ranger wont run... no power

[WarHawk-AVG]

Compression test

Might have bent a valve, or cracked rings

Also double double check your timing...when I had to do my 2.3L every time I released the tensioner the cam and oil lines would shift off by a tooth...took me like 4-5 tries to pre-adjust the ticks, then when putting tension on the belt to have everything line up.

Good luck

 

[ben10]

Yeah I made sure it was all good after the tensioner was released. Compression check is the next step. Not sure why it would have bent a valve or cracked a ring but I'll check for it.

 

[Mikel89us]

Cracked ring isn't too far fetched, but a bent valve in a 2.3 is, these motor can open the valve fully, and it will never hit the piston, even if the belt breaks with a valve wide open.

 

[ben10]

Yeah that was my understanding. The only thing I can think is maybe it burned up the cam when the belt snapped and it lost oil pressure. I dumped the clutch a few times while I was rolling to a stop.

 

[Mikel89us]

If the belt shaped, the cam wouldn't turn, so you wouldn't have burnt up any bearings there.

 

[Mikel89us]

I just re read the op, and it seems to me the fuel pressure is abnormally high. Might be a clogged fuel pressure regulator.

 

[ben10]

Valid point. Forgot about that. Is the pressure regulator in the fuel pump in the tank? When the truck was on the trailer it slid off when the strap holding it down snapped. It was maybe a foot off the ground so it smacked the trailer. The tank has a scuff mark.

 

[tomw]

If the damaged or scraped spot on the bottom of the tank is the same place where the fuel pump pickup resides internally, you may have sheet metal of the tank bent up into the pickup, restricting fuel flow.
A volume test of fuel flow would be a way to tell if it is fuel starved. Most gauges have a tap you can use to allow fuel flow into a container. Start the engine, run for some time, collecting the fuel, and measure the volume. If it takes 5 minutes to make the engine stall, run for 5 minutes, etc. May need a gallon fuel can....
tom

 

[ben10]

I guess just watch the fuel and see if it slows down when the truck starts to run ba?

 

[Mikel89us]

Dies I smoke black when you are hard on it, or dark gray? If so it could be running rich, which will cause lack of power.

 

[ben10]

Mmmmm I'll have to look tomorrow.

 

[ben10]

so I started it up today and it ran pretty good. started right up and idles. i didnt hit the throttle for about 5 minutes and it was fine. then I slowly increased the throttle to the point where it began to stumble and miss. I let off the throttle and it sputtered but I was able to feather the throttle and get it back to a smooth idle. I let it sit again then tried again with the same results. maybe a little smoky but its cold and damp outside so its gonna have a cloud coming from the exhaust. no black smoke, maybe slightly grey, but it does smell like a bit of fuel outside. Im really leaning towards a lean condition tho, cause as you slowly push the pedal even with no load (in neutral) it begins to choke out then doesnt want to come back to run right.

 

[Mikel89us]

It seems to me that its a fuel issue for sure. Have you put a fuel pressure guahe on it and watched the pressure at idle, then check it as you give it throttle to the point it starts to malfunction? If fuel pressure drops, the pump it fuel filter is the problem. If it doesn't drop, then it could be overly rich, it doesn't take much of a rich condition to cause one to run very bad.

 

[ben10]

yeah the fuel pressure is pretty stable at 70 psi if I remember right, I just did a compression test on it and all the holes are 135-150/ wasnt very warm and I didnt pull the plugs all at once. all the plugs look good, and all of them were wet when I pulled them to do the compression check. also checked the coils, and they are within spec. I guess the next step is get a new fuel pump and try that on for size. also I checked for codes and pending codes again. still no codes and obviously no check engine light.

 

[ben10]

so I replaced the fuel pump today, and also pulled the inline fuel filter and replaced it again just to be safe. made no change in the way it ran. really at a loss for what it could be. I noticed it will sit and idle for 20-30 min with no throttle input and be just fine, it doesnt start to run bad until you rev it past about 2k-2500 rpm, then it starts to run rough and if you push further it gets worse then wont idle and dies.