1987 ranger 2.3 fi problems

[bahall]

I have a 1987 ranger last week I was going up a hill and lost power as if the timing belt had broke. timing belt still good I have changed the spark plugs, low pressure fuel pump, fuel filter, fuel regulator, for awhile the truck would not start if I advance the timing by pushing the distributor it will start and have a hard time getting to idle speed, when it idles normal you can push on the gas and the engine bogs down I have been told to check the timing on the truck but I do not have a timing cover and I don't think it jumped timing. if anyone has any ideas as to what could be going on it would help cause in lost. I forgot to mention that both of my fuel pumps keep running and do turn off after 2-3 seconds.

 

[Finnigan]

Possibly your cat converter or muffler is clogged. You can check for that, and other ailments with a vacuum gauge.

For clogged exhaust watch scenario 14: http://www.secondchancegarage.com/public/186.cfm

 

[RonD]

If timing belt broke you would have no power, dead engine.
If it slipped(skipped a few teeth) you would have lower compression and low power, as the valves are now out of time with the pistons.

Since there is no timing cover it should be easy to see if marks still line up.
TDC on the crank goes by twice for each one turn of the cam, so keep that in mind

 

[bahall]

I do not have a cat on the truck, I have a timing cover that I can put on, was talking to a friend last night and he said to check the return fuel line cause if that had a leak it would cause the pumps to still run I don't have a fuel pressure gage to verify it there is pressure loss in the line.

 

[RonD]

The fuel pumps come on when key is first turned on, usually 1-3 seconds.
They only come back on after engine starts and then only once in awhile, the computer controls this.
They are not controlled by pressure feed back, there is no pressure sensor on this system.

There is a Fuel pressure regulator(FPR) on the fuel rail(where injectors are), the FPR will have a vacuum line attached to it, remove this vacuum line and check it for fuel or fuel smell, if it smells like fuel or has fuel in it then FPR is bad and is leaking fuel, this fuel is being sucked in to the intake by the vacuum line so flooding out the engine.

A leak in the return line would just leak fuel out, not good but it wouldn't effect the pressure for the injectors.

On the fuel rail there is a schrader valve, like a tire pressure valve, system should have about 30psi of pressure, like a tire.
If you press the center pin, like on a tire, fuel should spray out, BE CAREFUL, 30psi is ALOT of pressure, you don't want to get it in your eyes or on a hot exhaust.

 

[Finnigan]

Even without a cat exhaust could still be plugged.
<s>I have an '86 and I don't have the schrader valve, so don't be surprised if you don't see one. I believe the earliest model rails didn't have them.</s>
EDIT: I take this back. After seeing a rail off a vehicle (in an eBay auction) I spotted where the schrader valve is, then went and checked my truck. It is there, between cyl 3 and 4. I hope I never have to get to it though.

I wonder if a vacuum leak in the hose going to the FPR could produce your problem?

 

[bahall]

I have replaced the fuel regulator and the problem persist I did check the pressure on the fuel pumps at it was at 40psi which according to the Haynes book I have that is normal I have checked the air lines and they all seem normal I don't hear any air blowing or sucking. I have checked the EGR valve which is working normal. I did pull the air lines off the air filter cover and the engine in turn sped up I didn't not check to see if the could handle an open throttle.