DAZED N CONFUSED

[dfratus]

I've replaced the plugs and wires on my 2003, 3.0 Ranger. Checked lots of times and everything seems to be routed according to specs but I can't get it to start. No codes are set.
I'm feeling a bit foolish now and need the truck to get to therapy. I'd appreciate help from you fine mechanically adept folks. Thanks muchly . . .

 

[fastpakr]

More information...

Was it starting before you replaced the plugs and wires?
Does it at least crank, just not fire?
Have you checked the codes?

 

[dfratus]

More information...

Was it starting before you replaced the plugs and wires?
Does it at least crank, just not fire?
Have you checked the codes?

I was having a problem resembling the issues with a bad cam synchronizer. At around 4k rpm under load, the engine would buck and stumble. That led me to think it might be time to replace the wires and plugs as well as the synchronizer. After doing that it turned over but wouldn't start. Obviously it seemed like a firing order problem. It didn't set any codes. It turns out that the Hanes manual lied. The Motorcraft coil pack has the orientation for wires printed on top of it that was covered with dirt and crud. Haynes manual says looking at the coil from the front of the truck, front to back, 1 2 3 on left side and 5 6 4 on the right. The proper orientation shown on top of the Motorcraft coil pack is front to back, 4 6 5 on the left side and 3 2 1 on the right side. I have a new cam synchronizer to install next. Need more beer for that project. Thanks for the reply.

 

[JoshT]

I was having a problem resembling the issues with a bad cam synchronizer. At around 4k rpm under load, the engine would buck and stumble. That led me to think it might be time to replace the wires and plugs as well as the synchronizer. After doing that it turned over but wouldn't start. Obviously it seemed like a firing order problem. It didn't set any codes. It turns out that the Hanes manual lied. The Motorcraft coil pack has the orientation for wires printed on top of it that was covered with dirt and crud. Haynes manual says looking at the coil from the front of the truck, front to back, 1 2 3 on left side and 5 6 4 on the right. The proper orientation shown on top of the Motorcraft coil pack is front to back, 4 6 5 on the left side and 3 2 1 on the right side. I have a new cam synchronizer to install next. Need more beer for that project. Thanks for the reply.

Just to verify.

1) At the time of that post, you have not replaced the synchronizer yet? The start of the post kind of makes it sound like you did.

2) It will start and run now that you have corrected the plug wires?

If not, fix that problem before you add another by changing the synchro.

 

[Josh B]

Double check that wiring, those ones are real easy to get twisted up on, specially the 465 or whatever, the 123 is also, but you only need double check it 4 or 5 times or so

 

[Terrys87]

I do not know the 3.0 and the newer models but in my experience, fuel problems usually don't throw a code such as a bad fuel pump or clogged fuel filter.

If it was running before you did the wires, sounds like something you accidently mis routed.

 

[dfratus]

Ok, so what I was trying to say is that I was originally having an issue with stumbling and severe bucking when going uphill around 4,000 rpm. That's the most accurate description I can think of. That seemed to resemble similar issues other people have said they had when their cam synchronizer went bad and some said that it could be wire and plug related. No codes were set as others have noted. I bought the 2003 Ranger truck used, maybe 20k miles ago, and it has 150k miles on it now. It looked like it still had the original wires and plugs so it made sense to me that it may be time to replace them. I rely on a Haynes manual for everything, so when I did the wires, I set them up just like the manual described. It showed a picture of the engine with a coil pack on page 1-3. That proved to be a mistake. The thing would turn over but wouldn't start and still not show any codes. I checked everything out maybe three or more times and even labeled the wires in two places with tape and a marker pen. When I was looking for a real mechanic that would do house calls, Kevin at the Bisbee, AZ traffic circle, showed me a coil pack from a 3.0 engine and noted that it had the location diagram for the wires printed on it's top surface. When I cleaned mine off I could see that it was the same . The set up recommended by Haynes didn't work. The one printed on the Motorcraft coil pack did work. Just sayin . . . So far I haven't done the synchro thingie or had a chance to test drive up a hill but I have great expectations and I'm hoping my post helps someone else. Good luck and happy trails to all of us. Thanks for everything amigos.

 

[bills4065]

Once you get it running couple quick checks you could do: Check your fuel pump pressure and check for a plugged exhaust, should be less than 2 psi back pressure at 3000 rpm in park. Only suggest this your symptoms bucking under load and going up hill

 

[fastpakr]

Ok, so what I was trying to say is that I was originally having an issue with stumbling and severe bucking when going uphill around 4,000 rpm. That's the most accurate description I can think of. That seemed to resemble similar issues other people have said they had when their cam synchronizer went bad and some said that it could be wire and plug related. No codes were set as others have noted. I bought the truck used maybe 20k miles ago and it has 150k miles on it now. It looked like it still had the original wires and plugs so it made sense to me that it may be time to replace them. I rely on a Haynes manual for everything, so when I did the wires, I set them up just like the manual described. It showed a picture of the engine with a coil pack on page 1-3. That proved to be a mistake. The thing would turn over but wouldn't start and still not show any codes. I checked everything out maybe three or more times and even labeled the wires in two places with tape and a marker pen. When I was looking for a real mechanic that would do house calls, Kevin at the Bisbee, AZ traffic circle, showed me a coil pack from a 3.0 engine and noted that it had the location for the wires printed on it's top surface. When I cleaned mine off I could see that it was the same . The set up recommended by Haynes didn't work. The one printed on the Motorcraft coil pack did work. Just sayin . . . So far I haven't done the synchro thingie or had a chance to test drive up a hill but I have great expectations and I'm hoping my post helps someone else. Good luck and happy trails to all of us. Thanks for everything amigos.

So... it IS running now? You never really said that unless I read right through it.