1988 Ranger 2.3L terrible idle

[Huls Ford]

Just did a tune-up on an 88 2.3L, new air filter, oil change, radiator flush and fill, and plugs/wires/cap/rotor. Now it ran perfectly fine and idled like a dream until I did the plugs and wires. Now it cranks perfectly and goes into high idle and comes down from high idle like it should. As it comes down from high idle it will start to miss. Eventually the miss gets worse, so bad it seems like it has dropped 2 cylinders and idles around 500rpm and will sporadically increase speed and run better for a second or two, and then its back to the 500rpm stutter. It runs down the road with no hesitation and plenty of power. I cannot find any vacuum leaks. The IAC is fine. Unplugging the egr didn't change anything either. At a loss, and didn't find anything similar to my issue on google.

 

[Mark_88]

Hi and welcome to TRS~!

If no apparent vacuum leaks then check the timing again to make sure...1-3-4-2 on the distributor...also ensure the wires to the TFI are not broken or otherwise disconnected...

The fact that it idles and then starts missing on the slower idle does seem weird and rules out vacuum leaks...it could also be PCV hose disconnected (right beside the distributor) or the canister hose has come undone and this will act as a vacuum leak at lower idle...the PCV valve opens at the lower idle...and if that bottom hose is off it could act up...

http://www.agcoauto.com/content/news/p2_articleid/197

This might help to explain but check the hose at the cannister...they can come off the oil canister (below intake) with the right amount of jostling...

 

[Huls Ford]

Did accidently unhook the PCV during the process, but did put it back tightly. Just checked and verified. Oil canister hose is tight.

 

[Mightyfordranger]

My 88 2.3 is pretty stripped down. No egr and when I bought the truck the previous owner swapped the throttle body out for a 92-94 throttle body and adapted the IAC in it....runs great and idles fine I can take a pic if you'd like

Ps. I'm sitting in it right now it's my dd also check your spark gap and try a isolate each wire from anything that they could ground to cheap plug wires do that from time to time if that's what you bought

 

[jeremysdad]

Autolite wires and Motorcraft plugs, minimum.

For reasons mentioned post above me. Although...let's not delude ourselves...they're all made offshore.

Regardless...good enough for oem...and that...is that why adsm08 is all about the motorcraft wires? We can't get those down here (TN).

 

[Huls Ford]

All wires are isolated very well, autolite plugs gapped correctly. I've never had issues running autolite plugs. My bronco 351W won't run correctly without them. As far as wires these are Carquest premium. Which I've also never had issue with.

Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk

 

[Mightyfordranger]

Hhhhmmm I'm not sure I'll look around undery hood yours is FI right?? Just makin sure