Truck Laid Down on me today.. heartbroken.

[Frank The Tank]

Yep that's about it, I was headed to work this morning, and my 200,000 mile 97 2.3 just died, The radio, air, headlights and everything were still on and the motor just stopped, no weird smell, no buck or jump, no warning...
So i took it out of gear and coasted to a stop.
I can hear the fuel pump, I can smell gas in the intake where I flooded it i guess trying to get it started.... but no fire out of any of the 8 sparkplugs.

My boss found me sobbing quietly beside my truck.... I parked next to his bulldozer (he owns all the land around so it's kind of hard to park on my road and not be on his property) we shot ether to her just in case, got nothing.

So we hooked a chain to it, drug it to the local Central Auto, they fixed his 255k mile 4x4 Chevy in about 2 hours.... so i guess their pretty good, and reasonably priced.

I'd fool with it myself... but it's planting season and I NEED, that truck asap!!! Until then, I guess i'm going to have to get my new truck dirty some, ugh!!!

If i can get away under a couple hundred, my boss will let me charge it on his account and pay when I can.... he's a damn good guy.

Frank

What a way to start your weekend!!! not that I wasn't working sat. and sunday... but still, its the principal of it!!! I love my old truck more than any vehicle I have ever had, she's been like a reliable stone always there to take care of me......

 

[dangerranger83]

When my brother in-laws just died at a gas station it was because of a broken cam shaft/timing belt.

 

[Duggo]

When my brother in-laws just died at a gas station it was because of a broken cam shaft/timing belt.

Common 2.3 issue.

Frank, how fast does the motor spin when you try to start it?

 

[MoonDoggie]

Same Thing

Same thing happened to my 92 Ranger 2.3 last fall. It was a broken timing belt. I had some other items replaced while it was in the shop.

 

[Frank The Tank]

It sounds exactly like normal, when tryng to start it, only it doesn't start.... I don't have a tach so I can't check the actual rpm's, but she is in the shop, if it's a timing chain/ or is it belt? i'm guessing a belt.... then I guess that's what she'll get. hopefully soon, I don't want my 4wd smelling like cow pie or being loaded with beans to rot.

If it's anything more serious I just don't know... may cry for a while and go on a 2 week drunk.

I've been down in the dumps all day at work, I got off early due to the fields being so wet, I love my 04 I really do... but I guess I didn't realize how attached I am to the white 2wd. I think she's getting revenge for me putting cheap tires on her last week.

Frank

 

[a-5 freak]

I think she's getting revenge for me putting cheap tires on her last week.

That sucks man. I hope ya get her fixed!

 

[Frank The Tank]

Well the engine is wasted.....
Took a couple valves with her.
2 cylinders have 0 compression
one has 25
one has 120
I'ma drop insuerance park her....... and Try like hell to find a hail damaged truck on the cheap for work.

Frank

 

[locovaca]

Are you sure the timing belt didn't just break? A broken timing belt does not equal a ruined engine for a 2.3... Take a look in the inspection hole on the timing belt cover and see. It just seems odd that it would just go caput like that and not have any spark. Did the shop say what the problem is?

 

[Frank The Tank]

The only code it threw was a crank ps. odd.......
I watched the mechanic check the compression when i swung by to get some tools and my time card for work.

Honestly I'm not sure of anything about it. I know nothing about these engines. I'm just looking for another work truck in the meantime, this one has a lot of other issues to go with it (but if i can get it running, I'd be happy... just don't want to get my hopes up)

Frank

 

[dangerranger83]

The 2.3 motors are a non-interferance motor meaning the valves will not hit the pistons.

 

[Frank The Tank]

The 2.3 motors are a non-interferance motor meaning the valves will not hit the pistons.

So I have broken rings instead? or just really burnt valves......

Frank

 

[locovaca]

No, if your timing belt snaps the cam won't move, meaning some valves will be left open and some left closed. That would make the most sense with the compression results (some intake open on one, some exhaust open on another, and a third one nearly closed). A broken timing belt on a 2.3 is just that- a broken timing belt. Aside from the maybe crank position sensor in a really bad case, there is most likely nothing else wrong with the engine, if that's the problem.

 

[Frank The Tank]

Great!!! Now to retime it.

Gotta say though, that truck was getting tired....
My new truck is dirty today, I've been working on the seats all morning (red grease) so I'ma try to sneak the truck out of shop tomorrow... then change it my own self. I hate mechanics sometimes. they wanted me to get like a 2 grand engine (yeah right!!! my trucks worth like 1,200)

Frank

 

[Frank The Tank]

She's back on the road, squeaky and slow as ever!!! but she's gonna keep rolling that odometer.
The mechanics broke my plug wires where I had them black taped together... so I had to have new plug wires, and my fan belt was pretty ragged so that and a timing belt are still the only maintenance (other than oil, air filters, tires, and one set of sparkplugs) she has ever had!!!!
I'm smiling ear to ear.

Frank