1987 Ranger project with grandson

[Gsoltis]

Looking for ideas thanks. It’s an automatic 4 x 4 extended cab 2.9l. We got it to run But stalls when we put it in gear and and put the pedal to the floor it does not move stalls out.

 

[Shran]

Welcome to the forum!

Has it been sitting for a while? Do you have adequate fuel pressure? Both pumps working? What happens if you have it in park and hit the gas, does it rev up like it should? Idles OK? What about neutral?

Could be a lot of things, if it revs up normally and runs good in park, I would be suspecting a bad torque converter but we need more details.

 

[RonD]

Clean IAC Valve

When you start any fuel injected engine computer should be in Choke Mode, Rich fuel mix and HIGH idle(1,100rpm)
If engine was cold(off for more than 4 hours), then idle will stay high for a few minutes
If its a restart, then idle will go high but then drop to about 750rpms

Computer gets temp of engine from the ECT sensor, 5volt 2 wire sensor on lower intake by thermostat housing(not used for dash temp gauge, thats a 12volt temp sender not a sensor)
Computer uses IAC valve to set idle RPMs high after start up so engine should REV when it starts, then drop down to about 1,100rpms, then over the next 5min idle will drop to warm idle of about 750rpms
So no need to touch gas pedal during start up, in fact it better if you do not, that will tell you if things are working like they should

When you shift transmission into R or D, 2, 1 the computer should bump up the idle using the IAC Valve by about 50rpms

So IAC valve does alot and needs to be working

1987 2.9l will use a MAP sensor, this is an engine Load sensor, it reads vacuum level in the intake and the computer needs this to adjust the fuel mix(and spark timing) as the Load increases(vacuum drops)

Spark timing
Needs to be set manually
Near the distributor will be the SPOUT connector, looks like this: https://www.fordforumsonline.com/attachments/spout-jpg.866/
Attached to distributor wiring

You need to warm up the engine
Turn it off and hook up timing light and loosen distributor hold down bolt, just a little
Pull out the SPOUT plug, that disables computers spark advance(like vacuum advance)
Start engine
Set base spark timing, 10deg BTDC is spec, most prefer 12deg BTDC

Tighten up distributor, put SPOUT plug back in, timing is set

 

[Gsoltis]

Welcome to the forum!

Has it been sitting for a while? Do you have adequate fuel pressure? Both pumps working? What happens if you have it in park and hit the gas, does it rev up like it should? Idles OK? What about neutral?

Could be a lot of things, if it revs up normally and runs good in park, I would be suspecting a bad torque converter but we need more details.

Yes both pumps working. new high pressure fuel pump. In park revs up no problem. Idles fine. In park and neutral. We just found Vacuum line on the driver side of the transmission for all the chef lovers go in there’s a T one and the vacuum goes to the transfer case the other end is capped then and going towards the engine we cannot find a vacuum line. is this just a vent

 

[RonD]

Automatics have a vent on the rear top and transfer case on the front but near top center

Top of later model trans but A4LD should have same Vent setup: https://f01.justanswer.com/JACUSTOM...2_from_my_explorer__vin_1fmdu34e8vza14031.jpg
Rubber hose in rear is connected to the actual Vent, metal tube is to allow ventilation without ATF coming out

You can see the Vent without the hose here, actual A4LD: https://www.therangerstation.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/a4ld-1.jpg


Picture of transfer case Vent here: https://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/images/doubler/vent.JPG
Clean place is where transmission bolts on, so on the front of transfer case next to the transmission tail shaft

Another pic here: https://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/images/doubler/silicone.JPG

So not vacuum hose just vent hoses
For off-roading and water crossings people often extended these Vents to a higher point in engine bay
Same for differential Vents


The A4LD automatic does have a vacuum line on passenger side, for the vacuum modulator, seen here: https://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/images/a4ld_labeled.JPG
Check that vacuum hose for ATF, if found replace modulator

 

[Shran]

Kinda leads me to suspect a bad torque converter or trans... by stalls out I'm assuming you mean that the engine dies when it's put in gear? as opposed to just slipping or not engaging whatever gear you put it in?

 

[dvdswan]

Welcome to the site.

 

[Gsoltis]

Yes both pumps working. new high pressure fuel pump. In park revs up no problem. Idles fine. In park and neutral. We just found Vacuum line on the driver side of the transmission for all the chef lovers go in there’s a T one and the vacuum goes to the transfer case the other end is capped then and going towards the engine we cannot find a vacuum line. is this just a vent

Kinda leads me to suspect a bad torque converter or trans... by stalls out I'm assuming you mean that the engine dies when it's put in gear? as opposed to just slipping or not engaging whatever gear you put it in?

yes engine dies

 

[Gsoltis]

yes engine dies

Thanks for all the responses

 

[Gsoltis]

As of Aug 25 the truck with not run. It cranks it turns over it will not run. If we spray some starting fluid it will fire a few times but will not run. There is fuel at the fuel rails has spark to the distributor has spark to spark plugs either side of the engine. I cannot get it to run so I don’t get the check in the transmission at this time.
The night before we had it running shut it off came back the next afternoon and it would not start.

 

[RonD]

If it fires then you have spark

But could be at the wrong time, was distributor tight when it was running?

Disconnect SPOUT connector and try 50/50 test again, that takes away computers spark advance(like disconnecting Vacuum advance)
Engine will run fine with no SPOUT, just wouldn't accelerate/REV very well

Whats the fuel in the tank like, fairly new?
All fuel has water in it, and if it sits long enough the water settles at the bottom of the tank, where fuel pumps intake is