Engine quit

[Silver97XL]

I have a 97 Ford Ranger, 2.3, 5 speed. So there I was, headed into town, when the engine quit, just like I'd turned it off, wipers still working ( it was pouring ) radio still playing. Any idea what happened?

 

[92ranger2wd]

It sounds like your timing belt broke. Does the engine still crank over?

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

+1 on the timing belt. youll probably want to pull the timing cover and check it out.

 

[modelageek]

+2 on the timing belt when you crank it over is it easier to crank then before

 

[gjm4l]

Not much detail on what it did as it cut off or if it even cranks over? I agree with timing belt. Or it could be something simple like the inertia switch is either bad or got kicked if you hit a big pothole or something.

 

[Silver97XL]

Just quit running

Still turns over, and timing belt is intact, still moves. Don't know if it jumped timing. Everything was sitll working, stereo playing, wipers wiping, and so on. Just no engine, like it was tunred off. I know just about nothing about these engines. except how to change the oil. And that I've driven about 100,000 miles since the current timing belt was installed. If it was out of time, would'nt it backfire if I turned the engine over? Let me add, thanks for your help!! Oh, and yeah there were potholes in the road, lots of 'em, but nothing big, but enough the lock up the seatbelt.

 

[modelageek]

I guess it is possible that it jumped timing. if it was my truck I would determine if it has spark. there are a few ways to do this. one way is to spray starter fluid into the throttle body and see if you get any attempt to start. you also can pull off the wires and use a tester, an old plug, etc. the other thing is to see if you have fuel. GJM mentioned the fuel inertia switch that is usually at the feet of the passenger around the firewall or the behind the kicker panel. the switch can get thrown and shut off your fuel.YOu could check for fuel pressure at the shrader valve. You could listen and see if you hear the fuel pump kick on when you turn the key to on. You do have gas in the truck?....lets see what some other peeps think!

 

[Bryan22]

i agree with model a, figure out if you have fuel and fire, depending on which one you don't have, it will be easier to narrow down what might be the problem.

 

[Silver97XL]

Have gas

When the engine shut down, I downshifted and let out the clutch to compresion start it again, no such luck, it turned the engine over, but no start. When I opened the hood a few minutes later, there was a strong smell of gas, so the failed compresion start did bring more fuel into the throttle body. This might get difficult as I am the only person here, and you know Fords, you have to depress the clutch in order for the starter motor to work, don't know how I'll see any spark.

 

[Silver97XL]

+2 on the timing belt when you crank it over is it easier to crank then before

I could'nt say if it turned over any eaiser, but it does sound differnt.

 

[92ranger2wd]

Do what modelageek suggested and spray some starting fluid into the throttle body to see if it will try to fire on that.
My truck did the same thing back in October. I was cruising into town, downshifted into 4th, and the engine just died, everything still worked except the engine. When I tried starting it I noticied it sounded a bit different, hard to put into words but definitely different. And I went through basically the same steps listed above by modelageek. In the end it was the timing belt. The belt did not break, instead the crank pulled teeth off the belt so it no longer functioned.

 

[pocket-rocket]

This might get difficult as I am the only person here, and you know Fords, you have to depress the clutch in order for the starter motor to work,

Make sure it's in park or neutral and use a screwdriver (I used the same tire iron I used to rap on my starter that was failing) to jump the two large terminals on the solenoid on the drivers side fender. That's one thing I love about my Ranger is using that to start it instead of going back inside to find out I need to rap on the starter again.

 

[Bryan22]

pull a plug and hold it ever so slighyly away from the block while someone else cranks the motor. you'll know if it's sparking. but from the smell of fuel, i'd guess not.

I'd say, as others, the timing belt is done for, or you lost the cam or crank sensor. got any codes?

also checking the timing is very easy and dosen't require you to disassemble anything accept a rubber plug on the timing belt cover. then try to get the marks lined up and you're done, shouldn't take more than 10 minutes to figure if it jumped timing or not. also a visual inspection of the belt could tell you right away if it's bad.