Cold Weather Starting (Flexible Fuel Vehicles Only) - Ford 2000 Ranger Owner's Manual

Starting
3. If the temperature is below -12° C (10° F) and the engine does not
start in 15 seconds on the first try, turn the key OFF and wait 10
seconds and try again. If the engine does not start in two attempts, press
the accelerator pedal all the way to floor and hold. Turn the key to
START position.
4. When the engine starts, release the key, then release the accelerator
pedal gradually as the engine speeds up.
5. After idling for a few seconds, apply the brake and release the parking
brake.

Cold weather starting (flexible fuel vehicles only)

As the outside temperature approaches freezing, ethanol fuel distributors
should supply winter grade (E 85) ethanol (same as with unleaded
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gasoline). If summer grade (E 85) ethanol is used in cold weather
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conditions, you may experience increased cranking times, rough idle or
hesitation until the engine has warmed up. Consult your fuel distributor
for the availability of winter grade (E 85) ethanol.
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High-quality blends of winter grade (E 85) ethanol will produce
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satisfactory cold weather starting and driving results. However, fuel
composition varies, and sub-optimal winter grade blends could produce
increased cranking times, rough idle or hesitation at temperatures below
–18 degrees C (0 degrees F). If you experience this condition you may
find that a different brand of winter grade (E 85) (if available in your
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area) improves the performance of your vehicle.
Cold starting performance can also be improved with the use of an
engine block heater. The engine block heater is available as a Ford
option and can also be obtained from your Ford dealer. Consult the
engine block heater section for proper use of the engine block heater.
If you should experience cold weather starting problems on (E 85)
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ethanol, and neither an alternative brand of (E 85) ethanol nor an
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engine block heater is available, the addition of unleaded gasoline to your
tank will improve cold starting performance. Your vehicle is designed to
operate on (E 85) ethanol alone, unleaded gasoline alone, or any
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mixture of the two.
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