Please help:( who knows there 2.9 stuff???

[Miata1]

Hi, I have recently bought a 89 ranger xlt 4x4 in decent shape little to no rust and unabused through the mud. So far.. Anyhow this thing when I bought it did not run the fuel pump was shot common for ford way to go. Anyhow I swapped the pump and it still wouldn't power on unless jumped wires at the tester site so after doing this the pump came on and truck started. Sounded like it was running with a plugged cat. I attempted to drive this thing home an hour away and with the pedal to the rug she wouldn't climb over 70kph and that's after a hill. Even in neutral floor it and revs slow like exhaust is plugged. I finally get home. I pulled the exhaust and cat is mint. Rest of exhaust is also fine. Ok so I changed the fuel filter, still no diff, hmm. Ok so I check fuel pressure. Perfect 35at idle 40 when crack the throttle. Ok hmm. I replace the fuel pump relay as well as the inertia switch as the pump still won't come on un jumped. After doing this nvr made a difference. Still have to jump it for pump power. I then power washed the engine and went to bed. Get up next day and now the truck won't start at all and not even catch like its trying. I goto the wrecker grabbed a coil and map sensor tried both no difference. Truck just cranks and no start. I also notice when my key is OFF the battery light comes on. Key forward it goes out. If I unplug my 02 sensor and or Hugo fuse the batt light goes out. I tried a new 02 sensor and same deal. Please and info/ideas greatly appreciated.
Keep in mind originally truck started ok but ran like a plugged exhaust and accelerator to the floor speed climbed very slow and would not exceed 70-80kph

 

[adsm08]

Well given all that you already looked at the poor running might just be timing.

However it is ill advised to pressure wash an engine bay without letting the vehicle run to boil the water back out. That probably accounts for all of your new issues.

 

[RonD]

When the key is turned from off to run, the Fuel pump relay should click, and the EEC relay next to it should click as well.
The EEC relay supplies 12v to the Fuel pump relay, the computer(EEC) grounds the Fuel pump relay to activate it, but only for 2 seconds when key is first tuned on.

The EEC relay also supplies power to most of the other engine systems including the computer(EEC, aka PCM), and fuel injectors

 

[Miata1]

Ok thanks. Is there any idea why my battery light comes on with key off? And if you unplug the 02 sensor it goes out.. Any ideas?

 

[RonD]

The battery light(or amp meter) is a circuit on the key switch.
When key is turned to Run 12v comes from the key switch and runs to the alternator, via the battery light, this turns the alternator on.

The alternator is connected directly to the battery and to the engine/ground.
Because an alternator is pretty much the same as an electric motor it would drain the battery if left on all the time.

For this reason the power for the brushes in the alternator(voltage regulator) comes from the key switch via the battery light, this also allows that circuit to monitor the voltage.

If you sprayed water in the alternator you could have a short inside, so voltage is flowing backwards through the circuit.
The O2 power is also turned on when the key is in the run position, if power is coming back to the key switch from the alternator the O2 sensor circuit might be the ground.
If you remove the fuse then ground is lifted and battery light goes out.

You can test if this is the case by removing the 3 or 4 wire connector on the alternator, or voltage regulator if its external.

From what I remember the battery light should also be on when key is on, and stay on until engine is running and alternator is supplying voltage.
So it could be a problem with ignition switch itself.

 

[Miata1]

Ok thanks very useful info. The last thing that has been rackin my brain. What would you assume would be the issue with power? The truck did run but not ideal. Idling sounded ok but no quick response on full throttle or highway speed. From a dead stop you can floor it and very slowly will climb to about 70kph and that's if you let the gear winde out too 5500 which you have to in order to get upto that speed.. Good exhaust good fuel to injectors tested. But now it won't start at all since pressure wash. The fuel relay was full of water I replaced it. I figure water must be in the distributor? The low power originally is my big concern. Thanks for any ideas

 

[Miata1]

Problem solved

Just a follow up posting to share the solution . Turns out from sitting a couple years the distributor had accumulated some corrosion on the internal pip sensor as well as the signal tabs. Cleaned all and soaked with wd40 few hours cleaned again sprayed some fluid film to protect and away she goes. Thanks to all suggestions