figure this one out..

[wp23n]

93 sport 4x4 5 speed 2.3L

truck wont start... unplug drivers/intake side coil truck starts right up
and runs/drives fine all be it a little under powered with a check
engine light due to coil being unplugged..

plug coil back in while engine is running and truck idles nice and smooth
soon as i put it under load in first gear truck shuts off and won't restart
until i unplug front coil again..

ideas??

 

[RonD]

Reads like bad primary coil.
When you unplug the one coil the PCM uses the other coil as primary.

The dual spark plug/Coil setup is to reduce emissions, only one coil fires on startup the other coil doesn't come on until engines is running.

I would replace the coil.

You can test it with an ohm meter, but I would just replace it
or swap coils around, just to make sure it isn't a wiring or PCM issue.

 

[Bachelor-house]

I just found website with good directions for testing the ICM.
http://easyautodiagnostics.com/ford/ignition_module/2.3L/ignition_module_test_1.php

let us know how it turns out..

 

[wp23n]

Reads like bad primary coil.
When you unplug the one coil the PCM uses the other coil as primary.

The dual spark plug/Coil setup is to reduce emissions, only one coil fires on startup the other coil doesn't come on until engines is running.

I would replace the coil.

You can test it with an ohm meter, but I would just replace it
or swap coils around, just to make sure it isn't a wiring or PCM issue.

Ron
Primary/exhaust side coil is the one that it runs fine on, secondary/intake side
is the one that is givng me trouble..

 

[wp23n]

I just found website with good directions for testing the ICM.
http://easyautodiagnostics.com/ford/ignition_module/2.3L/ignition_module_test_1.php

let us know how it turns out..

i have an extra ICM that i bought but it will be a pain in the keaster to swap out as the heads on the mounting bolts look to be rounded off.. wondering if i make a ground strap and install a computer heatsink to back of it would it work OK for testing purposes.. and if so where to ground it, chassis or intake
where it currently grounds..

 

[adsm08]

Swap your coils between the plugs, see if the problem follows that coil.

 

[wp23n]

swapped out to another coil that i have here and it is still doing the same thing..
im going to try the experiement with the spare ICM i have and connect it with a ground strap and see if it makes a difference..

other than that i guess the CPS has let go...

 

[scotts90ranger]

it'll run fine for a short time with the ignition module just sitting there, I ran mine ungrounded for a while, it got upset about that situation after a while. For a ground, just ground it somewhere to the engine.

 

[wp23n]

it'll run fine for a short time with the ignition module just sitting there, I ran mine ungrounded for a while, it got upset about that situation after a while. For a ground, just ground it somewhere to the engine.

awesome, just the info i wanted, wasnt sure where it should be grounded
figured the engine as i assume the CPS is grounded to engine.

if the rain lets up i will go pop it on and see what happens

 

[wp23n]

OK here is what i came up with for a ground and heat sink with fan grounded at
all 4 corners, ALSO figure if it acts up from heat i can wire up the fan with a resistor..

still raining here so i havent been able to install to test and see if it is the problem

 

[scotts90ranger]

don't ground it at all 4 corners, look at the stock one on your engine, there's just 3 screws... leave that one out on your assembly and it should work ok, did you put some heat transfer paste on the back of that heat sink?

 

[wp23n]

yes put computer heatsink paste on the back before installing the heatsink itself.
it is bolted on in the one corner and then i have the heavy duty zip tie to make sure it stays flat..

unfortunately i didn't get your message so it is currently installed and still grounded at all 4 corners.. there are only 2 holding the one still on the truck and the screws are rounded off on both of them so i don't know how the hell i'm going to get them out, can't even get vice grips on the heads to try and turn them..

long story short it started right up and i drove it around the block and seemed to run fine.

so does it present a problem being mounted like this?? it is going to be a bitch getting those damn screws out to mount it where it belongs..

 

[wp23n]

well, ran fine for a week and wouldn't restart at my DRs yesterday, unplugged front coil started up and ran fine all the way home with CEL... really think i have a bad CPS since the issue is intermittent and from what i have read it will cause this exact same problem

 

[wp23n]

wanted to follow up here because i know most people DON'T....

ended up doing a crank position sensor at the cost of $352 ( since my surgery i can't do this type of work anymore) long story short on the way home it started acting up all over again..
unplug drivers side coil and the truck ran fine all be it low on power with a CEL..

figured it has to be the ICM when it gets hot it quits, but by the time i would start testing it would cool off enough and test out to be fine...

long story short i yanked the NEW??? ICM back off and took it back to advance auto where they tested it and said NO PROBLEM... i said heat it up and test it thats when it gives me a problem, then rattled off all of the money i spent on other parts and they weren't the issue.. ended up arguing until they gave me a replacement.. came home and installed it and i just put 20 miles on it without an issue...

will run it every day this week and if still fine will post back one more time just to
let you know as it may help someone else down the road.. .

 

[used to be a chevy man]

it seems we have the same problem. i have done a LOT of work trying to track this down. here is my thread.http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1393671 check it every now and then to see if i fixed it