Distibutor pick-up coil

[dracosix9]

I have an 86 ranger that used to miss at idle on a regular bases but at random intervals. The tach also never worked unless you hit the dash just right and would quit after the next bump. Then the engine just quit while idling shortly after starting it one day and now it won't fire at all. Wondering if this could be a pick-up coil problem or the ECU. I've had the ignition module tested and it passed on all 5 tries, wanted to be really sure it was okay. I have been trouble shooting this off and on for a year now and am really tired of chasing ghosts.

 

[Spitfire1975]

Check for voltage at the coil when it won't start. I am thinking it is the pickup coil. At the same time, I think I solved my miss problem by changing the ECU.

It may be both. The pickup coil for no start and the ECU for the miss.

 

[dracosix9]

are there any differences that i have to worry about from the 86 to a 88 ecu's??

 

[Spitfire1975]

86 has egr and I believe the 88 does not. would only affect codes from what I understand.