I would like to know about setting the timing on my ranger, I know it is to be set at 10 degrees BTDC, but it dos'nt seem to have a electronic timing advance or vaccum advance that I can find. I just bought this Ranger and it seems to have poor performance and poor gas millage (14 MPG on the highway as checked this last weekend) I have replaced the plugs, wires, rotor, rotor cap already. I did run it this last week end at TDC so that is part of the problem I am sure. It has electronic fuel injection so I think it did some auto adjusting for the 10 degrees the timing was off by. my haynes manual speaks of a crankshaft timing sensor that I can not find near the timing marks on the shaft (manual said it is on the v6 models) I have not been able to locate the electrical plug that plugs into the sensor either. (Now the guy that I bought this from said that the engine had been rebuilt a couple of years ago, I wounder if they never reinstalled the timing sensor or if this v6 never had one. Does anyone know if all 2.9 L had a timing sensor. If they do require one than that is most likely my problem on gas millage and performance. I also have a leak at crossover pipe and the first cat. It would seem maybe the cats are plugged. I had a 1986 Ranger 2.9 L 4x4 a few years back and it always ran great with much better performance and gas millage. Any ideas hear. I noted after reading a few things in this forum that their is talk of a timing plug, is that the sensor or something else completely? I also have pacesetter headers that I had purchased for a 1986 Ranger I have since sold, does anyone know if they will fit my 1987 Ranger, and were can I get some hints on installing them without breaking off the header bolts? Since the motor was rebuilt a couple of years ago it would appear that the rust on the bolt heads are at a minimum and that a little added heat to the stock exhaust manifolds and heads may make the job a bit easier? What type of penitrating oil would you use to get the job done? I would appreciate any help you might offer, thanks again.

To check your timing, pull out number one plug. Stick your finger over the hole. Have a buddy "bump" it over until your finger pops off. This will set the crank and #1 piston to TDC. Then take off the cap and see were number one is and turn cap accordingly.

If the cap is way off, then just rotate the wires forward or back one spot then turn the cap. This way you wont have to pull the distibutor out.

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Thanks, I did have the distributor out of the vehical and did find TDC with a compression tester and big wrench to turn her over until I found TDC, I do have timing set at TDC, so I will change that to 10 Degrees BTDC tomorrow and see how much that helps. It would seem that unless the computer advances the timing as needed by some other sensor, I am missing the timing sensor I believe. There is a small round mounting bracket (it appears) that has nothing on it right near the timing light marker. I checked both sides of the wheel and can not find anything that appears to have a timing sensor plug, check the wiring for a timing plug also can not find anything like that. I think maybe when this was rebuilt, they may have pulled the motor and removed the timing sensor. Not sure, I do know that all cars, trucks have to have a means to adjust timing advance, not sure how this is done on this Ranger, can not find a vac line to the distributor either. Have any other suggestions?

you have to pull the SPOUT connector before you set the timing. looks like this:



10 degrees BTDC is what it should be set at.

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hey thanks, I will look for that, is it in the wiring harness on the passangers side? or do you know were it would most likely be found?

I did find out that the advance is controled by the EMC and that the distributor includes the item that sends the advance time signal to the EMC modual. I will look for the spout (stands for Spark out) I believe, I remember reading something about it in my haynes manual.