2.9 ignition issues, need help!

[88RangerXLT]

I Just bought an 88 XLT and started driving it yesterday. I have an intermitent problem. The truck loses power stall surges and jerks violently at times, I know its an ignition issue but i'm not sure why i'm having this problem. Cap,Rotor,plugs and wires are all brand new. It also sometimes has issues going over 4000 rpm. it hesitates and pops and sometimes leaves me stranded, after i let it sit for a few it will fire back up......Any ideas?

 

[88RangerXLT]

Just a thought, weak coil?

It runs great until it gets warm........

 

[holyford86]

the tfi module would cause the truck to die after warming if it was bad. if its bucking and stalling at 4000 rpm under load it might do some good to change the fuel filter and check the fuel pressure just incase.

 

[88RangerXLT]

I already changed the fuel filter so i'm sure i'm getting fuel. It also smells really rich when it acts up.

I'm thinking coil because i was looking in my haynes and it shows the tach takes it's reading from the coil. When my truck acts up the tach starts jumping up and down and will drop to zero even when the motor is still spinning . It also runs great until you hit higher rpm's and the motor is fully warmed up. My bet is on a weak coil starting to fail at higher loads and high heat, but i'm just not sure...........

Also, i don't get any codes or a check engine light

 

[baddis]

the tfi module would cause the truck to die after warming if it was bad. if its bucking and stalling at 4000 rpm under load it might do some good to change the fuel filter and check the fuel pressure just incase.

+1 it's a pain to change and might be a little more expensive but in 20 years of working on cars i have only seen 3 bad coils 2 being coil packs the other was cracked. you might check the wiring around the coil but i doubt the coil is bad

 

[88RangerXLT]

Sorry, but i changed the fuel filter already. And it's not only a 4000 rpm thing, it can do it anytime but usually at the higher revs......

And also, what about the tach crapping out only when it bogs down and starts to sputter/pop?

 

[MAKG]

How do you know this is an ignition problem? An incorrect mixture will be more difficult to light off.

RUN THE SELF TESTS.

 

[88RangerXLT]

It backfires and sounds as if the timing is off, i just replaceed the coil and it ran good for a few hours and then acted up again...............

 

[f_cubed]

If you disconnected the battery to install the coil for more than 15min the computer will lose its memory and go to default mode and have to relearn the engine characteristics so it is possible that the computer or sensor package may be causing an issue when it goes to learned mode.
Run the codes or maybe swap the computer, it is rare but not unheard of for the computer to go bad.

 

[88RangerXLT]

The battery was never disconnected............ I'm going to swap the ignition module off of the back of the distrubutor and see where that one gets me

 

[BobR]

check the play in your distributor shaft bushing. Iv seen sloppy distributor bushings cause those exact symptoms.

Bob

 

[88RangerXLT]

I checked that also, the bushings seem good. When i have the cap off i can't wiggle the shaft at all. I was wondering about the tfi module on the distributor?

 

[skippy]

let us know what you find.i have a similar issue with my 2.8 when the computer comes into play.for now i have spark advance disconnected and it runs ok,but i had to change distributer do to wear/slop in the gear/bushings before i could get it to drive decent.only emmisions part i haven,t changed is the egr position sensor,taking a break from it and refilling the bank/ranger account.anyway if you get it fixed let us know and good luck.

 

[BobR]

I checked that also, the bushings seem good. When i have the cap off i can't wiggle the shaft at all. I was wondering about the tfi module on the distributor?

did you apply firm finger pressure back and forth and measure it?

often there will be oily sludge in the bushing that will hold it steady for a moment but not for long (why it runs eraticly) and then redeposit itself back in there.
though I have never seen a tolerance for this discard it at 0.015"


Bob

 

[bro2]

I have worked on a 2.9 that had this problem it was the the pickup inthe dist. the bII i was working on would back fire and run like crap and die after running long enoung