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94 2.3 ranger has no spark


Dhymes253

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My buddy and I rebuilt the motor and reconnected everything but one connector that we can't find were it goes both of us looked for it for hours. The truck has fuel but doesn't have spark. Does anyone know we're a connector that has a black wire with a pink stripe and also has a purple wire with a orange stripe going to it goes? We really want to get the truck running again.
 


RonD

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Dhymes253

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There's no spark on either side the truck doesn't fire just cranks
 

RonD

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1994 was the last year of the separate ICM(ignition control module) which did have failure issues.
Mounted on the front of the intake manifold, wire was an issue at this connector

I would first check if you have 12volts on the center wire on each coil with key on.

Power comes from EEC Fuse via EEC Relay both in engine fuse box.


CKP(crank position) sensor starts the spark and fuel injection, it reads a wheel(tone ring) on the crank that tells computer when #1 TDC happens so it can time spark and fuel.
Without signal pulse from CKP sensor computer and ICM don't even know you are trying to start the engine.

Not to be confused with CPS(cam position sensor), drivers side of engine, front, that's for timing sequential fuel injection.

After cranking engine, if you pull out a spark plug and it is wet with fuel, then CKP sensor is working, if it is dry then check CKP sensor and it's wiring.
 
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Dhymes253

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The Icm is new and we checked all the wires they look fine, the coil packs are both new and we tried 2 different crankshaft position sensors and it still doesn't have spark, we will try that and see what happens
 
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RonD

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"New" used to mean "tested and works"
"New" now means "you test it, we warranty it", lol.

Spark System is not complicated, computer is not part of it, as far as starting is concerned.
Computer aids in spark timing once engine is running.

CKP sends pulses and GAP when #1 TDC goes by.
CKP is hooked directly to ICM
When ICM sees the GAP it Cuts the Ground on the Coil for #1 and #4, 1 and 4 spark plugs spark
ICM re-grounds that coil to power it back up, 18 pulses later, it Cuts the Ground to Coil for #2 and #3, 2 and 3 spark plugs spark.
17 pulse later it gets the GAP again and sparks 1 and 4.

Tone wheel that the CKP "reads" has 36 teeth less 1, a tooth every 10degs for 360deg circle, minus 1 tooth for #1 at TDC, the GAP.

So not much to it.

Coils need 12volts or can't spark
ICM needs 12volt or can't work
CKP sensor generates it's own AC volts(under 1 volt) if you want to test it.

Just as a heads up, the tone wheel, 35 teeth, can't lose another tooth or ICM can't tell which GAP is TDC, so it doesn't spark at all.
35 pulses, GAP, 35 pulses, GAP..........it must look like that to ICM
 

Dhymes253

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We still haven't found the problem and it has us stumped. We connected everything right so it should be sparking but it just isn't
 

RonD

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And you are testing for spark by adding fuel to the intake?

Or with a spark tester?

Adding fuel is better, it tests ALL the spark plugs at one time.

As said spark on a '94 2.3l is not complicated:
CKP = Crank position sensor
ICM = ignition control module

CKP>>>>>>>ICM>>>>>>Coil packs>>>>spark plugs
 

Dhymes253

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Were testing for spark with a spark tester
 

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