88 ford ranger

[lollipop]

will not start at all 2.9 ranger done it all i think . looking for any help on it.it as all things to start but it will not ????????????????

[EVH5150]

Changed the starter, starter solenoid? Maybe a bad ground or a short in the battery cable? Does the motor rotate or do you just get a "click"?
Those are the only things I can come up with.

[TheRangerOfDanger]

First, you have answer this question - When you turn the key, does it (1) turn over the engine but not start, (2) can you just hear the starter spinning, but not the engine, (3) can you just hear a little click, or (4)nothing at all. Once you answer this, i can help you more. (it's just that it could be so many things, so it has to be narrowed down)

[lakerfan1784]

I have been helping him out as much as possible. His engine cranks, it has good spark, it fires then immediately dies. I have been talking with him, and he has replaced/inspected the following things:

Wiring harness, throttle body, wires, plugs, distributor system (rotor etc.), fuel filter, fuel pump, fuel lines, EEC-IV, injectors, catalytic converter, all wiring grounds, timing system, valve train, practically every sensor on the engine, intake manifold/gasket, exhaust manifold/gasket, all vacuum lines. The heads were replaced recently. All parts swapped were from a known running 88 ranger. The injectors and all ignition things are new from the parts store.

It has good compression, good spark, fuel,and is in time. I am really stumped as to what is happening.

[1988ranger]

I just fixed a similar problem on my truck. My truck would crank and fire, then when you turn the key back it would die, unless you found the tiny spot where it made a connection and would run.

The problem was a bad ignition switch on the column. It is a plastic plug pressed into a metal piece (poor design?). It only cost like 15 bucks at a ford dealership and was simple to change.