2.9 not starting

[monkguru]

I have an 86 ranger 2.9 was kept in pretty good shape. It seems, I don't know if its a coincidence, but when it rains or the earlier time the snow melted and I didn't clean the truck off, it won't start. after a day, day and a half it starts right up. Starter cranks strong. I pulled several plugs to check for fire and looks great. I don't have a fuel pressure guage, but fuel spurts out good at the fuel rail. I only hear the high pres pump buzz when I turn the key, but strange enough, I don't hear the intank one when it does start. I have replace the tfi a few months ago, and I pulled off dist and cleaned it, it too looks fairly new. I did pull codes 21, 24, 31, 89. But I believe I've had these codes for a while, and so far this has happened three times after a day of sitting it will start, always raining overnight when it won't the next day. The engine won't even try to fire.

 

[Andy D]

How old are the plug wires?

 

[monkguru]

Plug wires

Plug wires look in good shape, I've only had the truck about 2 yrs, and was pretty well maintaind. When I got it, it looked like they did a tune up new cap wires and plugs. I would have to say the porciline on the plugs looks orangish burn looking. Gaps look ok yet. The fire when I check them. Blackish tint to the electrodes, but it is an 86. I'm willing to bet tomorrow it starts again 48 and sunny.

 

[monkguru]

Any suggestions? What could the weather affect other than dist.?

 

[schwabbie86]

I had problems with my 86 2.9 when it wouldn't start sometimes and run fine sometimes... ended up being a faulty ECU

 

[black_demon69]

water in gas freezing? possibly

i would change cap rotor wires and plugs if it was my truck. just for piece of mind

also change fuel filter again piece of mind

check coil for cracks loose bad connections carbon tracking also check cap for same

 

[monkguru]

I was considering the ecu, but was hoping to eliminate that as since I got codes and pass 11 and no other symptoms. I had a leak in my tank about 2 months ago, and did put a new gas tank in. Also I thought about freezing and put gas treatment in on last fill up. Today I will try new plugs and wires. Cap looks fairly new and dry though.

 

[koths211]

does your year have a single lead coil ? my 89 has one and that was a big problem at one point. it ran like crap...that is when it would run. good luck.

 

[truckerdawg]

Next time it rains enough to cause the problem pull the distributor cap off and spray the inside with a drying agent and the same to the parts on the distributor(those encapsulated with the cap on like rotor button etc..). Sometimes it will condense a lot of moisture inside.

 

[88SXT]

Make sure the distributor retainer is tightened down. Mine started fine the other night and wouldn't the next day when it was raining. Discovered that the retaining bracket bolt was loose. Tightened it down and it started fine.


However, a previous owner has hacked the crap out of my wiring harness so maybe I just jostled a loose connection in the process.

 

[monkguru]

Been a while since Ive been on here. Since Im having similar issues again and I commented on a diff thread about this I thought I would mention that it did indeed turn out to be corrosion on wires near the coil. I don't know if they were to the coil or not. But I had someone clean all connectors and ran good all year rain and snow.