88 2.3 ranger super high idle. no vacuum leaks. good IAC.

[03ranger4x4]

Well the truck officially died on my today...lucky it was close to my dad's place and he was able to pull me to his place. So while I was on the side of the road I disconnected the computer and in doing so one of the pins for the computer pulled out with the connector. I'm really hoping that was the issue all along, just a corroded pin that wasn't getting a good connection. I'll see when I open it up and try and solider that pin back in

Edit... So i got the computer back in, still does the same crap. Seems like it is randomly loosing spark, but it could be spark and fuel. I cant tell... If the truck is sitting with the key on and its warm and not running, I can hear the fuel pump randomly kick on for two seconds. It sounds like someone in the truck is randomly cycling the key, and the computer is doing its 2 second fuel pump prime. Im starting to think its the computer now. even though it didnt LOOK bad when I took it apart today. I have no clue...

 

[RonD]

Rent or borrow an OBD II scanner, see if computer can be "talked to" and "talk back"

 

[Spott]

Based on your description of the fuel pump cycling repeatedly, I would double-check the fuel pump and PCM relays, and ignition switch, and associated wiring and connectors. Maybe the PCM is bad; it's much more likely that a wire or relay is having problems.

 

[03ranger4x4]

Rent or borrow an OBD II scanner, see if computer can be "talked to" and "talk back"

My ranger is an 88....about 7 years shy of obd ii lol. I was able to pull codes with a test light though. What concerned me was the code 14...erratic pip signal.

As it turns out, I went ahead and ordered a used computer and picked up a new pickup coil and installed that today. Truck now runs great, no more random dying and cutting out. At least for the 20 min test drive I took it on. So all in all, it was a the pickup coil all along. Go figure....I've never seen one go bad and you would figure it would just quit if it went bad, not work only sometimes. Guess I have a spare computer now, good to have I suppose. It was only 35 bucks on ebay lol

Well thanks for the help guys, keeping my fingers crossed that this problem doesn't come back....This old beater is my only ride while my motorcycle awaits new tires and my mustang....heh well that's not even in one piece.

 

[Andy D]

Heh Heh , for 20 yrs I believed igition coils failed open . They either worked or they didn't Until I was plagued by a weak coil, that I thought was a bad carb. Pick up coil failure was fairly common in my 80s Grand Wags. It was a Ford distributer and ignition . Trouble was that the pickup costs more than a rebuilt dist.

 

[Jamie Reid]

What are some problems that can occur with IAC valves for the 88 2.3 that are not Motorcraft parts?
I am trying hard to diagnose and fix an issue I've got and my suspension is that this valve is not communicating properly with the computer and ECT. I can't remember what brand the valve is but ECM and ECT are new.