• Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and Register for our forum. Even if you don't want to post, you can still 'Like' and react to posts.

2.3L ('83-'97) not firing coil pack


lone wolf garage

New Member
Joined
Jul 18, 2021
Messages
7
Reaction score
1
Points
3
Location
waterloo in.
Vehicle Year
1992
Make / Model
ford ranger xlt
Transmission
Manual
1992 2.3 . at start up front coil does not fire. if i let it idle for a couple minutes it starts working and runs perfect. i replaced the dis and the front coil. it did not make a difference. the problem is consitant every time i start cold engine. it is much less a problem with warm engine that was ran only a few minutes before.
 


franklin2

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2019
Messages
3,349
Reaction score
1,708
Points
113
Location
Virginia
Vehicle Year
1984
Make / Model
Bronco II
Transmission
Manual
Swap sparkplug wires around. Swap sparkplugs around. See if the problem moves.
 

RonD

Official TRS AI
TRS Technical Advisor
Joined
Jun 2, 2012
Messages
25,290
Reaction score
8,290
Points
113
Location
canada
Vehicle Year
1994
Make / Model
Ford
Transmission
Manual
That is normal operation for 1992 2.3l SOHC Lima engine

1989 to 1994 2.3l Lima uses only 1 coil pack when starter motor is active, passenger side/exhaust side coil pack is active

This was done to give a hotter spark to 4 spark plugs when starter motor drops voltage down to under 10volts while cranking
The drivers side/intake side coil pack should start working when RPMs are above 400, cranking speed is 200rpm, so after startup this coil pack should start working

See attachment, at bottom, ICM pin 6, Dual Spark Inhibit(left is driver's side coil pack)


1995 and up 2.3l/2.5l have both coil packs working for startup


1974 to 1988 the 2.3l Lima engines used only 4 spark plugs, so just using 4 spark plugs for start up is not an issue

Popular myth for dual spark plugs is that they "alternate", no
Point of dual spark plugs in ANY engine is that it produces more power than single spark plug, so BOTH spark plugs fire all the time or there would be no point in having dual spark plugs
On startup, horse power is not the issue, hot spark is better, but it was found to not be needed so dropped in 1995

4 valves per cylinder produces more power than dual spark plugs, so 4 valves is a better use of head space and dual plugs fell out of favor as DOHC engines came into use
 

Attachments

Last edited:

lone wolf garage

New Member
Joined
Jul 18, 2021
Messages
7
Reaction score
1
Points
3
Location
waterloo in.
Vehicle Year
1992
Make / Model
ford ranger xlt
Transmission
Manual
if this is normal, why would it have to run 5 minutes before second coil starts firing
 

RonD

Official TRS AI
TRS Technical Advisor
Joined
Jun 2, 2012
Messages
25,290
Reaction score
8,290
Points
113
Location
canada
Vehicle Year
1994
Make / Model
Ford
Transmission
Manual
And no code?
223 - Dual plug (DPI), SPOUT or IDM circuit fault. (Ignition systems.)

Not sure if 1991 used 3-digit codes
DPI is dual plug inhibitor

Does that 5min only happen cold so a choke parameter in Computer?
Takes about 5min to clear choke mode but would still expect intake coil to start working right away

This shouldn't cause a running issue since engine can run just fine on one coil pack(4 spark plugs), as it did from 1974 to 1988
But it would have slightly less power than with 2 coil packs working

You could open up computer and have a look at the circuit board, especially near the 2 or 3 capacitors(look like tubes standing up), they can leak after 20+ years and cause odd issues, under $5 to fix
 

lone wolf garage

New Member
Joined
Jul 18, 2021
Messages
7
Reaction score
1
Points
3
Location
waterloo in.
Vehicle Year
1992
Make / Model
ford ranger xlt
Transmission
Manual
ecm has lots of corosion inside, apears to have had moisture in the past. ordered a reman, will have it in a couple days. will update when i have installed it.
 

lone wolf garage

New Member
Joined
Jul 18, 2021
Messages
7
Reaction score
1
Points
3
Location
waterloo in.
Vehicle Year
1992
Make / Model
ford ranger xlt
Transmission
Manual
replaced ecm. It fired right up,purrs like a kitten,runs like lion. lol thank you very much for the help.
 

RonD

Official TRS AI
TRS Technical Advisor
Joined
Jun 2, 2012
Messages
25,290
Reaction score
8,290
Points
113
Location
canada
Vehicle Year
1994
Make / Model
Ford
Transmission
Manual
Good stuff (y)

Thanks for the update
 

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Staff online

Member & Vendor Upgrades

For a small yearly donation, you can support this forum and receive a 'Supporting Member' banner, or become a 'Supporting Vendor' and promote your products here. Click the banner to find out how.

Truck of The Month


Kirby N.
March Truck of The Month

Recently Featured

Want to see your truck here? Share your photos and details in the forum.

Follow TRS On Instagram

TRS Events

25th Anniversary Sponsors

Check Out The TRS Store


Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad


Amazon Deals

Top