I have a 1993 Ranger 3.0 v6 5 spd that shutdown and lost spark/fire. Truck shutoff while driving and before I came to a complete stop I got it fired back up using the key (may have been coincidence but it wouldn't start by "popping" the clutch and when I finally decided to try the key it cranked). Ran fine for another 3 miles or so and shutoff and will not fire at all. Changed ignition module (which tested bad), coil, cap and rotor and still no spark.. Also had a mini 15A fuse blown in the Power Distribution box under the hood that was not labeled and to the best of my research I found it to most likely be to the Alternator.. Replaced fuse along with everything else and still nothing.. Replaced all this along with the ecm several years ago because the truck was acting the same way it is now. Could it be the Distributor? Possibly Computer? And if so, what's the best route to take to test/find out the issue?!? TIA y'all!! Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

Welcome to the forum

1993 3.0l Vulcan spark system is the TFI ignition, it is a self contained system
Needs computer for "vacuum advance" but engine will have spark without computer hooked up.

So basically 3 parts
TFI module
Coil
Hall effect sensor, in distributor

So if you spray gasoline or Ether(quick start) into the intake the engine doesn't start up?
That's the ONLY WAY to test for spark.
Testing a plug or plug wire tells you nothing, worse than nothing because if you see spark then you think "sparks OK" when it might be out of Time with engine.

If you have tested that you have 12volts at the coil and TFI module with key on, and you have a new module and coil then yes most likely cause is the Hall effect sensor is not Pulsing, this sensor is the electronic "Points" for the system.
As the distributor shaft spins this sensor pulses so TFI module knows when to spark the coil
No pulse - no spark

 

Thanks, I will try that shortly. However, I just pulled the dist cap and turned the engine over and the rotor button is not spinning.. I'm assuming that this means the gears are stripped on the distributor.. what's your input on that?

 

Not stripped most likely, there is a roll pin that holds the gear to the shaft, it most likely sheared off.

Not common on Fords, on Chevy distributors it was more common.

Why it sheared off would be what you should figure out.
Distributor shaft bushings may have worn out making the shaft bind up.

Yes, if distributor is not turning then no reason to spark the engine, also in this engine oil pump would not be pumping oil if distributor is not turning, so you wouldn't want spark