91 2.3 hard starting

my sons ranger is acting like the timing is advanced too much on startup. it sound like it misfires or fouls a plug or something like that.it runs fine after starting but does this evry time hot or cold. this started about a week before the timing belt broke. we checked the timing belt alignment and everything is correct there, plugs are clean and fine?thanks

I'm no sure if the '91 is a distributor-using engine or not?

If "not", you might inspect the crankshaft sensor and wiring at bottom of engine ... its possible the failing belt gave the sensor a whack or two before coming in-two.

well the saga continues! he opened it back up and found that the crank sensor was damaged. he got a new one and discovered then that the braided "shield "wire was not connected to the "shield" connector repaired that and it still starts hard (cranks a long time then when it does fire it souns as if it's loaded up. it will clear up and then when at cruising speed will start lugging and chugging again. he replaced the dis control and he said it started fine but that didn.t last long. any ideas?

well the results are still the same. in questioning him futher he states "it cranks over at normal cranking speed "but as soon as it fires once then it procedes to labor to start as if the timing is advanced too much "wump,wump,wump. and then when it finally does start it will miss and sputter until it cleans out but will still miss under load until it gets warmed up, but if you shut it off and start again it does the same thing. any ideas? thanks

Well, just guesses.

Check and double-check the plugs and cable hook-ups.

Is this an 8 plug engine? If so, the engine should run off of one distributer pack. Try unplugging one-at-a-time and note results.

I'm not familiar with your year model. Does it have a "check engine" light? Is it on?

Are you sure the crankshaft sensor now works. This may be one of the items (removed from engine) that AutoZone can test.

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i don't know if this info is too late but i had a '94 2.3-much the same symptoms.i never found the problem but gave the truck to my nephew.it had a very rusty frame.anyway he thinks he found why sometimes it started so badly.he said one of the fuel injectors malfunctioned and injected too much fuel into the cylinder and caused the almost backfire type kick back.he only discovered it when individual wire to it was sparking,i guess it was burning out due to all the extra action.sounded good to me,since i tried everything else.

I would keep my focus on that area that you've already found damage in.