1st Project Truck... A nightmare lol...

[Uncle Gump]

So... you saying the wire harness under the hood is hacked up? If it is... we need pictures.

I like to use an actual spark tester. They look like a spark plug with a clip on it. The way the electrode is it will also test the overall health of the system by making it put out max voltage from the coil.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Take a deep breath... this electrical thing is not nearly as bad as you make it sound. But after you check for spark,.. you really need to have a couple more tools. The first tool is going to be a multi meter. They are pretty cheap...

 

[jamsession]

So... you saying the wire harness under the hood is hacked up? If it is... we need pictures.

I like to use an actual spark tester. They look like a spark plug with a clip on it. The way the electrode is it will also test the overall health of the system by making it put out max voltage from the coil.

Take a deep breath... this electrical thing is not nearly as bad as you make it sound. But after you check for spark,.. you really need to have a couple more tools. The first tool is going to be a multi meter. They are pretty cheap...

okay so the wiring harness appears to be fine actually, it's just there are varying degrees of wear on the wires, as in someone likely came in a few months prior and fixed something. hmmm so a spark tester, is that expensive? Can I pick one up at my local O'Reillys? I have a multimeter too!
Appreciate the vote of confidence, it's jsut that any sort of competency I feel I have with automotive vehicles is not in electrical stuff lol...

 

[Uncle Gump]

They're cheap too... but try with using a spark plug. Should be a healthy blue spark

 

[jamsession]

They're cheap too... but try with using a spark plug. Should be a healthy blue spark

awesome, I'll update tonight! TLDR (shouldn't have bought pre-OBD2) lol

 

[19Walt93]

A 1991 Ranger in that condition would be like gold in NH, don't give up on it. Not all electrical/electronic parts are created equal, Motorcraft is a good brand, Duralast is for cheapskates and amateurs.

 

[jamsession]

Remove a plug from the engine, plug into wire boot, observe it for spark while someone is cranking the motor. Maybe in a darkened environment.

So... you saying the wire harness under the hood is hacked up? If it is... we need pictures.

I like to use an actual spark tester. They look like a spark plug with a clip on it. The way the electrode is it will also test the overall health of the system by making it put out max voltage from the coil.

alrighty... so tested for spark last night as you guys suggested by plugging in wire boot to plug outside the engine and cranked. No spark... not surprised but questioning my next few moves. I'll look deeper in this forum forsure, but a point in the right direction either on this forum or IRL would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys

 

[jamsession]

A 1991 Ranger in that condition would be like gold in NH, don't give up on it. Not all electrical/electronic parts are created equal, Motorcraft is a good brand, Duralast is for cheapskates and amateurs.

Great to hear man, I have this vision in my head of what it'll look like in a few months and that's really what is keeping me goin. definitely gonna stick with motorcraft when I can, but nothing beats the good ol pick n pull scrap yards lol

 

[Uncle Gump]

Start By reading here...

https://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/TFI_Diagnostic.shtml

 

[jamsession]

Start By reading here...

https://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/TFI_Diagnostic.shtml

will do, thanks a mil. I'll keep this thread updated or sumn

 

[JMF661]

I am suspicious of that wasted ignition switch. But, I'm honestly not familiar enough with starting and ignition system as it relates to the ignition switch itself. Is it possible for the igniton switch to have lost its "on" functionality while still being able to "start" (crank the motor). Maybe?!?!

I would work through that trouble shooting guide they linked up.

 

[jamsession]

I am suspicious of that wasted ignition switch. But, I'm honestly not familiar enough with starting and ignition system as it relates to the ignition switch itself. Is it possible for the igniton switch to have lost its "on" functionality while still being able to "start" (crank the motor). Maybe?!?!

I would work through that trouble shooting guide they linked up.

yeah gonna start workin through the trouble shooting guide tomorrow. I'll post some pics of the ignition cylinder or whatever it's called. It really is mangled to all hell lol. I am suspicious of it too as well, I kinda thought maybe it had triggered a failsafe, but perhaps that's too much for a ford from the early 90s lol