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11/22/2015 1:24:55 PM EDT
I'm trying to help  my little brother get his 85 ranger running, 2.3L 4cyc, it won't start on it's own. We can pull/push start it and it runs fine. It is getting fuel, seems like to much, I can smell it in the tailpipe. It has spark. ETA, the starter cranks well.
What he has changed so far.

Cap, rotor, plugs and wires.

I've pulled the front cover and checked the timing belt. It is lined up just like the Chilton manual said it should be. #1 @ TDC Compression stroke and cam lies up with the mark.

I've pulled the #1 plug and verified that the injector is firing while cranking.

Thank you in advance.
11/22/2015 3:57:07 PM EDT
[#1]
I would start looking for vacuum leaks and agressively clean the carb.  It may just be that the carb needs rebuilt.  30 year old rubber in that thing.
11/22/2015 4:02:48 PM EDT
[#2]
So what you are saying is you can roll start the truck and it will run but it will not start using the starter although the starter is turning over the engine?

If so I'd suspect the ignition switch down on the steering colom. It may not be putting power to the engine properly when in start position.
11/22/2015 4:16:01 PM EDT
[#3]
Quote History
Quoted:
So what you are saying is you can roll start the truck and it will run but it will not start using the starter although the starter is turning over the engine?

If so I'd suspect the ignition switch down on the steering colom. It may not be putting power to the engine properly when in start position.
View Quote


+1

I had 2 Hondas do exactly this.
11/22/2015 11:02:12 PM EDT
[#4]
Quote History
Quoted:
I would start looking for vacuum leaks and agressively clean the carb.  It may just be that the carb needs rebuilt.  30 year old rubber in that thing.
View Quote


Its FI. Vac leaks checked, so far nothing.
11/22/2015 11:04:10 PM EDT
[#5]
Quote History
Quoted:
So what you are saying is you can roll start the truck and it will run but it will not start using the starter although the starter is turning over the engine?

If so I'd suspect the ignition switch down on the steering colom. It may not be putting power to the engine properly when in start position.
View Quote


Are you thinking that it might not be sending enough voltage to the ignition? The starter spins fast. I've gone so far as setting my battery charger on the Boost setting to make sure it spins fast enough. still no joy.
11/22/2015 11:09:24 PM EDT
[#6]
Quote History
Quoted:


Its FI. Vac leaks checked, so far nothing.
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Quoted:
Quoted:
I would start looking for vacuum leaks and agressively clean the carb.  It may just be that the carb needs rebuilt.  30 year old rubber in that thing.


Its FI. Vac leaks checked, so far nothing.


One of them modern cars eh!  Well, best of luck!  If it isn't pre 74 mopar or Cummins, I am guessing.  
11/22/2015 11:17:23 PM EDT
[#7]
Quote History
Quoted:


Are you thinking that it might not be sending enough voltage to the ignition? The starter spins fast. I've gone so far as setting my battery charger on the Boost setting to make sure it spins fast enough. still no joy.
View Quote View All Quotes
View All Quotes
Quote History
Quoted:
Quoted:
So what you are saying is you can roll start the truck and it will run but it will not start using the starter although the starter is turning over the engine?

If so I'd suspect the ignition switch down on the steering colom. It may not be putting power to the engine properly when in start position.


Are you thinking that it might not be sending enough voltage to the ignition? The starter spins fast. I've gone so far as setting my battery charger on the Boost setting to make sure it spins fast enough. still no joy.


What I'm thinking is its not sending voltage to the computer while in the crank position
11/23/2015 12:20:15 PM EDT
[#8]
Quote History
Quoted:


What I'm thinking is its not sending voltage to the computer while in the crank position
View Quote View All Quotes
View All Quotes
Quote History
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
So what you are saying is you can roll start the truck and it will run but it will not start using the starter although the starter is turning over the engine?

If so I'd suspect the ignition switch down on the steering colom. It may not be putting power to the engine properly when in start position.


Are you thinking that it might not be sending enough voltage to the ignition? The starter spins fast. I've gone so far as setting my battery charger on the Boost setting to make sure it spins fast enough. still no joy.


What I'm thinking is its not sending voltage to the computer while in the crank position


power to the coil during cranking? do you get spark at the plugs whie you are cranking it over?
11/23/2015 2:38:13 PM EDT
[#9]
Quote History
Quoted:


power to the coil during cranking? do you get spark at the plugs whie you are cranking it over?
View Quote View All Quotes
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Quote History
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
So what you are saying is you can roll start the truck and it will run but it will not start using the starter although the starter is turning over the engine?

If so I'd suspect the ignition switch down on the steering colom. It may not be putting power to the engine properly when in start position.


Are you thinking that it might not be sending enough voltage to the ignition? The starter spins fast. I've gone so far as setting my battery charger on the Boost setting to make sure it spins fast enough. still no joy.


What I'm thinking is its not sending voltage to the computer while in the crank position


power to the coil during cranking? do you get spark at the plugs whie you are cranking it over?


Yes.
11/23/2015 2:43:09 PM EDT
[#10]
Quote History
Quoted:


What I'm thinking is its not sending voltage to the computer while in the crank position
View Quote View All Quotes
View All Quotes
Quote History
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
So what you are saying is you can roll start the truck and it will run but it will not start using the starter although the starter is turning over the engine?

If so I'd suspect the ignition switch down on the steering colom. It may not be putting power to the engine properly when in start position.


Are you thinking that it might not be sending enough voltage to the ignition? The starter spins fast. I've gone so far as setting my battery charger on the Boost setting to make sure it spins fast enough. still no joy.


What I'm thinking is its not sending voltage to the computer while in the crank position


I will look into that, not off to find a wire diagram and v/a values.
11/23/2015 6:53:04 PM EDT
[#11]
Go on youtube and ask fordtechmakuloco.
11/23/2015 9:09:17 PM EDT
[#12]
Try holding the throttle all the way down (Like you would have to do with a carb if flooded) and try starting it again.
11/23/2015 9:36:52 PM EDT
[#13]
The gas smell coming from the tail pipe is you guys most likely flooding it from trying to start it. If you are getting spark at the plugs and you have fuel pressure that meets spec than its possible the timing is off. But if timing where off it would run sluggish after you pop started it. Not really rough but sluggish/ slow to gather speed. Its hard to say whats going on I have customers telling me all the time what they checked or didnt check but without the proper tools they where really just guessing and Ive seen plenty of bad guesses.
11/24/2015 10:56:29 PM EDT
[#14]
do you have a fuel pressure gauge? if so, does the fuel pressure drop when the truck is turned off?
my thinking would be a sticking fuel injector flooding the cylinder?
also pull the vacuum hose off the fuel pressure regulator, if fuel comes out, it will need a new fuel pressure regulator.
11/25/2015 9:21:51 AM EDT
[#15]
Quote History
Quoted:
The gas smell coming from the tail pipe is you guys most likely flooding it from trying to start it. If you are getting spark at the plugs and you have fuel pressure that meets spec than its possible the timing is off. But if timing where off it would run sluggish after you pop started it. Not really rough but sluggish/ slow to gather speed. Its hard to say whats going on I have customers telling me all the time what they checked or didnt check but without the proper tools they where really just guessing and Ive seen plenty of bad guesses.
View Quote


Its fuel injected, it shouldn't flood, as long as it has spark. I removed a plug and watched the injector fire. I'm not sure what the volume should of been on a cold crank, but it was flowing an almost solid stream.

I checked the timing and adjusted it to 10 deg, that seemed to help a lot. It had 20 base, I didn't think to check that gear with the cover off. SO there is a high likely hood that the belt jumped a tooth on the distributor gear. When I looked under the cover both the cam and crank gears were lined up correctly, so I just moved on.

Another issue with spark. Neither of the wires going into the coil pulse. Both are hot as the key is on. If I am not mistaken, shouldn't the smaller wire off the ignition module send a pulse to the coil? Perhaps this is part of the problem not giving the proper spark to the plugs.?
11/26/2015 11:26:06 AM EDT
[#16]
Quote History
Quoted:


Its fuel injected, it shouldn't flood, as long as it has spark. I removed a plug and watched the injector fire. I'm not sure what the volume should of been on a cold crank, but it was flowing an almost solid stream.

I checked the timing and adjusted it to 10 deg, that seemed to help a lot. It had 20 base, I didn't think to check that gear with the cover off. SO there is a high likely hood that the belt jumped a tooth on the distributor gear. When I looked under the cover both the cam and crank gears were lined up correctly, so I just moved on.

Another issue with spark. Neither of the wires going into the coil pulse. Both are hot as the key is on. If I am not mistaken, shouldn't the smaller wire off the ignition module send a pulse to the coil? Perhaps this is part of the problem not giving the proper spark to the plugs.?
View Quote View All Quotes
View All Quotes
Quote History
Quoted:
Quoted:
The gas smell coming from the tail pipe is you guys most likely flooding it from trying to start it. If you are getting spark at the plugs and you have fuel pressure that meets spec than its possible the timing is off. But if timing where off it would run sluggish after you pop started it. Not really rough but sluggish/ slow to gather speed. Its hard to say whats going on I have customers telling me all the time what they checked or didnt check but without the proper tools they where really just guessing and Ive seen plenty of bad guesses.


Its fuel injected, it shouldn't flood, as long as it has spark. I removed a plug and watched the injector fire. I'm not sure what the volume should of been on a cold crank, but it was flowing an almost solid stream.

I checked the timing and adjusted it to 10 deg, that seemed to help a lot. It had 20 base, I didn't think to check that gear with the cover off. SO there is a high likely hood that the belt jumped a tooth on the distributor gear. When I looked under the cover both the cam and crank gears were lined up correctly, so I just moved on.

Another issue with spark. Neither of the wires going into the coil pulse. Both are hot as the key is on. If I am not mistaken, shouldn't the smaller wire off the ignition module send a pulse to the coil? Perhaps this is part of the problem not giving the proper spark to the plugs.?



You can absolutely flood a fuel injected engine.