'84 Ford Ranger Problems

[happy09]

I have a '84 Ford Ranger 2.8l V6. I have replaced the ignition control module, alternator, coil, starter, wiring harness, and several other parts. I was having no problems with my truck until one day I had shut it off for approximately five minutes and my truck would not turn over. That day we changed the coil and it is still doing the same exact thing as it did before we switched it. My truck is still not working and garages keep telling me it is the timing chain but there is no chain for this model. Can someone PLEASE give me an idea what the problem could be, because this is my only transporation. Thank you.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

my truck would not turn over.

What exactly do you mean? the engine doesn't turn over at all? or the engine turns over but doesn't fire at all? or it turns and tries to fire? With what you replaced it's hard to figure out what exact problem your having.

Richard

 

[JoshT]

Sounds to me like he means it won't turn over at all. What he's replaced tells me he has no clue how to fix the problem and is just throwing parts at it.

The shop saying that the timing chain is bad suggests that they think a 2.8 and 2.9 are the same except for the EFI. Not really a surprise since Ford hasn't build a 2.8L in 17 years, doubt many shops know that there is any difference. You are correct in thinking there's no timing chain, the 2.8L uses gears. If the gears (or chain for that matter) were bad they (the gears) would be telling you something is wrong.

The engine not turning over is a problem with the starting circuit, not the ignition system. My first question to you would be, when you turn the key do you hear a clicking under the hood? The clicking I'm talking about is the starter solenoid which is basically a very big relay closing, every Ranger I've been around this has been audible when working. If you do hear the clicking the solenoid is good and problem lies elsewhere, most likely in the wire to the starter or the the engine ground. If you don't hear a click it means either the solenoid is not working or it is not getting power. This is or should be similar to the starter solenoid in your Ranger.

The two larger terminals go to your battery and starter. The smaller terminal is the start trigger for closing the relay when the ignition switch is used, it may be labeled with an S. There may be a second smaller terminal which would be used for ignition if wired that way, it would be labeled with an I and for our purposes it's not important. There's a quick and easy way to test these solenoids without a multimeter. I'll list the steps below, read all steps before starting.

Instructions:

1. Read all of these instructions and follow in order. I don't want to be thrown in jail for you failing to follow instructions
2. Disconnect the coil wire going to the distributor.
3. Find a plastic/rubber handled screw driver. The thicker the handle the better, preferably no exposed metal on the handle end.
4. Short the screw driver across the large terminal connected to battery and the start trigger. If you hear clicking or the motor turns over stop here cause the the starter solenoid is good. If nothing happens continue to the next step.
5. Make note of which large cable connects to which terminal (should be same as image above), then disconnect both large cables from the starter solenoid.
6. Holding the cables by the insulation, or if possible use the screw driver again, touch them together. If the engine turns over replace the starter solenoid, and reconnect your coil wire.

Disconnecting the coil is an important step because we will be bypassing the ignition key here, we do not want the engine to fire if it does turn over. The insulated handle screwdriver is very important for your safety, I don't want you getting electrocuted here.

If step 3 is successful that means that your starter solenoid is not getting power when you flip the key to start, you need to check out that wiring to find where power is being lost. For this next part I'm assuming you have checked out the battery to make sure it's good. If in step 3 you have a clicking sound and the engine does not turn over it means a wiring problem between the solenoid and the starter, a bad starter, or a bad engine ground. You can pretty much expect the same thing in step 4 if the engine does not turn over. In either of these cases your solenoid is most likely good.

 

[wildbill23c]

Ok, so we don't know if the engine just doesn't turn over period, or if it turns over and just doesn't start, can't offer much help not knowing the exact problem. How would the shop know if the timing chain is bad if it doesn't turn over, considering this is a 2.8L V6 like other's have said there isn't a timing chain, it has timing gears.

Could be a bad starter if it don't turn over, could a the solenoid, bad battery, neutral safety switch, clutch interlock switch,

If its an automatic please make sure its in park or neutral before trying to start it...ask me how I know LOL.