1988 2.3 Sputtering/Missing Problem

[Red88XLT]

The 2.3 in my 1988 Ranger has a sputtering problem I hope someone can help me get to the bottom of it. It only does this when the engine is in the normal temperature operating range, wont do it cold, and the rpms are under 3000. What will happen is if I push the gas peddle more than say 1/4 of the way down the motor starts to sputter, miss, buck, and generally fall all over itself. Any ideas guys? Its really pissing me off because i bought the truck to use as a hauler/work truck and this problem makes it a little difficult.

 

[nkhockey09]

sounds like an timing issue or a spark issue did you check to see if you have spark on all plugs

 

[travisl1345]

i had pretty much the same problem with my 87 make sure cam timing is dead on and that your ignition timing is at 10* like its supposed to be.

that cleared the problem up on mine

if that doesn't i've also been told from a friend of mine who works on these alot for races that sometimes the crank timing pulley will spin a bit making the timing on everything else be off just a little bit. good luck

 

[Ranger44]

Either timing or a fuel problem.

Had the truck been sitting a while before you purchased it?

And man why has there been so many 2.3 problems lately?

 

[feellnfroggy]

Either timing or a fuel problem.

Had the truck been sitting a while before you purchased it?

And man why has there been so many 2.3 problems lately?

i jsut fixed this with mine, i have bad primary coil, no spark, com[puter runs to default timing, i think you only have one coil if not distributer, so check your coil, unplug the plugwire one at a time at the coil and holdthem 1/4 inch from terminal if you see spark problem is elsewhere, if not then fix it. also when you time the motor pull the jumper plug in order to set cam timing right, this will throw you way off.... andclean fuel injectors, not the bottle'o'crap solution either, take them out get some q tips diesel or kerosene and clean them biatches. after that i dunno

 

[Red88XLT]

FIXED! Thanks For The Help

 

[racechaser]

Please share what the solution was please.

 

[St Ranger]

what was the problem

this forum doesnt work if you dont tell us what the solution was that finally fixed it.