89 2.3 Running rough and dying at idlehttp://www.therangerstation.com/forums/images/s

[1989rangerob]

so yeah, everything is off my motor and I'm waiting for some hylomar to come in the mail.

 

[1989rangerob]

I hope you all had a good Independence Day.

 

[1989rangerob]

So I decided to drop the oil pan just in case. The motor and tranny are jacked up, the pan wont come out and at this point i'll start crushing components on the top of the motor if I keep going. there is enough space for me to get the old gasket out and clean the surfaces of the motor and pan. I'm going to do that and then button it back up per the hanes manual. I'll put up some pics in a bit.

 

[1989rangerob]

Recent pics

She's a pain

 

[Mark_88]

OH, yeah...

The new engine in my truck needs a new oil pan gasket too...and I was hoping to do that before putting the body on but things got pushed forward too quickly...so now I'm probably going to go the same route...but my body is still loose enough that I can jack it up...the previous owner provided the gasket...a one-piece squiggly thing that looks like it needs a complete pan drop to do properly...

Not looking forward to that one...

 

[1989rangerob]

OH, yeah...

The new engine in my truck needs a new oil pan gasket too...and I was hoping to do that before putting the body on but things got pushed forward too quickly...so now I'm probably going to go the same route...but my body is still loose enough that I can jack it up...the previous owner provided the gasket...a one-piece squiggly thing that looks like it needs a complete pan drop to do properly...

Not looking forward to that one...

Not fun at all! May the force be with you.

 

[1989rangerob]

oil pan gasket

Does it look like this?

 

[Mark_88]

Exactly...but I don't have a dog...

 

[nesralyrrej]

mines kindof doing the same thing, im thinking its the crank position sensor, any updates on yours? I just did a timing belt and might have messed the timing up

 

[1989rangerob]

I put everything back together and it's still running terribly. At this point I think it is the top end. I have a little bit better power and the motor sounds like it's in time. It feels like I'm down a piston though. The motor feels like it's unbalanced all the way through the rpm range. The cel goes on when I reach 3500 plus rpms

 

[1989rangerob]

And there is oil smoke and the exhaust smells rich and stinks

 

[tomw]

Check the firing order on your spark plugs or that they are plugged into the proper slot in the coil pack. A crossed plug will feel like it's missing a cylinder ... which it is.
I don't remember when coil packs came to the Ranger, but it is easy to get the plug wires out of order 1-3-4-2. If you get the ignition timing off, it may have no bottom end, and only 'come to life' above 3000 rpm. Checking the belt for cam timing after putting it back together only takes a bit of time, so if you have any doubt, check the triangle on the cam sprocket being at the pointer behind the plastic button in the belt cover at TDC.
tom

 

[1989rangerob]

I'll check the wires, that would be pretty sweet if it was just that.

 

[1989rangerob]

Nope. The pack on the left front of the motor is throwing plenty of spark too. I took the wires off one at a time to check. Both of the coil packs are connected correctly.

 

[1989rangerob]

Guess its time to look for a motor. Any suggestions?