never even crossed my mind! lol, thanks pawpaw, will try that!

 

ok, I have codes and unless I am reading them wrong, appear to be mostly transmission. Anyway, the codes I get are 63, 67, 89, 86...I have not yet figured out what the other pulses mean but after a pause, I get (in the number of flashes) 1,5,1,5,4,6,3,5,1,5,4,6,3 and then the light stays out, what's this mean?

 

Have you check the ground wire to the PCM ?

 

I believe so, there are 2 big (10 gu) wires that connect by the battery and one that bolts to the inner fender by the battery, all the other ones appear to be connected as well (Driver side cylinder head to body and neg battery cable to the block in 2 or 3 places)...funny thing is, with the alternator hooked up the battery drains over night but with it unplugged it is fine...this thing is a piece of junk in my opinion.

 

Sounds like shorted diode/s in the alternator recitifier bridge, if it's discharging the battery overnight.

Take this puppy by the likes of Advance Auto or AutoZone & let them check the alternator undrer load on the vehicle.

 

On my 95 there is a ground wire coming out of the wireing harness close to the PCM,and grounded to the body at the back fire wall,about a foot from the PCM,check if yours has this and be sure it has good connection. I've heard that a bad ground can cause all kinds of funky codes.

 

I don't see any other ground wires, but can anyone tell me the correct firing order for a 1990 Ford Ranger 2.9? It sounds like it is missing here and there now
so I want to verify the firing order but I can't find the print out I had. Thanks!

nevermind, 1-4-2-5-3-6... right?
and also verify that the passenger side bank is 1-2-3 and the driver side is 4-5-6. I am 99% sure it is, but just want to make sure. Thanks!!

 

You have it correct in both cases.

 

I give up, I have less than a 1/2 ohm of resistance on all grounds to the computer, all the injectors are firing correctly, I cleaned and inspected each plug, all hitting good, verified distributor timing and chain timing. Checked and rechecked valve clearance. Everything seems to be well within optimium start up setting. I have been an ASE certified master mechanic for over 15 years at the GM dealership and have redone many stock and high performance engine rebuilds and mods. I have a great knack for putting engines together and having them run near perfect on the initial turn of the key. But this Ford is the biggest piece of crap I have ever run across in my life. I would love to get my hands on a cheap 2 bbl intake and carb setup for it so I could just get rid of it. Who ever heard of such a thing??? Good, fresh fuel at 37 psi, good spark, good compression, all injectors dead nuts timing and no start unless I dump fuel directly into the manifold then it runs great. I am going to go check fuel quality in hopes of finding a little water in the tank....

 

Are the plugs wet after you try starting it. I'm thinking the PCM is firing them but no fuel is coming out for some reason.

 

Code 63 is a TPS code, have you checked that?
The transmission codes might indicate you have a safety switch preventing you from starting up, I don't know much about it though.

You can check to see if the injectors are firing with a stethoscope, you'll hear a clicking sound I think.

 

I have not checked the TPS, I know there is a sweep voltage check, does anyone know what the correct procedure is? I think it is supposed to be .5 volts at idle but not sure what the readings should do through the sweep, the TPS seems a possible suspect. The transmission codes are all chiming in because it is not hooked up, the dude that took the truck apart didn't take ANY wires off the transmission when he yanked it out, so you can imagine the mess there, it still had the connectors on the transmission with the wires stretched and pulled apart with the wire retaining clip all bent up but still holding the connector onto the trans. He really done a number on it and the wiring harness for the engine had a handful of the same kind of stuff, luckily, the guy that owns the truck is a backyard mechanic at least and took the top end apart before asking this other guy to pull the engine and trans. I need another ranger to park right beside this one for comparison, that would really help, if anyone has a 90 ranger with the 2.9 AT setup, take some really detailed wiring pictures of the engine and email me with them, I would really appreciate that!
I apologize to the moderator who has to keep changing my post to read "Piece of crap" instead of what I really say!! I won't do that anymore! lol

By the way, the injectors are all clicking, have been from day one.

 

It should sweep up to between 4 and 5 volts,the referance volts to it should be 5.0v