Ford Ranger XLT, Standard Cab, 2-wheel drive
Year: 1991
Engine: 3.0L, EFI
Manual transmission

The engine cranks good, but does not start. There is no fire at all.

Back story:
I had a bad alternator, which I changed a week ago or so. After replacing the alternator, everything was back to normal...engine started and ran as it always had...a little rough.

So, I decided to change the distributor cap, rotor, plug wires, plugs, and coil, since they are all so cheap. After changing everything, it started and ran exactly the same as before changing everything. FYI, the old plugs on the passenger side had the electrodes missing, lol. I replaced the wires to match the exact order of the old cap.

Anyway, after looking at the manual, I noticed the wiring of the plugs was incorrect on the passenger side, so I fixed that, and tried to restart, but the engine would not fire. It would crank fine, but no fire.

Okay, so that is how I got where I am now.

Symptoms:
1. Engine cranks, but will not start. No engine fire whatsoever.
2. I can smell a small amount of fuel odor as I continue to crank it. This makes me think the fuel system is working, and I'm just getting a build up of unburnt fuel in the engine.

Fuel pump: I can hear the pump start like normal. I don't have a fuel pressure gauge, but I did press down on the Schroeder valve with the key on, and fuel sprayed out. I may run down and get a gauge later to test it.

Spark: I tried grounding the plugs on the driver side and saw spark while cranking. I can't really tell if the spark is strong enough to ignite the fuel, but it doesn't seem like it would take much.

I have spark and fuel, so why won't 't it start?
I tried squirting a little fuel into the intake while cranking, and still no engine fire.
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1991 Ford Ranger XLT
3.0 engine
manual transmission
2-wheel drive
standard cab

 

IF YOU ARE GETTING THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF FUEL, AND THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF SPARK, THE ONLY THING LEFT IS THE TIMING. MAYBE YOUR TIMING CHAIN JUMPED A TOOTH. HAS THE TIMING CHAIN EVER BEEN REPLACED? IS THE TIMING ADJUSTABLE AT THE DISTRIBUTOR?