2.3L ('83-'97) '97 crank, no start, has fuel, but no spark

[Broke College Student]

I bought a '97 2.3 Ranger (2wd Manual XLT standard cab, no A/C) and drove it 2 hours home in November. It has a fuel pump manually wired in, which i accidentally left on, draining the battery and the fuel (either that or it evaporated out of the loose filler neck). The next time I went to start it, it needed a jump, and started on starting fluid but didn't stay running (fuel was gone). When I got gas and went to start it, it wouldn't run (cranked, but no start). I checked various fuses and replaced 1 or 2 of them (I don't remember which). I ended up diagnosing it as an ignition issue. About a month ago, I installed all new spark plugs, wires, and ignition coils (both sides). The first couple times I tried starting it, it sputtered and backfired a bit (I tried with and without starting fluid). I checked all sorts of vacuum lines, cleaning out various valves, but now it won't start at all, it just cranks (even with starter fluid). What could have changed while it sat over the winter? Why did it sputter before, but just cranks after fixing vacuum leaks? I replaced the crankshaft position sensor, checked continuity of the wires from PCM to ignition coils (they are continuous) Additionally, I removed my PCM and tested it in a buddy's truck, and his started right up and ran with my PCM. What else is there that I haven't checked?

 

[franklin2]

Are you sure you have good fuel pressure? I would be suspicious of that pump after it ran on low voltage till the battery went dead. I would get a pressure tester and plug it in on the fuel rail.

 

[Broke College Student]

I'm not sure that I'm getting the right pressure, but I do have fuel at the rail. More importantly, the truck won't fire even on starter fluid

 

[franklin2]

I'm not sure that I'm getting the right pressure, but I do have fuel at the rail. More importantly, the truck won't fire even on starter fluid

You said in your post it would fire on starting fluid but would not keep running?

 

[Broke College Student]

I was only able to get it to sputter and backfire for maybe 2-3 seconds

 

[franklin2]

I was only able to get it to sputter and backfire for maybe 2-3 seconds

And then nothing? Can we say you have spark then if it sputtered and backfired?

 

[scotts90ranger]

I'm kinda wondering if the timing belt gave up the ghost. That won't stop spark but it would make it mad, if there were any popping and backfiring it can break a iffy belt or make one jump a tooth, happened to me once...

 

[Broke College Student]

I must have forgot to mention, I replaced the timing belt when i replaced the crankshaft position sensor. Sorry about that

 

[Broke College Student]

I should also mention that it won't connect to obd-II. I've tried my dad's reader and I towed it to an autozone, they "couldn't communicate with the ecu". Additionally, i must mention again that my ecu did work to run by buddies '95 b2300

 

[scotts90ranger]

That pretty much points to main power, key power or grounds going to the ECM, I don't have a pinout or I'd post it up.

 

[Broke College Student]

When I turn the key to the on (not start) position, I get a single beep (different pitch from the "key-in/headlights-on chime") I get a very brief abs light (about a second), an airbag light (stays on for about six seconds), and a battery light that stays on (battery is known to be crappy)

 

[scotts90ranger]

Battery light stays on until the engine is running and puts power to the ground wire for the bulb (might have it backwards but whatever, it's on until running either way).

That sounds like the normal slew of junk notification, after my rear ending fiasco a couple years ago where my inertia switch ended up being unplugged because I couldn't hear the fuel pump over that stupid beeping...

If you have injector pulse but no spark there's still something missing between the engine and ECM be it power, ground or a signal of some form I'm not sure at this point...

 

[Broke College Student]

What should I do to check power or ground?
Signal should be there if the ecm can run a different truck, right?