I have an 86 Ranger with the V6 Fuel Injected engine. The truck normally will start with just a bump of the starter, even after weeks of sitting. Today, I hauled dirtbikes to go riding, and on the way back my gas tank was down to about 1/8 tank. I stopped and filled up the truck, bikes, and gas cans. The truck started up great, as usual.



Well, I get about a mile down the road, and the engine cut off as if I had turned the key off. I pumped the gas pedal when I noticed the power drop, and didn't even get one spit or sputter from the engine. I pulled into a parking lot, where I began trying to diagnose the problem.



Of course, the first things I checked for was fuel and spark. Seeing as how I had very limited tools, it was much easier to check for spark first. That seems to be the problem. I'm getting ZERO spark comming out of the coil. I got a friend to bring me a new coil, and still nothing.



So, something's telling the coil not to fire. I put a meter onto the wires that hook to the coil. When the engine cranks, I get something like 14.9 volts between those two... not sure if it should be that or not. I'm thinking yes.



There's a fusible link right near the master cylinder, and it checks out good. There's also some odd looking thing that is on a green wire. It comes out of the wiring "loom" just behind the AC compressor, and re enters it after the odd looking block. It looks like both ends of it go toward the engine. What is this thing?

I checked to make sure that the distributor is turning, and it is. I guess it's a habit I got from working on engines with timing belts.

Do these trucks have crank angle sensors in the distributor? Where's the ECU? Any other ideas you all think I should check?

This truck needs to get fixed fast or I will have to pay a hefty towing bill, since it's about 30 miles from my house.

 

So does the starter turn over?

 

the ecu is behind the kick panel on the passenger side of the truck, so say if you were the passenger in the truck, pretty much right beside your right foot is the ecu behind that panel. but check your ignition module, check all your wiring, pretty much anything electrical, theres a fuse panel under your hood on the left side, check all your fuses in there, even if they look fine, just try switching a couple around just to see, as in, us a 20 amp fuse from another spot to check for one type of thing

 

I had to think back to the old days when I had another American made vehicle....and it led me to the Control Module, otherwise known as TFI, I think. It was $30 to buy one, and had to pay $5 for a tool to get it off. After putting it on, the truck started up great as usual!! Thanks guys!