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need some insight


87Rangerdude

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ok. i've got a 1987 ranger 2.3L 2wd auto. the other day i was driving home from a friend's house (about 15 miles away from my house), i was just cruising along at 55 mph) and my engine lost power and i knew i lost a cyl . well i had to drive it home like that because there would be no way for me to get home, so i drove it home and tinkered with it a little. first i took the plugs out and inspected them, hoping that i fouled a plug or something. it turns out that the plugs are fine and my engine is running on 2 cyl not 3, as i previously thought. i also checked the distributor to make sure there wasnt water inside it or any cracks, and its fine. i lined the spark plug wire boots with silicone dielectric compound to ensure a connection, hooked up the wires and hoped for the best, but still running on 2 cyl. the engine doesnt knock or anything anymore, no abnormal pings or dings, aside from sounding like a model T (heh) cyl #1 and 2 are not doing anything, i know they're getting gas because i can smell unburnt gas when its running and i have yet to test the spark on the wires. what would cause it to lose both cyl at the same time? sorry if anything is unclear as this is my first vehicle and im still learning about mechanical stuff. thanks
 


Jorley

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First thing,you need to check for fire on those two plugs.
If no fire try different plug wires and see if there's fire. Could be bad wires, how long since they were changed. If you don't have spare wires laying around swap the two that work with the two that don't.
Since you have fire on two plugs the coil is working. The contacts inside the distributor cap could be dirty.

BTW, where are you in Fl? I'm from around Tallahassee, still have family living there.
 
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87Rangerdude

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thanks for the reply, ill try that tomorrow when its light. i live about 30 miles south of ocala 50ish miles west of orlando in a little town called lake panasoffkee
 

Jorley

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NO sweat. Post the results and don't forget to vote fro TRS as top 4X4 site.
 

Bonedriver

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If this was as 89+ I'd say DIS... but it could be the Ignition Module (not to be confused with the coil)... I hope it's something simple! Good Luck!
 

87Rangerdude

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well i checked spark on all plugs and they're all good. i dont know what it could be.
 

87Rangerdude

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the firing order is 1,3,4,2 if i remember correctly, but does anyone have a diagram of where the plugs hook to the distributor, so i can make sure that i matched them up correctly? thanks
 

Mark_88

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Actually, it's 1,3,4,2...unless your Engine is different from mine...just set mine up according the Haynes manual...

Seems strange that you're getting spark and gas and they're not firing...they should fire under those circumstances...how do you know you're only getting two pistons firing other than the smell of unburned gas?

If the motor lost power on the way home were the roads wet or did you maybe get moisture in the gas? You could try one of those moisture addatives that removes moisture from the gas tank...and/or try some injector cleaner since something may be fouling the injectors...
 

Jorley

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It takes fire, fuel, and compression for the engine to run. Run a compression test. cyls 1 & 2 are next to one another, could be blown head gasket between the 2, causing loss of compression in both of them.
 

87Rangerdude

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yeah ill prob end up taking it in to the shop and let them figure it out when i get some money. thanks for the help guys
 

87Rangerdude

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well its been a while, but i just talked to my mechanic, and he told me that i dropped the valves in valves 1 and 2 and im getting somewhere around 30lbs in piston 3 and 110 pounds in piston 4. the valves punched holes in the head and gas is draining into the oil pan. so to say the least its time to find a new 2.3 for this old girl. if anyone has a running 2.3 EFI 4 banger that would fit an 87 that is in my area for a reasonable price i'd really like to know, thanks
 
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87Rangerdude

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also would it be very hard to put a 2.8 in instead of a 2.3? would the motor mounts be the same, also would the tranny/driveshaft be compatible?
 

Mark_88

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Definitely not the same mounts for a 2.8 and 2.3...and the transmission is different so you'd have to replace that also...

I think I paid $150 for the short block 2.3 on mine and another $500 to have the head rebuilt...but you could probably pick up a complete long block for about $200 - 300...
 

little hoss 86

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you can use a newer 2.3 efi motor and use your head and intake and get rid of all the fi stuff and it works great these guys on here told me how to do it and it worked great just make sure if you get a late model 2.3 it has a place for the dist, and fuel pump.. that is if you are carbed...
 

87Rangerdude

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thanks for the replies guys, its got EFI right now. right now i just want to slap another 87' 2.3 EFI in it and get it back on the road.
 

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