89 ranger troubles

[hondahaulic]

4 cyl. 89 ranger. We were having a little too much fun attempting to climb the gravel piles at the gravel pits near by, and it just died. Its got fuel pressure and it cranks good. I'm pretty sure it lost spark. Is there a plug or connection that could have come undone? I'm sure its something simple but were having trouble trying to get it going again. This has the 4 cylinder, 8 plug motor with a 5 speed.

[Vealmonkey]

Did you check the timing belt or the gear for the timing belt. You could have stripped teeth on the belt which would cause the whole valve train and distributor not to move, so engine won't fire.

[Thorpe]

I believe they had a cam sensor on the top of the motor that is a common problem with these little trucks...

[SYKO]

Did you check the timing belt or the gear for the timing belt. You could have stripped teeth on the belt which would cause the whole valve train and distributor not to move, so engine won't fire.


I was thinking the same thing... only difference is I cant remember if those are non interference head on those trucks... I beleive they are but i could be wrong...

[brapp]

i do know some of the fords had a fuel or spark shut off module in the event of a crash or severe bump i know after i rolle dthe 93 it wouldnt fire due to the switch beign triped once we reset it fired right up.

[Russell 350X]

^^^ Like he said, check that first, bombing around like you were could have tripped it. It's a fuel pump shutoff switch.

[J.D.]

Yep, an inertia switch...check that first, then pull the inspection plug for the timing belt and check it. These engines don't have cam sensors, and they are not interference motors stock. Have a 2.3 stroked to 2.5 in my race car and hopped up....they are tough little motors, I run a whole season, at the end throw new bearings & rings in it, and she's ready to go again.

[rdlsz24]

Man that would suck if you were going up a steep bumpy hill and that killswitch kicked in. I don't think my Toyota has that. At least I hope not :)

Rob

[hondahaulic]

so does disconnecting the battery for a few minutes reset this inertia switch? I did that, and its still not firing.

[Russell 350X]

so does disconnecting the battery for a few minutes reset this inertia switch? I did that, and its still not firing.




No

There is an actual, physical switch, somewhere on the truck. I know the cars had them in the trunk, maybe behind the seat somewhere??

[hondahaulic]

alright i'll look and see what i can find.

[brapp]

the one on a 93 is a box behind the seat and it has a small switch or pushin button but i dunno for shur eon the 89's

[hondahaulic]

well i couldnt find the inertia switch behind the seat, in the engine bay, or underneath the truck. It still cranks well, and has fuel pressure.

[Thorpe]

If it has fuel pressure, its not the inertia switch... I would look into that cam sensor...

[MonroeMike]

well i couldnt find the inertia switch behind the seat, in the engine bay, or underneath the truck. It still cranks well, and has fuel pressure.

This site mentions the location of the inertia switch.

"Access the inertia switch (normally located at the firewall inside the cab, towards the driver's side and sometimes hidden by the top of the carpet)."

http://www.justanswer.com/questions/1hra4-1989-ford-ranger-shut-off

[J.D.]

If it has fuel pressure, its not the inertia switch... I would look into that cam sensor...

I already said they don't have a cam sensor. Do you mean crank sensor?? I'd still say my next step would be to check the timing belt.

[hondahaulic]

oh I forgot to mention, I looked at the timing belt and it seemed good too. no missing teeth.

[J.D.]

OK next thing to look at is check for spark. It's possible either the ignition coil(one or both) went bad, or the crank sensor took a dump. Pull a plug...probably one from each side because I don't remember which side is the waste spark, and ground the plug against head and crank it.

[BOB MARLIN]

There is a website called "the ranger station".
I have found alot of help there.

[longbedGTs]

The inertia switch is located on in the pass side floor area. If its got FP, then its not the inertia switch. Does it have a distriutor? Take a look at the TFI module.

[Thorpe]

I already said they don't have a cam sensor. Do you mean crank sensor?? I'd still say my next step would be to check the timing belt.

Well... Excuse me...