OK. I have an 88 ranger with a 2.3. On Tuesday morning I went out to start my truck to warm it up as usual. It started and I went back inside. I can usually hear it running while inside but noticed that I couldn't hear it; It had died. Now it wont start. I have spark and I have fuel. It will turn over but wont start. Occasionally it sounds like it tries to start while turning over but still never starts. So far I have replaced Spark plugs, wires, distributor cap, rotor, and coil. I took the Ignition control module to get it tested and it passed. If I knew what I was fixing I would have no problem with working on it all weekend but just screwin around with shit not knowing the problem is really starting to piss me off. This is my only vehicle and I need to get this fixed so I can go about my life like normal again. If anyone has any idea what could be causing this it would be great.
Thanks, Jeff

Sounds like you hit every part of the ignition. I'm stumped. Hopefully someone chimes in. Either way good luck dude.

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you might want to try the starter solinoid, if its a stick have some one push in the clutch, then take a screw driver across the two posts. and check the wires and the relays if it has any, it worked on mine but its a 2000

and also check the altnater and the wires that lead to it

are you sure you have fuel? can you hear the pump when you turn the key on? if so go over all of the ignition parts again, the plugs are in the order? i tend to think it is a fuel problem, is the air filter old? i have seen filters bad enough that the motor cant breath

long shot but it dose happen... pop the dizzy cap and try to twist the rotor .. is should only move about 1/8 inch...

sometimes thick oil will over load the gears on the aux shaft and dizzy, the teeth will break off...

if you can not twist it.. spin it over and watch the rotor, if good it will move smoothly, if bad it will skipp and jump around

I'm surprised no one has asked if he has a standard tranny? if so try coast starting it if it runs then it's starter issues.

it turns over fine so it is not the starter. you said it try's to start. that would rule out the TIMING BELT. Pull the wires of the air bypass and see if that does anything. clean the air bypass see if that does anything. you said you have fuel. did you do a pressure test(88 are EFI right) pull the vacuum line of the fuel pressure regulater and see if it ihas fuel in it.

* as Jefferey said check your air filter and the intake makes sure nothing is blocking it.. on some of these ignition moduels you have to put all the screws back in becasue they act as grounds.

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2004 Ext Cab, 4WD, 4.0, Auto, 154k. (4.0 engine is out of a 2009 Ranger w/96k) ( as of 7/1/2017)

2004 Ranger, Ext Cab, 2WD, 3.0, 5 speed , 4WABS, crank windows, no cruise, Edge 116k.(6/5,2014) (SOLD).
1999 Ford Ranger, Reg Cab, 2.5, 5 speed, 2WD, no AC, 150k (SOLD).

If it's getting GOOD spark - HOT white/blue looking- and it's getting full shot of fuel then it's not getting enuff air OR not getting all 3 at the right time. Try checking timing marks on cam belt; it may have jumped a a few teeth if it was worn especially if it's the original belt. Also , on battery ground cable there is a dedicated ground for fuel pump that looks like an inline fuse holder- had mine work loose and made intermittent contact. This is presuming you have checked the oil for contamination of gas via a bad fuel pressure regulator; the oil level will be high and smell like gas. Check pressure on fuel bleed valve; connections on manifold air pressure sensor. Actron makes a code reader for $29 at Oreilly's. My 87 did a similar thing and it was bundle of vacuum lines had dropped onto exhaust manifold and melted thru along with the distributor spout connector wire. Good luck , man! It's almost always something simple.

My dad's 86 did the same thing. Hold the accelerator on the floor and hold on the starter. when normally it would just spit and act like it will start, it will catch and run extremely rough. if this happens it is almost certainly Fuel pressure regulator.

ive had so many problems with those kinda things with my old truck,
you could try: it may need a tune up, batteries may be dead, altinator problem, or it could be something with the starter. id look at the starter and make sure all the conections are good. charge your batteries. and see if there is any bad connections.
otherwise if none of those are the problem, im not sure what it would be.

dude you gotta read the post better. he said it would turn over fine eliminating battery alternator and starter. and im pretty sure he has the tune up covered

oh my bad i was in a hurry.

Thanks for everyones info. I checked out the timing belt and it was loose. Somehow the tensioner hold down bolt worked itself loose and it jumped a couple of teeth. I got it all set up right and it fired right up. just have to get the ignition timing set properly an I should be good to go. Again, Thanks a lot.