Check the fuse for the cigarette lighter which is also the fuse for the Data Link Connector. If that fuse is blown then you can't pull codes.

You said you previously replaced the crank sensor. Did you also examine the harness and connector, looking for cracks, etc.? How about PCM harness connector located up at the firewall, have you pulled it apart and looked it over?

 

The fuse is good, the crankshaft position sensor connector was fine, and the harness is good. I put dielectric grease on it a few months ago.

 

How interchangable are the PCM? There is a U pull it junkyard, that has a lot of 4.0 Explorers but the numbers on their PCMs don't quite match the one I have.

 

There are two wires that come out of the distributor. Around those wires are supposed to be a rubber gasket like a seal. If that isn't there or the distributor isn't COMPLETELY sealed, then water can get inside of it and even the slightest moisture can cause it to not run. Check to make sure there aren't any bad seals or areas where water can get in. Take the cap off and dry off te nside of it and the area around the rotor. If this is the cause the engine will act the same way as bad timing, or as if it doesn't get any fuel at all but will turn over. I had the same problem with my 67 f100 w/ a 429.

By the way how do you start a new thread? Ican't figure it out.

 

It doesn't have a distributor. Look for the New Thread icon above the list of messages. Click that and you will be able to start a new topic.

 

i havent read through all of this thread, but seeing the title brings to mind a issue i had with my '88 2.3 ranger, was running fine, had a recent tune up even, then one rainy day at work it wouldnt start to bring me home. flat-towed it 30 miles and brought it into the barn. cranking it over in the barn reveled all sorts of spark-jumping. seems i had bad plug wires, and i had just put a set on.

 

I had it towed to the dealer yesterday. They called me and said it needed a battery and the old one wouldn't hold a charge. Ok fine I probably killed it trying to diagnose it. They just called and said the temperature sensor and thermostat is bad and that they have to pull the upper intake manifold. Since the service writer wasn't interested in the back story, I think they missed something and the damn thing finally dried out. They saw that the problem is a hard fault and won't let it start.