No Run Ranger

[Positive P]

I bought a '94 Ranger for a work truck. Not knowing that it would become my only transportation.

Ran fine for over a year, minor things here and there,
Pull up to a stop sign recently and BAMM, starts running rough and stalls out.
Try to restart, and it just turns over and backfires A LOT.
Thinking okay, may have only jumped time. I have it towed to the shop and tear it down.
Now I bought this truck without the timing cover, I followed some internet advice and pulled the timing up on #1. Crankshaft key is in the 90 degree position and roll pin is almost in a straight line with the crank position sensor. Now, The camshaft however has a mark beneath it and it was slightly off with the crank in this position.
Thinking this is it, I buy a new timing belt, remove everything including the sensor, and replace the belt.
Align the crank sensor back up with the provided tool that comes with a new one. I replaced it while it was apart, as routine maintenance.
Try to start it to see how things are and runs the same, turns over but only backfires. Thinking some idiot in the shop touched something they shouldn't have, I recheck the timing and still dead on. So I try 180 degrees to see if that was it. Align the cam up on it's mark and loosen the belt, turn the crank over by hand till it lands on it's mark again. Try again and backfire.

So that's where I'm at. Work on it in my spare time, been three weeks, this truck is my only transportation and I'm sick of walking.

Any help please.

 

[RonD]

Assuming 2.3l engine?

This thread has the diagram of the marks:
http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=79044

The crank mark only aligns with the cam gear mark every two turns

The back fire reads like valve or spark timing issue.
But try some starting fluid to see if fuel might be the issue.
When you first turn on the key you should hear the fuel pump come on for 2 seconds.
If you don't hear it then either the fuel pump relay or Fuel Pump itself may be the issue.

 

[Road Angels]

bamm

Pull the the cam drive pulley and check to see if the key has sheared, also broken cam shaft can be the cause check by pulling forward on the cam gear, dont need to pull the cover, also check the wiring to the coil pack, for 12v and also for correct signal from ecu, if its backfiring then you have fuel,, also have you pulled a spark plug to see if there gas soaked, or do you smell gas in the engine compartment, a bad ecu will cause all kinds of havic if it has a bad internal ground circut, it will throw codes that you know is unrelated to the problem, had a buick that came in from another shop, that no one could figure out, it threw evey code in the book, I hit the ecu a rubber mallet it started and idled perfect, also check your BODY grounds, its a long shot but only takes a minute keep us posted

 

[Positive P]

Thanks for the help guys. I will keep you posted.

 

[Positive P]

Well, update is that she's getting fuel, the key on camshaft looks fine, no sloppiness. Camshaft is also fully intact. Turns over nicely, but still no run, only backfire. I'm lost, damnedest thing I've encountered.