Hi everyone. I have a 2002 Ford Ranger, V6, 3.0 Liter. I can;t locate the ignition control module. Please help.
Ty,
Larry

 

Welcome to the forum

2002 Ranger 3.0l has no ICM(ignition control module), last year for those in any Ranger was 1994
In 1995, and up, Rangers got the new Computer(EEC-V) that did spark and fuel both

Your spark system has the Coil Pack, spark plug wires and spark plugs, and uses a Crank Sensor and Cam sensor to time spark and injectors, via the Computer

With key on you should see the CEL(check engine light) come on, that means the computer has booted up OK
When you activate the starter motor you should see the CEL go OFF once engine is spinning, that means the computer is getting a good timing signal from the Crank Sensor and will start spark and then injectors
If CEL stays on then no timing signal and no spark or injectors

 

Hi Ron, Ty for the reply. I picked up a crank sensor and put it on today. No luck. Currently the truck will not start. It turns over. I verified it has spark. The last thing I did to it was replace the fuel filter Monday. I let it run for about 15 minutes and turned it off. I came out the next day and it would not start. The Check Gauge light is on. I don't remember seeing that before. Here is a list of everything I have replaced:
Throttle Position Sensor
Fuel Filter
O2 Sensors; 2 upstream and 1 downstream
Spark Plugs
Air Filter
Mass Air Flow Sensor
Idle Air Control Valve
PCV Valve

The CEL does come on. I goes off wile cranking and comes back on after engine is done turning over.
Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.
Ty,
Larry

 

Have to ask...................is there gas in the tank, chased my tail a few times from bad gas gauge or lying friends, lol, "of course there is gas in the tank", then under their breath "well pretty sure"

 

Ty Ron. Yes, there is gas. I'm going to pull the filter off to make sure it is pumping good. I can hear the pump come on when I turn the ignition on. I'm also going to pick up a cam shaft sensor. Cheap part and easy to replace.
I'll keep you posted.

 

Ron,
I replaced the cam sensor. No fix. I pulled the new fuel filter out to check the stream out of the tank. When I turned it over, it started. I had picked up another new filter yesterday. I guess they gave me the wrong filter at the store. I did notice it was larger than my old one. The vehicle did run for a about 10 minutes on Monday after I putt hat filter in. Very strange.
Sounds like its running great. It should, lol. I replaced almost every sensor in that engine.
Thanks again for all your help.
Larry

 

Not quite understanding now

So its running OK?

Or it ran OK for 10 min then back to no start or rough running?


Also, now-a-days there is a 20% chance a new sensor(or part) will be bad out of the box or die soon after install
So if you install 5 new parts you are at 100% that one will be bad, lol

Spark plugs and wires are OK to change and really don't count in the above

 

Sorry for the confusion. Yes it is running good now.
Looks like it was the fuel filter. They gave me wrong one at parts store.
Ty,
Larry

 

Is it possible that you installed the first filter (wrong one) back wards?

 

It is possible. The filter has 2 inputs from the tank, and 1 going to the engine. The hoses would fit on either input coming from the tank. The correct filter is keyed so the hose will only fit on one input.
It's running good now except for losing oil pressure intermittently...

 

Ron,
So now I am losing oil pressure intermittently. The oil pressure needle drops to zero and the "Check Gauge" light comes on. This is not constant.
I'm assuming oil pump or partially clogged oil pickup screen?
Ty,
Larry

 

More likely the oil pressure sender
If you were actually losing oil pressure you would HEAR the valve train "ticking" like crazy, can't miss it

Bit of a pain to change the oil pressure sender on a 3.0l
It is behind the passenger side head on the block next to the bell housing
Picture here of the REAR of a 3.0l engine when its out of the Ranger: https://www.ranger-forums.com/attach...h-dscn0413.jpg

In the center is the cam synchro and sensor, off to the right is the oil pressure sender, white connector, the cam sensor's plug is pointed at it

 

It was a pain. I got the oil sensor changed yesterday. No change. It will run for about 5 minutes, then the oil pressure needle drops and the Check Gauge light comes on.
I ordered a oil pressure testing gauge to verify if the oil pressure is indeed dropping or just a false reading.
Not sure what else it could be other than the oil pump.

 

So after oil heats up pressure is dropping below 6psi
The cut off for the oil pressure switch is 5.5psi on paper, so its grounded at 6psi or higher, ungrounded at 5psi or lower

You will need to pull out that oil pressure switch again to put in a tube or Sender to see real oil pressure

 

So, I got my oil pressure testing kit in from Amazon the other day. I tried it today. I started the truck just to make sure my battery was not dead. I let it run for a minute. I pulled the new oil pressure sensor out and installed the testing kit adapter with gauge. The truck would not start. I thought maybe it was because it was missing the sensor. I removed the testing gauge and re-installed the oil pressure sensor. The truck still would not start. It is getting spark.
I looked around to make sure nothing came unplugged. I could not find anything. I'm at a loss.....

 

When was the last time you put gas in the tank? Old gas deteriorates.

 

The problem with the truck not starting was the inertia switch or fuel cut off switch. I guess me stepping on the bumper caused it to trip. I got that figured out.
I did a oil pressure test yesterday with a mechanical gauge. It was fine then slowly started dropping as engine got warm. By the time the engine was at full temp, the oil pressure was at Zero.

 

You will need to replace that inertia switch, truck has been in an accident that caused it to "trip" previously, and it was just reset, which is a temporarily thing, but at least you know where to look when it happens again

Have you swapped in another oil filter, since you got the low reading, even a cheap one just to see if that's the issue