no power to one of my coil packs

[ranger_impersonator]

this is a great feature and hopefully i can get some help in here today!

so ive done alot of reasearch and i cant find my answer. im working on my 95 ranger 2.3l 5sp and i am not getting power to the coil pack that runs the exhaust side. its my understanding that my year does not have a ICM, its controlled by the PCM. any tips on where to look would be helpful. does the Cam position sensor control this and if so would it cause the coil pack to loose all power? the truck runs but it runs terrible. loosing power, dying, and backfiring.

also, i have replaced the coils, plugs and wires

 

[adsm08]

You are losing power, and not the pulsed grounds, correct?

Power is just key on power. I would start tracing that wire back to it's source.

It looks like both coils get their 12V source from the same fuse, as does the capacitor. Probably and issue at the splice.

 

[RonD]

^^ +1

Yes, both coil packs are sent 12volts when key is on, power comes from Power Distribution box in engine compartment.

PCM/ICM controls the Ground at the coils to power them up(charge the coil) and then cuts the ground to fire the coil, just like points did in the older ignition system.

 

[ranger_impersonator]

Well I looked online and read that the middle wire (of the three on the harness for the coil) is constant power so I checked that with my MM and got nothing. Not sure the proper way to check for power, but it's brand new and it's not putting power at the plug.

 

[adsm08]

It's the red and green wire.

Should be 12V. If it isn't, start looking at wiring.

 

[ranger_impersonator]

Ok I am getting 12v at the red/green wire

 

[ranger_impersonator]

The pulsated grounds, how can I test them

 

[adsm08]

The best way is to hook your test light between the B+ and that pin and crank the engine. The light will come on dimly if everything is working.

 

[ranger_impersonator]

Ok it's checks out fine. I'm going to assume I have a faulty coil pack, and exchange it

 

[adsm08]

Sounds that way.

 

[RonD]

You can swap coil packs, exhaust to intake and intake to exhaust.
The exhaust coil pack is the only one used when cranking, intake coil starts working after startup.

Assuming the other coil is working, that can get you running for now.

 

[ranger_impersonator]

Ok I got a replacement on and still nothing. Could it be possible that I got two bad ones? I even went to different store branches. I'm not too sure what to do

 

[ranger_impersonator]

So are you saying the exhaust side doesn't fire when the engine is running?

 

[RonD]

Both coils are working when engine is above 600rpm
When cranking engine to start it only the exhaust side spark plugs/coil are working.

But BOTH coils should have 12volts at their connectors when key is on, computer/ICM simply doesn't ground the intake side coil until engine has started.

 

[ranger_impersonator]

Ok. Then I have no idea what is going on here then, my exhaust coil is not producing spark and it's brand new...