(edit - MOD ... initial post removed; see below)
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Ford 2.3L with 312k miles has ignition problem
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Comedy (?) aside, my son was driving my 1997 Ranger 2.3 "Lima" with 312k miles. Told me it wasn't working, so we went and got him. I was able to start it and get it going, but it had a miss and would die or nearly die at stops.
I limped it home a couple of miles into the driveway.
Come along with me on a troubleshooting journey!
I limped it home a couple of miles into the driveway.
Come along with me on a troubleshooting journey!
Is the money light on? If not, I'd start with a compression test.
Anyway, little history on the Ranger. At around 270k, I put a junkyard head on it. This fixed a problem where it would die after you revved up the engine. Weird problem, seemed to be because of recessed valve seats and the lifters pumping up when you revved.
Just recently, it got a leak in the catalytic converter and I had bought a replacement converter pipe but hadn't put it in yet. So a noticeable exhaust leak. It was smelly when I drove it, but maybe that was because of the leak.
Just recently, it got a leak in the catalytic converter and I had bought a replacement converter pipe but hadn't put it in yet. So a noticeable exhaust leak. It was smelly when I drove it, but maybe that was because of the leak.
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That’s not the first thing to start with on a misfire diag. Needs to be hooked to a scanner and is it a designated cylinder or a multi cylinder misfire.
The check engine light was on, so I read the codes as soon as I got it home. P0303 - cylinder 3 misfire.
Something interesting about this engine is it has two spark plugs per cylinder.
Something interesting about this engine is it has two spark plugs per cylinder.
The misfire felt very regular to me, so I think it's just cylinder 3.
312k miles. Bad ignition would trip a code.
Regarding ignition, it has two coil packs - each one serves all four cylinders. So it's a robust setup with a lot of redundancy.
Here are some more clues. There is a damp area around the exhaust on cylinder #3. The oil looks clean. (This engine uses very little oil and the oil always stays clean.) Plenty of coolant in the radiator and overflow. Coolant looks good to me, not obviously contaminated.
Here are some more clues. There is a damp area around the exhaust on cylinder #3. The oil looks clean. (This engine uses very little oil and the oil always stays clean.) Plenty of coolant in the radiator and overflow. Coolant looks good to me, not obviously contaminated.
I got a compression tester and started last night, but I was being lazy and didn't remove all the plugs, so I don't think it told me much. Got about 125 on cylinder 3 and 2.
Today, I decided to do the compression test correctly. I removed all four plugs from the exhaust side, easier to get to than the intake. Shown below, #4, 3, 2, 1 from top to bottom.
Today, I decided to do the compression test correctly. I removed all four plugs from the exhaust side, easier to get to than the intake. Shown below, #4, 3, 2, 1 from top to bottom.
I like how the mod assumes a misfire is an ignition problem. 
Number three cylinder is on its way out.
Fixed it - number 3 cylinder is back "in" - the problem was not in the ignition system
????
I figured out the problem and fixed the truck. It's running like a champ now.
... And the problem was????I figured out the problem and fixed the truck. It's running like a champ now.
Come on take a guess??? Mine? Bad juju
Off the wall guess? A mousy chewed on the fuel injector working harness?
I was going to explain the steps I used to identify and solve the problem, but after moderator involvement I don't care to anymore.
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