Need help with kids Ranger PLEASE!

[Chas]

Kaseys truck died yesterday on the way to his job....1994 Ford Ranger.... just died, he had his music on and didnt hear anything unusual, but he was on a side street, thankfully...and he was going thru a intersection with a dip, he slowed to go thru and accelerated and had nothing. he dont know exactly when it died but he pulled over. it turns over easily,i just put a new starter and battery in it.i figure its the ignition module, so $129 later i install it today, still the same...no fire at all...turning and turning..has fuel, about 1/2 tank. manual trans, 4 cylinder with 8 spark plugs...a neat engine that has gone over 170,000 with minimum leaks and a rebuild tranny. i dont see a conventional coil, and it has 2 distributors, each with 4 wires. any ideas gang???
many thanks in advance for input.
Chas:beer

[Chas]

No one has an opinion????

[Patrick]

Chas,
Sorry to hear about your son's Ranger-woes. I wish I could help, but what I know about the ideosynchracies of Fords you write on your thumbnail and have plenty of room left over.

Have you considered the possibility that it could be the fuel pump going bad? I had an Oldsmobile Bravada back in the day that gave me similar sounding issues (mind you, it was a LONG time ago when this happened, but it sounds like what I remember.)

Good luck!
-Patrick

[IH2LOSE]

Well I will see if I can help

I would do a wind test to first see if you have a proplem with compresstion

Next

Pull a plug and ground the spark plug to metal to see if you have spark

Next pull the gas line to the motor and tie in a fuel pressure gauge to see if the motor has fuel.

1/2 a tank of gas is not telling if its going up to the motor.

Good luck

Nice signature picture My favorite color

[C4Tom]

I thought those model years used coil packs.
A pack (or bank) of coils per 4 plugs. That may be why you see 2 'distributors'. I can't tell you anything else about them though.

These ain't my specialty so I'm just taking a stab in the dark. Sorry no big help.

As usual: Check for air, fuel and spark.

[gmjunkie]

Yeah,I do!! Check the Inertia Fuel Pump cut off switch on Inside of cab!!They get weak and some times just a small bump will kick them off!! I've even seen a Passenger barely kick them with there foot and shut them down!! Just Reset it!!:upthumbs P.S. A Thumping Stereo will kick them off too!!:D

[Chas]

ok...that switch seems ok i guess...not popped up...i can hear the fuel pump run when the key is turned....im changing the filter next...if thats not it, its going to the shop.Thanks for your help , junky i appreaciate the scan and post of the diagram, it was most helpful in locating the switch.
Chas:beer

[C4Tom]

Anything new to report?

Did you pull a plug and check for spark?
Did you pressure test the fuel rail?

I found this info on the 'net:
Problem: Cranks but won't start.
Cure: Pinch off the fuel return line to check if it's leaking back down past the pressure regulator if it runs, thats your problem, replace the regulator.

[Chas]

Broken timing belt.:mad
Had fuel and spark....took it in before vacation and it needs timing belt, main belt, intermeadiate pully. i can get it after work today for $360 .
Thanks for the help gang!
Chas:beer

[C4Tom]

Awww that sux! Well, you probably coulda fixed that for under $100. ;LOL

Sorry man... been there, done that. Glad you got it going.

[Chas]

:confused
uhhh, thanks i guess.

[C4Tom]

Sux that it cost $360 to fix. If we could have helped you figure it out, it might have only cost about $100 in parts to fix it yourself. Anyway, glad you got it going.

[JHL]

Presumably the shop will compression test the motor after fitting the new belt ??? Had one go on a Ford overhead cam engine and it did all sorts of damage, several bent valves, pistons with gouges and some damage to a couple of the valve seats.

Not sure about your particular engine but unusal that there is no other damage so I would ask the question.