemon Law?

Sharon K.Cooke

john367 wrote:
>
> I purchased a 2005 Ranger Edge for my 17 year old daughter. Just
> returned from dealer with THIRD reset of inertia switch. Even had
> switch replaced on second "Death". Dealer has no idea of what is
> causing problem ... my daughter says she's not getting back in it?
> Any chance this may fall under Lemon Law?

Inertia switch mount, suspension problem, rough terrain, driving habits, boys
trying to meet girls by "bumper kissing" with their cars. Lemon law? - doubtful.