Please HELP!!!

[muddinhickchik4x4]

I am sort of a begginer mechanic. I have done alot from lift kits to engine swaps but never much with troubleshooting.

Heres whats going on. Its a 1986 Ford Ranger, Used to be a 2.9 and the guy I bought it off of put in a carbed 2.8. Up until the battery died 2 days ago it ran fine. No issues. Except being ball less, but its a 2.8 so thats to be expected. Well all day yesterday I charged my battery and early this afternoon I started it. It started just fine , I let it sit and run. It ran fine. I shut it down and restarted it. Again it started fine. Well a few hours ago I went out to start it so I could run to town and now it wont start. It just sits and cranks. first i thought it wasnt getting fuel so it got a new fuel filter. then I saw the coil sparking so I replaced the coil. I have looked and checked and looked more. I cant find any reason why this truck shouldnt start?

Any and all suggestions are welcomed and appriciated.

 

[small ranger]

So is it getting spark at the spark plug? Pull a plug, attach spark plug wire and crank. If you are getting a blue spark it is strong, if its yellow/redish, its a week spark. If no spark check and make sure the coil is in correctly.

 

[mudnsnow]

Whit engine off, remove your air filter, look into the carb and wide open the throttle. Is there gas spaying into the carb. Or put a little amount of gas direcly into the carb and try to start.

 

[Yank]

Pull the spout union apart and try to start the engine. If it starts, you need a computer. The spout is what you disconnect to set the timing, if you were unsure. I am also wondering how different the 2.8 computer is compared to the 2.9. and if the needed swapped along with the motors.

I have a 2.8 and it runs like a scaled dog.

 

[BlackBII]

I had a 2.8, ran like a POS 22r Yota, hated that thing....

Anyway, as forementioned check the Fuel and Spark

An engine needs Fuel, Spark and Compression to run, Spray some startin fluid in the carb, if it starts, fuel problem

If it doesn't start, check for spark, at the Plug as mentioned already, also check wire connections, grounds and fuses and such, good luck!

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

You might check to make sure the choke is working right too. For awhile mine was really hard starting when it was warm, but would crack right off when it was cold. All that happened was the choke power wire was unplugged so the choke would never open up once the engine got warmed up.

It would act like it flooded as soon as you turned the key. You had to floor it (which makes sense because that opens the choke a little) to have any hope of starting it when it was warm.

You also might check into the Duraspark ignition conversion if it hasn't been done already, made a world of difference all over on my truck.

 

[Yank]

It sounds like you have either a dead short or corrosion around the battery terminals. The easiest thing it to clean your terminals. Then, if that doesn't fix the prob start checking wires for shorts. Like the guys told you, check for spark and make sure you have gas flow first. Then check the others. I think your battery dieing is coincidental but I was wrong one other time. Good luck.

 

[Bannanatruck02]

Checking for spark and fuel in the carb are important. If the spark is strong, and you have no choke/fuel delivery problems, you've narrowed it down to electrical. If you have a way to test the battery under a load, I would strongly suggest it. I work at a parts store, and I see people have problems like this all of the time... The battery will charge, but can't hold it. It could also be an alternator related problem. Again, I would strongly advise checking the spark, and fuel delivery. Hope this helps
Good luck
-Josh