after a long day of working on my truck (85 ranger 2.3 5 speed) i started it up to find that i had somehow developed a problem worse than any i was trying to fix. over the course of the day i: changed the fuel pressure regulator and coil, removed and cleaned the upper intake manifold, and removed the fuel rail to check the resistance on the injectors. after all this it started right up, but a ton of white smoke started pouring out of the exhaust. still, i took it for a test drive and unknowingly broke a couple wires that were wrapped around the steering column extension under the hood. i repaired some of the wires, but a couple things i could not fix were: a sensor (looks like some sort of heat sensor, i know it is not the air intake temp sensor) mounted on the driver's side perpendicular to the upper intake manifold right where the two pieces of the manifold bolt together (near where i replaced a "plenum" gasket), also i broke a wire that was in a connector that didnt go anywhere, it just had a little loop on the end of it, and another wire coming back out parallel to the broken one. so i just twisted the two wires together and took the connector off altogether.

now, the truck will not start at all. there is spark at every cylinder. there is a strong smell of gas in the garage, and the plugs are dripping with gas when removed. i took the plugs out, replaced them, and let the cylinders sit without plugs in order to evaporate any gas that may have accumulated in there. after a couple hours i replaced the plugs and the engine seemed like it wanted to start, but didnt. the plugs were again covered in fuel. i know there is spark, i know there is fuel, but the truck wont run... what to do?

 

I'm not much of an expert on fuel injection. However, it sounds kinda obvious to me that something is "telling" your EFI to inject maximum fuel volume & pressure, as if the throttle was wide open. I would logically assume that one of the damaged electrical wires or connectors has something to do with it. If you can find someone who knows exactly how to put these wires back the way they belong, I bet it starts up. I wish I could give you some details. So sorry.

 

I would have to agree, the only other thing would be a clogged fuel return which would give you VERY high fuel pressure. Sorry but I'm not familar with the engine/sensor layout of the 4 bangers.

 

Hey rangerman, have you had any success???????