Looking at a b2300 but I have a concern.

[gottaba5spd]

hey guys i'm looking into buying a ranger/b2300 and i found a 96 b2300 that meets my checklist of what i want in a truck but the owner has in the ad that its got a timing related issue. when i asked him about it he said that a squirrel or something got up in the engine bay and chewed up the timing wires, and now the truck has trouble climbing hills. he said the compression is good and guess that worst case scenario it needs a new harness. i'm trying not to take on too much of a project but its in good enough shape where it might be worth it. i know the 2.3 is a pretty simple motor but i can't really think of much wiring that would affect the timing so much unless it was just set improperly. i know its not a lot of information to go off of, but has anybody else experienced anything like this or has any idea of what it could be?

 

[RonD]

'96 will have ignition(spark) control module in the PCM(computer).

So not a separate part like on '94 and older.

PCM gets base spark timing from Crank Position(CKP) sensor pulse that reads a "tone wheel" on the front of the crank shaft.
There is also a Cam Position sensor(CPS) that is primarily for fuel injection timing but does hep PCM to advance and retard spark timing, based on engine load, speed, RPM and gas pedal position.

Wiring repair can be a nightmare or solved quickly, I would rule out quickly because it would be fixed already as someone else said in your other post, lol.

"Compression is good" is a judgement call, did he mention a number?
'96 2.3l(compression ratio 9.4:1) should be 170psi, testing between sea level and 2,000ft, with 1 spark plug removed from each cylinder, cold engine.

Common issue with lack of power on Lima engines is a stretched timing belt, how many miles on the engine, belt life is about 70-80k

 

[gottaba5spd]

'96 will have ignition(spark) control module in the PCM(computer).

So not a separate part like on '94 and older.

PCM gets base spark timing from Crank Position(CKP) sensor pulse that reads a "tone wheel" on the front of the crank shaft.
There is also a Cam Position sensor(CPS) that is primarily for fuel injection timing but does hep PCM to advance and retard spark timing, based on engine load, speed, RPM and gas pedal position.

Wiring repair can be a nightmare or solved quickly, I would rule out quickly because it would be fixed already as someone else said in your other post, lol.

"Compression is good" is a judgement call, did he mention a number?
'96 2.3l(compression ratio 9.4:1) should be 170psi, testing between sea level and 2,000ft, with 1 spark plug removed from each cylinder, cold engine.

Common issue with lack of power on Lima engines is a stretched timing belt, how many miles on the engine, belt life is about 70-80k

I'll ask him about the compression and what not. He says he has a few other trucks and doesn't need this one, so he'd rather sell it than fix it. Plus he's done brakes and a clutch so the rest of the truck is good to go. I guess if he wants to pass it on it probably is more than a quick fix lol but I have a buddy with a b2300 that's a whiz at wiring. If the truck wasn't as in as nice shape I wouldn't really consider it but I can afford to let it sit while I figure it out.

 

[gottaba5spd]

Talked to the owner again; the truck isn't throwing any codes and to his knowledge the timing belt hasn't been changed recently, but the belt looks good. Also that he doesn't know where exactly the damage to the harness is, so without a code present and unknown history of the belt could that potentially rule out wiring?