• Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and Register for our forum. Even if you don't want to post, you can still 'Like' and react to posts.

1988 2.3l wont start after powerwashing underbody


vasol

New Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2016
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
ford
Transmission
Manual
Hi,

My ranger is not getting spark after i was a bit overzealous with the powerwasher (relatively weak ryobi electric unit). I did not wash the engine bay but did spray up onto the trans/oil pan area to rid of some oil residue. i did see a few electrical connectors around the front bottom area but everything seems to be intact. Is there anything on the under side that i could have damaged that would cause me to have no spark? i opened up the distributor and cleaned it, pulled out spark plug and tested on the header (its a bit rusty) and saw no spark. I also found the ICM pigtail to be corroded so that was replaced (they sent me a backwards unit which i had to modify). I just got this truck literally 2 days before this happened, so i dont know much about it at all. please help me get it running! I will snap some photos and upload them here tomorrow.
 


RonD

Official TRS AI
TRS Technical Advisor
Joined
Jun 2, 2012
Messages
25,363
Reaction score
8,369
Points
113
Location
canada
Vehicle Year
1994
Make / Model
Ford
Transmission
Manual
Welcome to TRS


1988 was last year the 2.3l had a distributor, it used a TFI module

Info here: http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/TFI_Diagnostic.shtml

If you have an automatic there is a Neutral Safety Switch(NSS) on the transmission, just above shift rod, it screws down into trans.
It passes 12volts to TFI module when you are using the starter motor, cranking the engine.
Pull off connector and then put it back on to make sure it is dry and making good contact.

If you want to test if this is the problem, hook a test light, or volt meter, to Coil's + terminal and a Ground.
Turn on the key
You should see the light or 12volts
Try starting engine, if light goes out or volts drop below 5, then that is the problem.

Picture of switch here: http://images.oreillyauto.com/parts/img/medium/bwd/s9193_primary.jpg

And here: http://repairguide.autozone.com/znetrgs/repair_guide_content/en_us/images/0900c152/80/04/e3/1c/medium/0900c1528004e31c.gif
 
Last edited:

Pauls 4x4

Member
ASE Certified Tech
Joined
Sep 1, 2016
Messages
106
Reaction score
1
Points
18
Location
Colton, CA
Vehicle Year
1991
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
2.9
Transmission
Automatic
This can happen with a bad dizzy cap and rotor. Did it to my 2.9 the first day u had it. Water made the center piece on the cap short and melt out.
 

Attachments

Last edited:

vasol

New Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2016
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
ford
Transmission
Manual
thanks for all the replies, I did check the dizzy and everything seemed to be okay. i replaced the ICM connector pigtail, tried to start it...no luck. Didnt look at it for a few days came back and fiddled around with a few connections and voila, she started right up. now im trying to figure out where all these connectors go...check out my new thread here: http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=169346
 

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Members online

Today's birthdays

Member & Vendor Upgrades

For a small yearly donation, you can support this forum and receive a 'Supporting Member' banner, or become a 'Supporting Vendor' and promote your products here. Click the banner to find out how.

Truck of The Month


Shran
April Truck of The Month

Recently Featured

Want to see your truck here? Share your photos and details in the forum.

Follow TRS On Instagram

TRS Events

25th Anniversary Sponsors

Check Out The TRS Store


Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad


Amazon Deals

Top