First post please help a newbie

Hello,
 Thanks for taking the time to look at this. This is my first post and yes it's a problem..... My son has a 1990 Ranger 4x4, 5 speed with the 2.3 4cyl. I'm not sure if it matters but it has 8 plugs. I'm posting this because he has only had teh trucj for 2 months and has had nothing but issues. First the clutch goes out then numerous isses with that. After a week we got it back on the road. Then a couple days ago he's on his way home from work and the truck died on teh road. He thought fuel (pump or filter), he changed those out last night. we tried to start it got nothing but cranking. Then he decided that maybe it was the coils, we have a donor truck that the coils are brand new so he changed those. He worked on this thing for 8 hours after school yesterday and still don't have it running. Any ideas? What tells the coils to spark? is it the computer or is there something on the cam? Please any ideas will help...  

Verify the grounds are clean and have good contact.  If you have a bad (GREEN) ground, the CPU will not operate the injectors, thus no fuel delivery.  A way to verify is to check for spark.  You should have that.  Then if good spark, spray some fuel into the intake.  If the engine fires up and runs while spraying fuel into the intake, then you'll have to start chasing the ground.  Seen this several times over the years.

Pulled a wire from each side but didn't get a spark (lastnight) should we get a spark from the coils with the motor cranking? I know that you can do this on a ditributer motor but not with these coils. Thanks for the reply!

Just an update. My son changed out the coils, & plugs last night. We tried to start it but nothing but cranking. Tried to spray starting fuild into the throttle body but still just cranking. Removed one plug wire stuck a screwdriver in it and placed the driver to ground, didn't see any sparking. What drives the coils to spark? Is it the computer or crank sensor? We have both out of a donor truck, just don't want to take anymore time. He is working and going to school and trying to work on this after he gets home. We haven't gotten into bed until after midnight the couple days. We need help with this.

Even with coil packs, as long as the plug is grounded you should get spark.  If no spark you could have a bad Crankshaft Position Sensor.  If you have a scan tool and depending on the model of the scan tool you should be able to see if the scan tool dispays any RPM reading while cranking.  If no reading, then the Crankshaft Position Sensor is probably at fault.
 
The lowest price I have found for a crankshaft Position Sensor is here:
 
http://www.trademotion.com/partlocator/index.cfm?action=getLocatorKeySearch&siteid=213824&chapter=DN2022&catalogid=1&year=1990&make=10&model=Ranger
 
You have to pull the flywheel off to replace it.

"You have to pull the flywheel off to replace it"
What is the sensor on the front of the crank then? I was told that the crank sensor is the one on the front behind the crank pulley.

My bad...I meant to say front pully...Had a torque noise issue (Cracked Flywheel) on a 1989 Chevy stuck in my head.

NOT to bust your bubble but our web site is cheaper than the one you recomended
www.discountedgenuinefordparts.com
 

No problem...Can't find everything, just trying to help out.  Besides, I have no bubble.  Your price is $4 cheaper.  Is your shipping comparable for Bigboyky's sake?

Ok my son has done about all he can do at this point. We tried to get a spark but no go. So it looks like its the crankshaft sensor. Is there a test I can do with a multi-meter? If so what am I looking for? I've been working 12 hour shifts at work so I can't help much. These nights of going to bed at midnight is killing me. Thanks for all the help!  

Well heres an update. My son got the crankshaft sensor on and everything put back together. Still won't start. Any more ideas? Could a bad ground cause this but still allow the motor to turn over? I/he are at a loss on this. Would like somemore suggestions. Thanks 

Have you tried swapping the ECM with the one from the donor truck? If you have access to a professional diagnostic unit it should be able to static test, as I assume you have disconnected the battery by now and lost the original error code?? If not get a reader on it and try to get the code.

no he hasn't tried the swap.... Can you just swap those over? I know you can't with a newer one unless you can getthe dealer to flash it for you which they won't.

Still needng help on this one.

I've been out of town the last couple days. And we are still lost on this. My son has swapped over the Crankshaft sensor. And we still aren't getting anything. What gives the coils the signal to send a spark? Could the ignition module be bad? Is there a relay somewhere? I (at this point it's me) need some help here! Any and all ideas welcome! I know somwone on here can give me some direction..... Thanks!

to my knowledge the computer or ECM tells the coils to send spark to the plugs. but also as everyone else has stated, if its not properly grounded it wouldn't work either. is your donor truck the same? if its the same (engine type and whatnot) it should be a straight swap. assuming they are the same ignition of course.

Yes the donor truck is the same. We did swap the EEC them out but still nothing. This is why we are having so much of an issue. The coils, the crankshaft sensor, the ignition module, plugs & wires, changed over the relays, battery cables cause his were worn. It's hard for me to believe that a wire just broke while driving.   

I didn't read if the ICM was replaced.  The Ignition Control Module is what the coils plug into.  The ICM is what tells the coild to fire.  The ICM needs to have a good ground/ground surface.
 

I know this sounds really stupid and you have probably done this but there is a reset buttom on all rangers under the glove compartment in the passenger seat. A few months ago my boyfriend hit it and didnt realize it. We changd the fuel filter, nothing, fuel pump, nothing. Then had it towed to the shop and all they did was press the button. We spent alot of money for nothing but he thought he had tried the reset and obviously he didnt. Just a thought.