I am lost 88 Ranger 2.9l popping/missing issues

I need help real lost here TRS high tech guy's

I have a 1988 Ranger 2.9l I was having issues after driving the truck and after it gets up to temp driving up a highway steep grade to town. I take the off ramp stop than take of it starts popping real slow no power. Its like its miss firing or running out of fuel. I changed the fuel filter black looking gas came out the outlet side. I changed it no difference still the same real strange when the truck is cool on first start up it runs fine. Its not overheating I took the cap off the radiator its circulating fine. The strange part is its been running fine for two weeks now out of the blue the popping is back. I was lucky to back home I let it site 4 hours I just fired it its running fine

Could this be a fuel pump issue I did change the in tanks one 12 years ago. I don't know I was going to pull the plugs maybe a bad spark plug?

Any help is so very much appreciated guy's

This didn't start until the rats mad a nest on the drivers side where all the wires are under the brake booster and by the coil. I checked all wires only one blue one in the harness was chewed on. I had to change one vacume line this popping and loss of power only after coming to a stop off the freeway is strange let it sit cool off runs great. One day it runs good the next popping ordeal

Old wires love to get brittle and start to decay.

I dealt with that by going to pick and pull and nipping up a complete harness for our old Bronco II.

But in reality? That sounds like only part of the issue. I would take a spray bottle and mist down the ignition coil with a little bit of water and go around it with a test light (bulb type, not the LED type) and look for arcs. Sounds like the ignition coil might be leaking voltage to ground. Not 100% sure, just kinda where I would start at.

It's just a feeling, but I've been wrong before.

Oh and if you've had mice nesting in one area, you can be sure they tried to setup homestead in other areas as well. Heater blower motor area comes to mind....under it where the harness goes into the firewall for the ECU. Might be worth a peek.



S-

Tedybear said:

Old wires love to get brittle and start to decay.

I dealt with that by going to pick and pull and nipping up a complete harness for our old Bronco II.

But in reality? That sounds like only part of the issue. I would take a spray bottle and mist down the ignition coil with a little bit of water and go around it with a test light (bulb type, not the LED type) and look for arcs. Sounds like the ignition coil might be leaking voltage to ground. Not 100% sure, just kinda where I would start at.

It's just a feeling, but I've been wrong before.

Oh and if you've had mice nesting in one area, you can be sure they tried to setup homestead in other areas as well. Heater blower motor area comes to mind....under it where the harness goes into the firewall for the ECU. Might be worth a peek.



S-

Click to expand...

Thank you so much

I will give that a try I do have a bulb type tester and will check those other areas. The mice did have stuff tucked on and round the coil. I pulled that plastic cover over the wires off so could see real good the wire harnesses

"I changed the fuel filter black looking gas came out the outlet side"

I would look into this, may want to pull the fuel line off at the fuel rail then turn on the pumps and see what comes out.
Once it is flowing clean fuel reconnect it and remove the return fuel line.
Use vacuum hose connected to fuel pressure regulator and suck on it to open return valve while pump is running.

Black could be rubber fuel lines breaking down, which would need to be replaced

RonD said:

"I changed the fuel filter black looking gas came out the outlet side"

I would look into this, may want to pull the fuel line off at the fuel rail then turn on the pumps and see what comes out.
Once it is flowing clean fuel reconnect it and remove the return fuel line.
Use vacuum hose connected to fuel pressure regulator and suck on it to open return valve while pump is running.

Black could be rubber fuel lines breaking down, which would need to be replaced

Click to expand...

Ron thank you

I appreciate the info and help so very much from you folks. I pulled the fuel filter off it was hard to blow through once I blew the gas out it was free not plugged. The gas looked blackish as it poured on top of my head. The filter change didn't help. I will try your idea after I try "Tedybear" coil test I hope its an easy thing to figure out the popping/missing ordeal

Popping and missing is associated with "bad gas", too much water in the gas.

Water won't mix with gasoline, and water is heavier than gasoline, so will settle to the bottom of the tank.
And the bottom of the tank is where the fuel pump sucks up the fuel, so............

There are products like HEET or Octane boost, which have ethanol in them, ethanol does mix with water, it can help absorb any water in the tank.

But if possible siphon some gas out and put it in a glass jar, let it sit for awhile, you can then see if or how much water is in the tank

RonD said:

Popping and missing is associated with "bad gas", too much water in the gas.

Water won't mix with gasoline, and water is heavier than gasoline, so will settle to the bottom of the tank.
And the bottom of the tank is where the fuel pump sucks up the fuel, so............

There are products like HEET or Octane boost, which have ethanol in them, ethanol does mix with water, it can help absorb any water in the tank.

But if possible siphon some gas out and put it in a glass jar, let it sit for awhile, you can then see if or how much water is in the tank

Click to expand...

Ron

I did the coil test made sure the test light was grounded to the body. It never lit up at all I did your test fuel is clean. I did pull the spark plugs each one had .046 gap last time I change them was 2002 there double platinum. One on the passengers side was loose but that I don't think would make it pop. I drove it to town no popping as soon as I came off the off ramp to a stop I gave it little gas just enough to get going. I felt it trying to stumble like before on the verge of popping. I did use two bottles of Lucas fuel injector fuel system cleaner a while ago. It didn't help I am in California smog laws I can't use anything that can destroy the cats. You think a new set of Platnum plugs might help?

Using most anything other than manufacturer suggested plugs is a waste of money in my experience. I can't suggest using a autolite plug though, I had one drop an electrode into one of my '88 2.9's and another electrode come loose in my 2.3 Focus.

RIch