Have a 3.0 engine in a 1994 regular cab Ranger. G/F had it running in back yard, said it was running fine when she cut engine off. Went to start it next day and nothing, no turning over, checked battery...good. Finally diagnosed by pulling plugs, and turning crank over manually that engine would rotate to a certain point, then stop, reversed direction and it would again stop at a certain point. I'm thinking a valve dropped, or timing chain came loose. Going to pull valve covers this weekend and visually check valve train. Figured it would be least time consuming check, and if all looks good rotate crank and see if valves move meaning timing chain is still attached to cam. Are there any other possibilities it could be and has anyone else had a similar problem? If so what was causing it other than what I presume to have happened? Thanks for any feedback.

 

does it stop like it hitting something when you turn by hand or you can no longer turn it by hand due to compression?

 

Pull all the spark plugs then try to turn the engine over if it still stops the piston is hitting somthing. Let us know what you find and good luck!

 

my bad i didnt see this part. odd how it was running then the next day it wasnt.

 

Forgot to say that I had already pulled all plugs before turning ngine over by crank, sorry