86 ranger xlt 2.9 crank no spark

Hotchkiss49 · Feb 15, 2015

Just bought this truck for parts but decided to fix it to the last owner unplugged all the wiring trying to fix the no spark. I got most wires plugged back in and have power to a brand new icm/distributor and still no spark but it is cranking the coil has power but pulsing ground test shows no signal being sent from icm/distributor any help/suggestions are appreciated

RonD · Feb 16, 2015

Do you have power(12v) at the TFI Module(ICM), Red/light green strip wire, same color wire as found on Coil's "+" terminal, they are spliced together, both are powered from ignition switch.

There is also a Red/light blue stripe wire on the TFI Module, this provides power(12v) only when starter motor is active(cranking).
It comes from Clutch switch or NSS(neutral safety switch), if you have by-passed these then you may also have by-passed this spliced wire.

Electrical Diagram here: http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/EDiagrams/files/Diagrams_StartIgnition83to882_9.JPG

Hotchkiss49 · Feb 16, 2015

I'll recheck and make sure. and I don't know why but it'll crank over when the clutch is not depressed so they did something to it

Hotchkiss49 · Feb 17, 2015

so im getting a spark with the spout disconnected im guessing eec relay or ecm

RonD · Feb 17, 2015

Someone may have put a jumper on the Clutch pedal switch.
But if they ran a new wire to starter relay(fender) they may have disconnected the old wire which powered the TFI when cranking.
Wire on starter relay's "S" post(smaller post) will be Red with light blue stripe if it is the factory wire.

EEC relay powers fuel injectors and fuel pump relay as well.
Does the fuel pump come on for 2 seconds when key is turned on?
if so the EEC relay and ECM are working.

SPOUT doesn't need to be connected to start engine.
If engine dies when SPOUT is connected I would suspect bad wire before bad ECM.

Hotchkiss49 · Feb 17, 2015

I haven't heard the fuel pump come on at all and the only way I get a spark is with the spout disconnected

RonD · Feb 18, 2015

Ford computer runs the fuel pump for 2 seconds each time key is turned on, then runs it(them) all the time when engine RPMs are above 500(engine running).
So no Fuel pump noise with key on means electrical issue for sure, '86 has 2 fuel pumps, one in the tank and one in the frame rail under the drivers seat area, for both to fail at the same time would be very high odds, against.
In the passenger footwell(under glove box) or in the kick panel, there will be an inertia switch which is suppose to cut power to the fuel pumps in an accident or rollover, these can trip accidentally, there is a Reset button on the top.
It is a small device with two wires connected, one coming from fuel pump relay and one going to the fuel pumps, so 12v IN and 12v OUT

Mike Tonon · Feb 18, 2015

I had an 87 Ranger 2.9 that would crank but wouldn't turn over. And before that happened, it would sometimes just randomly stall and sometimes start right back up and other times not until I started pulling on some wires. Had the problem for a couple years. Finally I found the problem and never had the issue again. There's a little relay (I think.. it was a little 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" by 2 1/2" box under the cover between the air filter box and the fender. I took stuff apart to clean the engine bay and apparently broke the plug and a wire was barely touching the contact on the relay. I got a used plug at the junk yard and popped the wire into the plug and plugged in the relay and that was that.

RonD · Feb 18, 2015

That would be the Fuel Pump relay, Green base
Brown base is the EEC Relay, right next to it.
WOT(wide open throttle) relay has a Black base.

Hotchkiss49 · Feb 19, 2015

looking at all off the relay connections they look yellow and corroded inside any way to clean them out and the truck would not stop cranking last night I would have to pull the neg battery cable off and as soon as I put it back on it would start cranking again

86 ranger xlt 2.9 crank no spark

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