1984 ford ranger 4x4 2.8v6 spark issues

[just another 80s ranger]

i have a 1984 ford ranger with a 2.8 v6, i have been trying to resuscitate the thing, it ran good until i had starter issues i replaced the starter and fixed the guages not working but when i went to start it it turned over and nothing, i assume it had no spark, check and i was right i deducted it was a bad coil, s i went ahead and replaced it, but still nothing happened. now I'm thinking it has something to do with the distributor and the TFI module, or some wire that decided to go out, i check and 2 of the pins have constant power when its in on position and another has power when cranking.


if someone has some info about common issues, ore could help me with some tips or a cheep 2 wire distributor so i can just delete the hole rat nest of wires and and vacuum lines. pls help

 

[ford4wd08]

Ignition switches on the steering column are nortious for making bad connections and causing you to loose spark by having an open connection when they wear out.

An easy temporary test is to take a jumper wire from the positive battery post to the positive side of the coil and try to start it. If it runs with the jumper you have bad connection in the ignition circuit and can be the ignition switch (you'll have to remove the jumper wire to get the motor to quit running).

 

[just another 80s ranger]

thanks man i'll see if it works later today, also what about the other wire going to the coil, do i just leave it alone? or do i have to do anything with it

 

[ford4wd08]

All you're doing with the jumper wire to the positive side of the coil is bypassing the ignition switch and other wiring. You only have to put a jumper on the positive side. Don't unplug anything, just push the jumper into the back of the plug connector on the coil. It is just for a test to see if the engine will start.

 

[just another 80s ranger]

so i tried it and it did nothing, no spark at all is there a way to simplify the system or hot wire it ? I know the coil is good and the distributor worked like 3 months ago any more ideas ? I tested the original positive wire going to the coil, and it got power

 

[ford4wd08]

so i tried it and it did nothing, no spark at all is there a way to simplify the system or hot wire it ? I know the coil is good and the distributor worked like 3 months ago any more ideas ? I tested the original positive wire going to the coil, and it got power

How are you confirming no spark at all?

Positive wire on coil got power while cranking or in run position?

 

[just another 80s ranger]

I check spark with new spark plug grounded to the header and i had a friend cranked it and there was nothing, and also the engine does does no attempt for turning faster , I have only check for power in on position I forgot to check wile its cranking

 

[ford4wd08]

Pick up a cheap inline spark tester. Much easier to see what is going on with that.

 

[RobbieD]

I have only check for power in on position I forgot to check wile its cranking

You do need to check that.

 

[bobbywalter]

Ignition System - Weak/No Spark — 1984 Ford Bronco II 4WD V6-171 2.8L Service Manual | Operation CHARM

Detailed repair manual for the 1984 Ford Bronco II 4WD V6-171 2.8L.

charm.li

 

[bobbywalter]

i have a 1984 ford ranger with a 2.8 v6, i have been trying to resuscitate the thing, it ran good until i had starter issues i replaced the starter and fixed the guages not working but when i went to start it it turned over and nothing, i assume it had no spark, check and i was right i deducted it was a bad coil, s i went ahead and replaced it, but still nothing happened. now I'm thinking it has something to do with the distributor and the TFI module, or some wire that decided to go out, i check and 2 of the pins have constant power when its in on position and another has power when cranking.


if someone has some info about common issues, ore could help me with some tips or a cheep 2 wire distributor so i can just delete the hole rat nest of wires and and vacuum lines. pls help

it ran good until i had starter issues i replaced the starter and fixed the guages not working but when i went to start it it turned over and nothing, i assume it had no spark, check and i was right

so.....

if it is still tfi which seems the case a few things may have happened....you burned a fusible link to the eec module or a ground broke or was not replaced ect.....

the tfi has a hall effect setup....and a pip and spout is used based on that to report timing data to the eec..

on some of these carb style units if the eec is turned off it wont fire the coil. on a efi type as long as the tfi is getting power it will fix timing and fire the coil. i have seen no eec power with these carb types not fire the coil. and i dont know why that is.

obviously the red green stipe wire is crank/run power and the red blu stripe wire is crank power.

if you jumped power right to the coil and the circuit is good it would have sent power to the tfi as well which you need to make sure it has continuity.

if this is the case and the ground is good then the tfi is likely bad.


providing the eec power and ground circuits are complete. and the rotor is actually turning.

 

[just another 80s ranger]

thanks for the explanation, i have brand new ground cable for the coil grounding the mounting bracket. il check if the rotor is spinning, i haven't check that, and i assume it was good because it ran before yust fine.
also the last owner installed a pigtail for the tfi and i installed a pig tail for the coil. when i did my test i connected positive from battery to coil, and negative frome coil to original negative wire that was connected to the negative, my final goal is to delate that hole system and just ran a 2 wire distributor with vacuum advance, but they seam to be hard to find, anyway sorry for my inexperience with these system's but its my fist time.
il upload some pictures tomorrow