95 Ranger 2.3 help me

[DSchuch120]

Hello there.. New to the forums, and had a question. 2.3 motor is definitely misfiring, runs and idles rough and has nearly no acceleration. Top speed is about 53mph so I'm thinking it's timing related. Any thoughts?

 

[Mikel89us]

Have you changed plugs and wires? If so you may have a bad coil, and if the coils check out, the ignition control module(ICM) may be bad.

 

[InsaneBroncoII]

is it a ohc or is it ohv? Has it been worked on before?

 

[Mikel89us]

Its a 2.3 ranger, its ohc

Also, he's onto something, cam timing could cause lack of power, but it won't cause a missfire.

 

[WarHawk-AVG]

bad gas?

Have you done a tuneup on it?

have you run any fuel cleaner in the system lately?

Give us a bit a back history on your truck.

 

[DSchuch120]

Yes ohc just changed plugs and wires with little to no change in power. It idles like a v8 and has absolutely no balls. It has a new fuel filter. It has good fuel pressure as well. But the owner before me had the timing belt go out. He changed the belt and may have made a mistake when timing it?

 

[DSchuch120]

All plugs have spark

 

[DSchuch120]

Bought the truck with 154000mi for 650 it needed a power steering pump, pulley, calipers, a shackle, hanger leaf spring bushing, battery terminals and wires, some vacuum hose and thats as far as I've gotten.

 

[DSchuch120]

The lack of power can't even push this girl up my suburb neighborhood hill. I'd safely say this engine is only putting out about 60hp. In 4th gear wide open, the truck can only go 54mph so I have a small issue

 

[Mikel89us]

Has it run like that since you got it?

 

[96firephoenix]

All plugs have spark

Not to be an ass, but all 8 of them have spark? I was thrown by that when I bought spark plugs for this engine... you sound like you know what you're doing pretty well, but a double check never hurts.

At 154K, I'd suggest a clogged catalytic converter before I got into the timing

 

[DSchuch120]

The truck isn't throwing any codes, and I the it only had a muffler from the header but I welded on a cherry bomb. It has excellent back preessure. But the idle is very inconsistent and smells rich

 

[XLTsplash]

Checking the timing marks would be a good place to start because it's easy and won't cost you anything. Ford put rubber inspection plugs in the cover or you can just pull the outer cover off for a better look at things. Just line up TDC on the crank pulley and the diamonds on the cam and oil pump sprockets. If the timing looks good and compression check is another good base check to help you know the condition of the engine. And for your exhaust are you saying the truck didn't have a cat. only a muffler and you added another cherry bomb muffler ?

 

[DSchuch120]

thank you for that info, I will definitely check the timing marks. And yes, it had a foot of pipe from the header to muffler. It has proper O2 sensors. Would the motor throw a code for being off time?

 

[Mikel89us]

No these motors wont cause a fault code for being out of time.