Help! pickup wont start:(

dc22fordranger · Sep 16, 2014

Hey guys, im in dier need of help. I was dring home and my pickup was running fine, I came to a hill and tried to accelerate and noticed that my engine had stopped running. When I got it home I tested my fuel pumps, they still worked properly, changed my fuel filter, installed new injectors, relays, cap, rotor, and plugs, timing was just done, will turn over but wont fire. Had spark. Any advice is very appreciated! Engine is a 2.9Lv6

RonD · Sep 16, 2014

OK, simply question

If you put gas(or starting fluid, ether) into the intake and then crank engine does it start up and then die?
If so then fuel delivery is your problem

Or does it not start or even fire?
If so then spark is your problem.
Testing for spark is all well and good but........there is spark, and there is SPARK, which is a big difference on a cold engine

The above is the 50/50 test and should always be done before any parts swapping starts.
It eliminates 50% of why an engine isn't starting

tmcalavy · Sep 16, 2014

You have an 88 right? Run the rabbit for spark, at the plugs, wires, coil to dist. cap wire, and the coil itself. Coils poot out just like anything else. If you have no fire at all that's a prime suspect.

dc22fordranger · Sep 17, 2014

Ok, I tested for spark, I have strong spark, plug gaps are at .044, im gettin 44lbs to fuel rail, thinking it might be the internal ignition module on my distributor. When I first turn it over it tries to fire but then acts like it has no spark at all, which is telling me thats its out of time. Doesnt flash any codes.

RonD · Sep 17, 2014

Did you add some gas or starting fluid to intake?

Instantly IDs the direction you should take.

Unless you have taken the distributor out the spark timing shouldn't be off.

Good read here on TFI ignition testing: http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/TFI_Diagnostic.shtml

tmcalavy · Sep 17, 2014

Don't know about your year model Ranger for sure, but Ford used something called a Hall Effect Sensor or something like that for many years on trucks...including my '90 F150. It would just quit when that got hot and wouldn't start until it cooled off...on that truck it was bolted to the side of the distributor housing. When it died altogether, no spark at all. Might check to see if your Ranger has that device.

GentleRF · Sep 20, 2014

My youngest son had a similar malfunction in his '89 2.9. We diag nosed it to be the TFI module which hangs on the back of the distributor. Get one of those and $6.00 tool to remove and replace the module. That should get you going.

Jecsd1 · Sep 20, 2014

Definitely try the starting fluid test first.

If it is the tfi module do yourself a favor and relocate it with an Aerostar/Cougar heat sync. Heat is the enemy of Ford tfi modules.

Help! pickup wont start:(

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