How do I pull the codes on a '94 Ranger 2.3l?

[Wicked_Sludge]

arguing that advancing cam timing doesnt help to increase power is like arguing that a P&P doesnt increase power. anyone whos in the business knows it to be a fact and they wouldnt make adjustable cam sprockets it DIDNT accomplish anything...so im not going to argue the point with you anymore.

whats easy about changing cam timing? surely has nothing to do with the fact that it takes 1/2 an hour and only requires basic hand tools..

i realize his cam timing wasnt set with an aftermarket kit..i was making the point that changing the cam timing from stock will not damage the motor....before this got so far off topic.

do not back pedal your jake brake argument...as you said before: you thought the valve was help open "during all cycles of crank revs", allowing the internal drag of the motor (which isnt much) to slow the truck. in reality, the exhaust valve is opened at TDC of the compression stroke. this works because it prevents the compressed air from pushing the piston back down in its bore thus recouping much of the energy wasted from compressing said air. this would be what you could call a "worst case" scenario of cam "timing"...opening the valve against the cylinders full compression (which is many times that of a gas motor, as you said), which does not hurt the cam, pushrods, rockers, valves, seats, or any other part of the motor.

i wasnt saying my escort motor was anything like the 2.3 in the OP's truck. i was simply giving a real life, first hand example of a motor that ran very mis-timed for quite a lot of miles and is no worse for the wear. have you run into an engine that was damaged from cam mis-timing first hand?

 

[canyoncritter]

to pull codes on a pre 95(94 and older ranger)you dont need a code scanner.

fordfuelinjection.com will show you how to pull your codes with no "scanner"
and even gives you a list of codes.

http://www.fordfuelinjection.com/?p=13 direct link to how to pull the codes.

 

[Super95]

Whatever you say wicked.
BTW, Perfect example. YES i have diagnosed and found engine noise/poor running to be the result of a mistimed cam, not on a 2.3L though, a Harley 80" Shovelhead. Upon disassembling and inspection i noticed the cam was properly aligned with timing marks to the crank and breather, checked keyways on those gears-ok. degreed the cam, ok after inspecting rockerbox i noticed a damaged rockerarm, and bent pushrods. The bike came to me w/ electronic ign. i converted to points(elec. wiring had been spliced with elec. tape) and while setting, checked timing marks through crankcase viewer and they werent were they were supposed to be, after rechecking several times and a couple days head scratching, i pulled the motor and tore it down, low and behold the cranks pinion shaft (drives cam) sheered its key and slipped (retarded cam timing of course, though also ign. timing, spark worked with valves, but were both misphased with crank), approx. 15-20 degrees. The rotating assembly was not the stock HD it was cheap aftermarket piece(OS). This engine is no interference, no piston/valve contact, and it ran, but not good. Valves and seats also needed a grind job. HMMMM.... The F'ed up valve train was a result of the cams mistiming. Lucky thats all that was messed up. Ran good when i put it back togather, after replacing the damaged parts and properly timed of course. But i got it right after it started running poor(supposedly).
Apples and Oranges (or is it), the 2.3 is ohc and doesn't have pushrods to bend.
BTW Wicked, no hard feelings, you got lucky with your scort, what did your compression test/ and leakdown test show? Does it have the same or better power as before the mistime(often better power after new belt and properly timed)? Your cam mistiming then being retimed correctly, shows a different engine may be "saved" and run ok if only properly retimed. If someone mistimed my truck cam id kick their but, thats why i work on my own.
It had to be an obvious power decrease.
Fyrebug72 keep us posted

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

i'd say your harley is truly an apples to oranges comparison. there are so many ways to modify those motors to where valve-to-piston clearances are extremely tight...all it takes is a high lift aftermarket cam, or a bottom end made to raise the compression ratio to cause possible interference. even a gummed up lifter can cause valve contact with the piston (been there with the ranger).

the escorts bottom end power was largely unchanged after properly timing the cam. top end was improved after re-timing. power and fuel economy are now where they should be, and a cylinder balance test shows even power.

 

[Zer0PSI]

Well...
thanks shadetree for pointing my typo, predetonation, though i did follow it with (spark-knock, ping)
Wicked.. your just a little mixed up. Sure showing who makes a "adjustable" multikeyed cam sprocket is easy, ive known they exist also, but i didnt see a dyno sheet or "typical hp gains"(prove it)

Are you actually trying to say that power CAN'T be gained from advancing cam timing?!? Thats just common automotive knowledge man... BTW, I think Sludge is winning the argument...

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

im not trying to "win".

my original point before this all got so far out of hand was that running with a mistimed cam will not damage the motors internals. i'd hate for the OP to tear into his motor based on faux info he found online...and particularly on TRS.

 

[shadetree]

if his '94 has a CMP (only certain 94's did...the models introduced with california emissions), its driven off of the oil pump. it wasnt untill '95 that they are driven directly off of the auxiliary shaft.

The oil pump is driven by the aux shaft, not the cam.

obviously the engine was running...so the timing wasnt that far off. and again, tell me exactly what happens inside the motor to damage it from incorrect timing. my 1.9 was off 3 teeth when i got it. the PO had driven it for over a year with the timing off like this. after i got it (and discovered the engine wouldnt climb above 5,000RPM) and re-timed it, the motor has been fine since.

If the engine is mistimed, it is laboring to run. Most times it will backfire. I shouldn't have to explain what that does. Burned valves/pistons, damaged parts.

When the engine is larboring to run, it has to have more throttle. More throttle means more gas dumped into the cylinders at lower rpm. This washes the upper cylinders causing additional ring and cylinder wear and possible scoring of the cylinder walls, pistons. In most cases the engine will run overheated. shady

 

[Super95]

i'd say your harley is truly an apples to oranges comparison. there are so many ways to modify those motors to where valve-to-piston clearances are extremely tight...all it takes is a high lift aftermarket cam, or a bottom end made to raise the compression ratio to cause possible interference. even a gummed up lifter can cause valve contact with the piston (been there with the ranger).

the escorts bottom end power was largely unchanged after properly timing the cam. top end was improved after re-timing. power and fuel economy are now where they should be, and a cylinder balance test shows even power.

BTW the harley's components measured stock ( i did mention a cheap crank, but not stroked) has stock cam. Also how can you change bottom end for more compression? Ohh your a harley pro too? BTW It doesnt only take a high lift cam for valve/piston interference, stock harley valve springs will coil bind first! Gummed up lifter causing valve/piston contact? 3.0? Really?
As i said earlier, when you compared mistimed cam to a jake brake (what?) the diesel engines power is killed when compression is released therefor no BANG the bang (power stroke) i believe to be most harmfull while cams mistimed, stressing what is not harmonious. BTW jake brake only works when decellerating (hens brake), no comparison to accellerating a GAS engine with cam timing off, to a much higher rpm and spark plugs igniting the more explosive gasoline/air mixture when valves arent ready for it!!(working against itself, spark and valves not co-ordinated) Also gas engines are typically lighter duty than diesels.
wicked: what does a cylinder balance test showing even power mean?
Zeropsi: i didn't say power can't be gained, just said prove it. common automotive knowlege you say? are you running one of these? If not, why not?
BTW i never suggested tearing the motor apart, just a few relatively simple tests that may help show a mechanical problem, by only removing a spark plug on a cylinder at a time (exhaust side more accessable) OR take it to a good shop. I can perform leakdown and compression tests on these engines in about 2 hours, which may beat a wild goose chase, but not everybody has the tools i know, most shops do though. I also am just trying to help, but im not ignorant, i understand engine damage can occur when an engines cam/valves are mistimed, because i have seen it done. Thanks for backin shady. PEACE!!

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

backfiring may or may not occur, depending on which way the cam was off. its not something that was mentioned as a symptom by the OP. the most vulnerable parts on a fuel injected engine are the IAC solenoid and MAF sensor. if the engine still idles properly, and there is no MAF sensor codes in the computer, i wouldnt worry about it.

yes you will have to use more throttle to maintain speed on a mistimed engine. the motor will increase injector duty cycle at first to correspond to the TPS input, but then the O2's will report the very rich mixture from incomplete combustion and cut the injectors back to prevent engine and catylist damage. not much of a risk of wash down here. a rich mixture cools a motor, i dont see how overheating would be an issue.

super: your asking me how you can change compression with a bottom end? are you serious? this isnt harley specific in the least.

my point about the jake brake...again...was that valves opening against compression will not hurt the valves, rockers, cam, ect....nothing beyond that.

cylinder balance on an engine is much more important than overall compression. if one cylinder has much high (or lower) compression than the rest, the engine cannot be properly trimmed (the off cylinder/s will run hot/rich/lean/what-have-you). there will also be noticeable amounts of NVH.

 

[Super95]

backfiring may or may not occur, depending on which way the cam was off. its not something that was mentioned as a symptom by the OP. the most vulnerable parts on a fuel injected engine are the IAC solenoid and MAF sensor. if the engine still idles properly, and there is no MAF sensor codes in the computer, i wouldnt worry about it.

yes you will have to use more throttle to maintain speed on a mistimed engine. the motor will increase injector duty cycle at first to correspond to the TPS input, but then the O2's will report the very rich mixture from incomplete combustion and cut the injectors back to prevent engine and catylist damage. not much of a risk of wash down here. a rich mixture cools a motor, i dont see how overheating would be an issue.

super: your asking me how you can change compression with a bottom end? are you serious? this isnt harley specific in the least.

my point about the jake brake...again...was that valves opening against compression will not hurt the valves, rockers, cam, ect....nothing beyond that.

cylinder balance on an engine is much more important than overall compression. if one cylinder has much high (or lower) compression than the rest, the engine cannot be properly trimmed (the off cylinder/s will run hot/rich/lean/what-have-you). there will also be noticeable amounts of NVH.

WOW you've got an answer for everything, but why do you edit every one of your posts? Not to edit out the crap, obviously! Im done, Peace!

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

i edit for spelling errors that i miss before posting...not that that has anything to do with the discussion at hand.

im glad your done because i was quite tired of this argument several pages ago.