Hello All & Happy Holidays, :-X12

I received a couple of responses on my initial post, but I have some questions and need more help...so PLEASE respond!

(Thank you to those who have responded, and those who are considering providing more, much needed, expertise.)

After reading all this, tell me, do you think that perhaps the alternator is either a) going bad, or b) someone put the wrong alternator in the truck? Any other ideas, thoughts would be wonderful! I need this clunker to run so I can get to work!

Okay, so here's where I'm at...so far I have done the following to my truck (1985 Ranger, 2.0 engine):

Replaced: carburator, fuel filter, fuel pump, plugs, wires, cap, rotor, distributor, coil, battery, pcv valve, adjusted timing...oil filter dipstick tube & dipstick.

The most recent thing was the distributor itself. I took it to one of those tune-up shops. They hooked it up to a diagnostics machine ($60.00) and told me the distributor needed replaced.

So, for a total price of $263.10, I had that done and the timing reset. The rest of the work I listed above I did myself. I could have done the distributor too, but I am sick of working on this truck...I just wanted the problems fixed, done & overwith.

When I went to pick the truck up, the guy said, "Runs and drives great...blah, blah, blah!"

I picked it up just as they were closing up for the night.

It didn't run or drive great. So I took it back.

The guy then said there is a wire which runs between the starter solenoid and coil to the ignition switch. He said that wire was getting hot and that there was a 4-5 volt drop there. He replaced the wire. He also said the ignition switch, up in the steering column, had no transitions between turning it on and going from accessory to start. He took that out and cleaned and lubed it and now it does.

The engine itself sounds fine, however, the problem still remains...

When the going down the road and the lights/heater are on...chug, chug, BLAMMMMM KABOOM (backfires), chugs and DIES.

It loses power. If you put the lights on and you are going up a hill (requiring more power with lights/heater on), it dies after all the theatrics of chugging and backfiring.

ALTERNATOR??????????? OR?????????????????????

PLEASE, send your thoughts--I am at wits end with this !@#$%^!*!



Thanks!!

Red Ranger

 

Have you tested the fuel pressure and volume? It still sounds like a lean condition. You could have an obstruction in your tank or an inlet vacuum leak to the pump.

Also check the wire that was replaced. One of the wires in the ignition circuit is a resistor wire that is supposed to have a voltage drop across it and does get warm. It goes from the ign switch to the coil or a point in the wiring where it is spliced to the wire from the solenoid, then a normal wire continues to the coil. It sounds like the "mechanic" may have replaced this resistor wire which will cause your ignition coil and module to overheat and fail. If he did replace the wire I would suggest you get a new replacement wire from Ford and a new mechanic. Get your module tested also, they can burn up quickly.


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Thanks Eric!

At this point it looks like there is a short from my headlights that is causing all the chaos. Weird, huh? Everytime you turn on the headlights, it acts up. Shut them off and it runs fine!

I replaced the voltage regulator and alternator over the weekend.

Any ideas of common places to search for headlight shorts??????

Thanks again for your helpful suggestions... and yes, the "pseudo MECHANIC" was a knucklehead, so I have moved on...

 

I am assuming here that your headlights ~work.

Check your body grounds to the fender frame and cab. Make sure your headlights are grounded properly also.

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