engine wont start`

[outlaw5945]

I bought this 87 ranger from a guy it was missing the computer i replaced the computer and the engine was not getting fire. I checked everything and realized the coil was not working so replaced it. the engine is now firing but i replaced the battery and the engine spins over extremely fast almost like theres no compression. I was wondring if anyone had these problems and how did they solve it.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

check for fuel pressure at the rail. Pull a plug and sniff for fuel. Put a timing light on #1 plug wire and check the timing when cranking. It needs both fuel and fire try spraying some starting fluid in the TB while cranking it. You can check for compression but your number wont be accurate unless you bring it up to temp first.

 

[outlaw5945]

I have tried spraying starter fluid and it still fire. While cranking it does have a very strong gas smell.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

pull the vacuum off the fuel pressure regulator and see if it smells like fuel. Smell your oil pull the dipstick and if it smells like fuel your gonna wanna change it and find out why either leaky injectors or fuel pressure regulator. Are the plugs wet with fuel pull them out disconnect the fuel pump relay and crank on it. It sounds like it`s flooded

 

[kimcrwbr1]

Pull the codes

 

[outlaw5945]

I have checked all i could on fuel issues and everything seems to be working properly tommorow im going to check the timing. alot of people seem to be telling me thats most likely the problem. I dont have a timing light what would do to check the timing with out one. I was told to pull a plug and put a screwdriver in it and then check the coil when the piston hits at the top

 

[outlaw5945]

im having a hard time finding the timing mark on my motor it pretty filthy could someone tell me how to find it

 

[mishqua]

You will need a wire brush to get the crude off. on your passenger side look where the fan is connected, you right behind it you will see to post one is round the other is pointed both of these point at the crank shaft pully where your timing mark is.

 

[jhammel85]

Bump it over a few times and get the marks that you can kind of see at a 6 o clock position. Crawl under there and use some wet sand paper (dry) or a wirebrush or something on it. It worked great for me. My harmonic balancer was very dirty and had the blue ford paint on it still...They really put that on thick! Scrub it a little bit and you'll see what see them once you get that all cleaned off.

 

[outlaw5945]

i got it now man i appreciate it the timming is off so i guess that was my problem after all.

 

[outlaw5945]

after checking everything it appears the timing is off while taking the distributor cap off ive noticed that the distributor itself just spins in a circle. Is it suppose to do that.

 

[jhammel85]

Do you mean that you can spin it with your finger? If so, then the rotor isnt put on correctly or the tab is broken off. If you can spin the rotor like that, look for a small slot on top of the Distributor Stator. If your rotor still has a tab on it, seat it down inside of there. I had an issue with mine where the guy before me broke off the tab when he installed the new rotor. Driving it home was fun when it decided to spin and mess up my timing.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

If the distributor shaft spins free you need to pull it and figure out why. If there is no cam gear on it you will need to get the one out of the engine. Hopefully it is just the rotor alignment tab sheared off.

 

[outlaw5945]

Thanks for the advice ill check asap.

 

[outlaw5945]

i got the distributor out some of the teeth on the gear are broken but other than that everything seems ok