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kishy's 1985 Ranger

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    Originally posted by gadget73 View Post
    make sure the crank sensor connections are good. The 4.6 cars get randomly shitty like this when the CPS plug gets crusty.
    The connectors are spotless, look brand new. I'm leaning towards the crank sensor being good though.

    As a further update with the no-start not resolved:

    Fuel pressure is a very stable just-north-of 40PSI. If fuel is turned off (inertia switch) with fuel pressurized, and the engine is cranked with ignition on, the pressure drops in very crisp, precise drops, as the injectors open and close. This tells me the computer is seeing the signal from the crank position sensor, otherwise it would not be opening injectors.

    My timing light is not flashing on any plug, consistently, when cranking. It may occasionally blink but not with any regularity.

    With the exhaust side plugs out of the head and fuel and ignition turned on, the engine spits fire out of the plug wells. Thus, the intake side plugs are firing sufficiently to ignite the a/f mix.

    However, the spark at the plugs is a weak sickly yellow colour. This suggests there may just not be enough voltage hitting the plugs which might point to the coilpacks (but really, two coilpacks? and on both pairs of outputs?) or power supply to the coilpacks (ign module suspect or ignition switch voltage drop). This suspected low spark voltage is probably why my timing light is not flashing.

    Replaced the ignition switch since I had one, and since the old one was known to be junk from past experience, and saw no change. But at least the issue should be gone where I can wiggle the key to turn the accessory circuit off.

    We've got fuel, we've got air, and we've got spark but not very good spark.

    Some additional testing focusing on the ICM and coilpacks will follow.

    Current driver: Ranger
    Panthers: 83 GM 2dr | 84 TC | 85 CS
    | 88 TC | 91 GM
    Not Panthers: 85 Ranger | Ranger trailer | 91 Acclaim | 05 Focus
    Gone: 97 CV | 83 TC | 04 Focus | 86 GM
    | Junkyards

    Comment


      I'd offer up my spare coil packs, but I forgot they are currently running my Lincoln. That is, assuming that motor takes the same 2 coils as a Aero 4.6 like I know the later twin-spark 2.3s did.
      -Steve

      2006 Audi A6 S-Line FWD ~132k miles, stock.
      1998 Mercury Grand Marquis LS HPP ~102k miles, slowly acquiring modifications.
      1997 Lincoln Town Car Cartier ~145k miles, Ported Plenum, Gutted Airbox, Mechanical Fan Delete, Contour E-fan Retrofit, Dual exhaust, Cats ran away, KYB Gas-A-Justs, P71 front sway bar, air ride reinstalled, Blinker Mod, Projector headlight retrofit, Caddy 4-note horn retrofit, Wood rim steering wheel, rustbelt diet plan..
      1996 Mercury Grand Marquis GS 117,485mi. R.I.P. 7/14/12

      Comment


        Weak coils could definitely cause the sickly colored spark.


        My Cars:
        -1964 Comet 202 (116K Miles) - Long Term Project
        -1986 Dodge D-150 Royale SE (112K Miles) - Slowly Getting Put Back Together
        -1987 Grand Marquis Colony Park LS (325K Miles) - April 2017 + September 2019 POTM Winner
        -1997 Grand Marquis LS (240K Miles) - The Daily Workhorse & March 2015 + January 2019 POTM Winner

        Comment


          Got junkyard ICM (newer aftermarket, which is a good sign). Did not fix issue. Spark might be better than I remembered it being, but...I dunno.

          Fiddled around with a bunch of random stuff and finally did a compression test. A very even approx 60-65PSI on all cylinders.

          It's way too level across all 4 to be the head gasket, rings, or valves, because those issues would make it vary from cylinder to cylinder. Suspect cam timing is off.

          Not sure how or why it ran before, but the compression speaks to why it isn't starting the engine but how it shot flames out of the plug wells. It is putting fuel in, and it is putting spark in, and fire is happening, but the fire is not happening at the right time on the cam for anything helpful to come of it.

          Current driver: Ranger
          Panthers: 83 GM 2dr | 84 TC | 85 CS
          | 88 TC | 91 GM
          Not Panthers: 85 Ranger | Ranger trailer | 91 Acclaim | 05 Focus
          Gone: 97 CV | 83 TC | 04 Focus | 86 GM
          | Junkyards

          Comment


            Aren't these supposed to only fire one bank of plugs during ignition?

            Check power to the ECM. When the Mark VII died at homeless depot I tested for spark and it was sickly yellow too. Turned out the ECM relay was spotty. Shop also replaced TFI harness as they said it was corroded. IDK, it ran after that but the timing was way advanced and I never figured that shit out before I sold it.

            Also, did you verify timing now that the thing won't run? I suspect that is also off like you do.
            1985 LTD Crown Victoria - SOLD
            1988 Town Car Signature - Current Party Barge

            Comment


              My favorite, rule out the obvious check; connect a jumper cable between the engine and battery negative to make sure ground is good.

              Comment


                So, those timing marks are little bastards. And they lie. At least they do on this engine.

                I had to use the (nonexistent) timing marks that exist on my 2.0 to set the timing on this 2.3 correctly. It was about 4 teeth out from correct because:

                1 - when I set it, I missed the triangle mark by 2 teeth (oops), and
                2 - I had to time it off the old school timing pointer instead of the triangle (cam key pointing straight down)

                The markings to correctly time my engine do not exist. This is probably the result of the mish-mash of years of parts that went into it.

                The easy way to do it (and what I did) is with the cam timing mark centerline aligned with a straight line between the center lines of both the cam and oil pump pulleys. That got me to a 140PSI (dry) compression result.

                Progress for today is very good. It runs and drives!

                Ignition module thermal paste re-applied.

                Rad flush and distilled water in engine with heater core not in the circuit. Hoping to clean the inside of the block.

                Made a new ground connection to the frame rail where the new fuel sender harness wants to be grounded.

                Oilsprayed (Rust Check) inside frame rail beside fuel tank.

                Fuel tank reinstalled; driveshaft reinstalled. Fuel float has decided to act up again but I'll survive.

                Also received a new ignition switch the other day.

                Ziptied the throttle cable in place (and many other things) and took it for a drive. Drives awesome. Tons more power than before.

                Still need to put some finishing touches on, such as mounting the air cleaner and reinstalling the hood, and tighten up the exhaust, but this is almost road-ready.





                2.0 timing pointer:


                2.3 after timing correctly (notice it doesn't point at anything, but that's where the 2.0 pointer would be):











                Current driver: Ranger
                Panthers: 83 GM 2dr | 84 TC | 85 CS
                | 88 TC | 91 GM
                Not Panthers: 85 Ranger | Ranger trailer | 91 Acclaim | 05 Focus
                Gone: 97 CV | 83 TC | 04 Focus | 86 GM
                | Junkyards

                Comment


                  Cool. I knew 90psi was too damn low.

                  I love the 2.3 in twin plug config. My brother's '97 was fabulous with it's regular cab config paired with a 4.11.

                  Where did you end up making the ECM live?
                  1985 LTD Crown Victoria - SOLD
                  1988 Town Car Signature - Current Party Barge

                  Comment


                    Originally posted by DerekTheGreat View Post
                    Cool. I knew 90psi was too damn low.

                    I love the 2.3 in twin plug config. My brother's '97 was fabulous with it's regular cab config paired with a 4.11.

                    Where did you end up making the ECM live?
                    60!

                    The 3.45 rear end could be better, but first gear already goes by pretty fast, so...it's fine.

                    ECM is currently sitting on the driver side fender apron, secured only by the wiring attached to it. That's one of the finishing touches. A friend suggested a surplus ammo box might be a good weathertight container for it and the eventual remote starter that's going to live beside it. A big Ziplock bag and zipties will suffice otherwise.

                    Current driver: Ranger
                    Panthers: 83 GM 2dr | 84 TC | 85 CS
                    | 88 TC | 91 GM
                    Not Panthers: 85 Ranger | Ranger trailer | 91 Acclaim | 05 Focus
                    Gone: 97 CV | 83 TC | 04 Focus | 86 GM
                    | Junkyards

                    Comment


                      Nice work. Mixing parts can always be troublesome. Glad you figured it out.
                      ~David~

                      My 1987 Crown Victoria Coupe: The Brown Blob
                      My 2004 Mercedes Benz E320:The Benz

                      Originally posted by ootdega
                      My life is a long series of "nevermind" and "I guess not."

                      Originally posted by DerekTheGreat
                      But, that's just coming from me, this site's biggest pessimist. Best of luck

                      Originally posted by gadget73
                      my car starts and it has AC. Yours doesn't start and it has no AC. Seems obvious to me.




                      Comment


                        Did you punch some new marks to indicate where the gears actually need to be for next time?

                        Damn handy these aren't interference motors, otherwise that would have ended badly. Those type make me nervous. I always spin the engine over slowly with a breaker bar before attempting a startup. Not so likely to bash things up that way.
                        86 Lincoln Town Car (Galactica).
                        5.0 HO, CompCams XE258,Scorpion 1.72 roller rockers, 3.55 K code rear, tow package, BHPerformance ported E7 heads, Tmoss Explorer intake, 65mm throttle body, Hedman 1 5/8" headers, 2.5" dual exhaust, ASP underdrive pulley

                        91 Lincoln Mark VII LSC grandpa spec white and cranberry

                        1984 Lincoln Continental TurboDiesel - rolls coal

                        Originally posted by phayzer5
                        I drive a Lincoln. I can't be bothered to shift like the peasants and rabble rousers

                        Comment


                          No marks. It's aligned the old-school 2.0/2.3 way with the mark on the centerline of the bolts for the cam and aux shaft. Easy peasy.

                          Amazingly, it ran in that 60PSI state.

                          Current driver: Ranger
                          Panthers: 83 GM 2dr | 84 TC | 85 CS
                          | 88 TC | 91 GM
                          Not Panthers: 85 Ranger | Ranger trailer | 91 Acclaim | 05 Focus
                          Gone: 97 CV | 83 TC | 04 Focus | 86 GM
                          | Junkyards

                          Comment


                            How long do you think before you're out and about in that thing now?
                            1985 LTD Crown Victoria - SOLD
                            1988 Town Car Signature - Current Party Barge

                            Comment


                              Originally posted by DerekTheGreat View Post
                              How long do you think before you're out and about in that thing now?
                              Hood went on last night, got my new junkyard tires mounted, and drove it to work today.

                              Planning to change the oil and drain the rad flush before I put too many km on it but I'll likely be doing my next junkyard run in it (and picking up that axle).

                              Current driver: Ranger
                              Panthers: 83 GM 2dr | 84 TC | 85 CS
                              | 88 TC | 91 GM
                              Not Panthers: 85 Ranger | Ranger trailer | 91 Acclaim | 05 Focus
                              Gone: 97 CV | 83 TC | 04 Focus | 86 GM
                              | Junkyards

                              Comment


                                Oh yeah. I forgot that was back there. I see your exhaust every other day just about. You taking that too? No rush on any of that, just curious is all. I'll probably be headed to the yard Saturday to see about that Town Car. In desperate need of a Mark VII with JBL stuff so I can get replacement speakers for Ashley's truck. Also need a early 90's Conti for the same reasons. Turns out their rear speakers are same size as her F150's.
                                1985 LTD Crown Victoria - SOLD
                                1988 Town Car Signature - Current Party Barge

                                Comment

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