2.9 ignition

[JuJu1289]

So i just tore apart my 2.9 87 ford ranger because I was getting bad white smoke coming out of the exaust. Ive replaced every gasket in engine,push rods, lifters, ext... Now i have it all back togeather but when I turn the key it wont even attept to turn. Checked the nuetral switch and it is fine. What am i missing?

 

[Psychopete]

Have you checked for 12 volts at the small R/LB wire at the starter solenoid that activates it?

Have any of the plugs on the drivers side been disconnected and not reconnected?

Does it attempt to start if you trip the starter solenoid with a screw driver per se?

Did you clean the battery ground well to the engine and reconnect all of the other grounds?

Battery terminals could be at fault as well... Sometimes they just quit making a good connection. Easy enough to test with a DMM, though.

Pete

 

[JuJu1289]

Have any of the plugs on the drivers side been disconnected and not reconnected? ---Havent connected plugs yet

Does it attempt to start if you trip the starter solenoid with a screw driver per se?--- It attempts to start when i trip it, thats how i got the distributer to drop down.

Did you clean the battery ground well to the engine and reconnect all of the other grounds?---Ive looked for grounds and all i can find are connected.

 

[IMenriched]

Just for clearification...."by start", you are meaning, just engaging the starter to turn the engine over??

agreed, recheck cables, battery, solenoid, there is a inline fuse that maybe bad too.

 

[Psychopete]

Have any of the plugs on the drivers side been disconnected and not reconnected? ---Havent connected plugs yet

What trans do you have? My '88 auto had 2 plugs that the NSS circuit ran through on the drivers side. I actually divorced this circuit out of my old 2.9L main harness for my v8 swap. Not so sure on a manual off the top of my head, but if I understand what you said correctly; hooking those plugs back up would likely resolve the problem.

Pete

 

[JuJu1289]

srry, by plugs i thought u meant spark plugs. Now i realise your talking about the wiring. Its raining out right now so im gonna attempt to fix after this passes.

 

[lostexan]

did u get this problem resolved? I had to replace my ignition switch also, and now it wont start. Thanx Chris

 

[Psychopete]

did u get this problem resolved? I had to replace my ignition switch also, and now it wont start. Thanx Chris

Have you tried anything I recommend above? All the info you're giving is that it doesn't start....

What exactly are you working on? Why did you have to replace the ignition switch? Have you tested for a signal to the neutral safety switch that's coming from the ignition switch?

Going to be kind of hard to figure out without a good diagram of the circuits you're trying to diagnose... Library may have them, Ford will copy pages, Helm Inc sells them, etc.

Pete

 

[JuJu1289]

sorry i havent posted on this thread in forever. I replaced the ignition switch and it started up fine. The other day it wouldnt start agian, wasnt getting power past the coil. Replaced the coil and was getting power but still no spark. All i can guess is the module on the distributor so i just ordered a whole new distributor today. Guess we will have to see.

 

[lostexan]

Sorry there pete,
My wife had lost my keys, not knowing about the other options, I precede to take a small drill bit to it and eventually got the old tumbler out and replaced it. Ive got it to adjusted to where it should be. I was able to jump the coil with the key in the run position and it would start and run. Now Im not able to even do this. I have the 2.9 with the al4d. I have checked wiring from the steering column to the distributor, I have power up to the ignition ,module on the driver side firewall. I dont not have anything coming off the distributor though. I have done searches on here, and have not came up with anything. The book is vague on what to do. The terminals are clean and thebattery is well charged. I have not checked the small R/LB wire though.

 

[Psychopete]

I was able to jump the coil with the key in the run position and it would start and run. Now Im not able to even do this. I have the 2.9 with the al4d. I have checked wiring from the steering column to the distributor, I have power up to the ignition ,module on the driver side firewall. I dont not have anything coming off the distributor though. I have done searches on here, and have not came up with anything. The book is vague on what to do. The terminals are clean and thebattery is well charged. I have not checked the small R/LB wire though.

What exactly is it not doing at this point; what happens when you turn the key? Are youre relays turning on, and can you hear your fuel pumps kick on twice when it's on 'Run'?

You can test the start circuit from the ignition switch by hooking up a test light from the Red/Light Blue wire in the transmission plug on the drivers side. The other side that the circuit flows through past the NSS is the White/Pink wire right next to it. That W/PK wire splices back into a R/LB wire inside of the main harness, and ultimately makes it to the starter solenoid.

Just not a lot of info, not sure on the big picture...

Pete

 

[lostexan]

Ok, thanks! when I put the key to run position The fuel pump kicks on as far as the relays IDK. I dont hear anything. I will try to listen more attentively for the relays to click. Rite now though I can turn the key to start and nothing happens. I leave it in run and all the acc. stay on as well as the pump cycles. I will check those relays and then test the circuit.Thanks for the help

 

[IMenriched]

Ok, thanks! when I put the key to run position The fuel pump kicks on as far as the relays IDK. I dont hear anything. I will try to listen more attentively for the relays to click. Rite now though I can turn the key to start and nothing happens. I leave it in run and all the acc. stay on as well as the pump cycles. I will check those relays and then test the circuit.Thanks for the help

If your hearing the fuel pump prime then I'd say that the relay are working....and that your missing power to the starter.

might need help but have someone (you trust). try to start,(turn key to start position) and check if battery power is getting to the starter. If your getting 12v there and and it cycles with turning of the key, I suspect that the ignition switch is fine...and maybe the starter is suspect.