Should be tight, hard to press in
No broken parts

 

Hard to press towards or away from the chain?

 

Away from the chain, its there to hold the chain tight

 

Tensioner isn’t stiff, Neither loose. But I can easily move it with my pinky finger.

Did a deflection test, twice both times had s yield of 5/16ths of an inch.

im waiting on a new timing kit to arrive in the mail. I would like to do the valve seals/cover gasket in the mean time.

Tdc for cam synchro is the marks on the gears?

Is there a way to keep pistons up without compressed air?

 

I think you mean keep the valves up
Yes, there is, I have used a smaller diameter rope, tangle free rope
I put piston down a bit then feed rope in thru spark plug hole, it will coil up, leave some rope out, lol, just have to say it
Then turn crank to push piston and rope up to hold the valves while you remove the Keepers, put a bungie strap on crank wrench to hold crank in place
Once done, lower the piston and pull out the rope
Repeat

Have extra Keepers, you WILL lose some, lol

 

Is the tdc markings on the crank and cam gear where I want it to be when I replace the valve seals?

 

No nothing to do with it, the rocker assemblies should both be off, so all valves are closed, so cam position doesn't matter, just pistons(the crank)
You can use a 8" or so wooden dowel that fits easily down a spark plug hole and use it to see where a piston is in its stroke, and going up or going down and then where its at on the way up, so you know when to feed the rope in
4.0l OHV has a 3.5" stroke(3.31"), so only moves 3.5" from top to bottom

 

So if the crank/cam gear marks are lined up, This doesn’t matter?

is it easier to tell if the valve cover is off, Which it is at this point.

 

It doesn't matter, for doing the valve seals, and yes the valve covers must be off to do the valve seals.

The crank and cam gears must be properly lined up to install timing chain.

 

Thanks for answering my questions about the valves.

Im already there with the crank/cam. Just waiting on the parts.

 

I decided to do all the top end gaskets/cam position sensor/syncro to while I’m in there.

Since I have the engine tore down to the block do you think I’ll be able to weasel the oil pan out of there through the front?

do I just replace the cam sensor with cylinder 1 at top dead sensor?

 

Replaced everything in the ignition system, fuel system, I have spark, fuel at the rail, compression 160-170 all the way around, new gasket kit, timing kit, new ecm. Egr valve, trans range sensor, crank sensor, cam sensor Truck still cranks but doesn’t start.

It burps while cranking, spark plugs are dry, And pats light flashes. The key lock cylinder that came with the truck isn’t the original, would that have something to do with it? I’m thinking it’s the pats system not being synced with the key.

 

If PATS(Theft) light is flashing with key on, then YES, 100%, its a PATS issue

Leave key on and wait 45-60 seconds, then Theft light will start to flash a 2 digit Code, it always starts with 1, followed by 1 to 6 flashes, then repeats

Codes are
11 Transceiver [transponder coil] not connected, or there is no power to it.
12 Transceiver internal fault.
13 No Key/no PATS key has been used to turn the ignition switch.
14 Incomplete key code received.
15 Invalid key code received.
16 CAN communications error.

In 1999 check fuses 19 and 25 in engine fuse box

1999 Ranger uses PATS Type B so has a separate PATS module above glove box that connects to the Engine Computer(PCM), if PCM doesn't get the "OK to START" code from the PATS module then fuel injectors will be disabled, spark still works, but no fuel will flow into the engine

The "transceiver" is an antenna ring around the ignition key slot, it is powered, and sends out a radio signal with key on
This radio signal causes the PATS key in the ignition to send out its UNIQUE 40bit ID number
That ID number is compared to the 3 or 4 ID numbers in the PATS module, these are the 3 or 4 Keys that came with the New Ranger
If a match is found the PATS module sends an encrypted code to the PCM which tells it to start fuel injectors

If no match is found or no key number is received then PATS module will start flashing the Theft light and will not send a code to PCM, so No Start


Changing the ignition key cylinder should effect anything IF you are using the same keys, if they are new keys then they would need to be added to the PATS Modules memory using a Laptop and Ford reprogramming software, like Forscan, for example

While its a rare occurrence, if you have 2 or more Ford vehicles with PATS keys and you have all the PATS keys on one small ring that can cause PATS antenna to get a garbled number if 2 or more keys are trying to send out their unique numbers at the same time
A lager key ring would solve that issue, so non-needed PATS key are farther away from antenna

 

Wow, thank you.

I ended up with 14 flashes. So incomplete key code?

I assume I need to reprogram my keys? Or do I have to get new keys/cylinder?

 

No, that would be code 15

I assume there is only the 1 Ford key on the ring?

And is there another Ranger key you can try for this vehicle or do you just have the 1 PATS key?

Your transceiver may be at fault or yes it could be a bad PATS key

The transceivers at not "coded" to the vehicle they can be swapped out

Looks like this part number F8SB-15607-AC will work for 1999 Ranger, and you can get these at wrecking yards, 1998-2001 Rangers, explorers and mustangs used the same part

You can do the transceiver swap which is why I suggest it, and you could take your PATS key to a locksmith and see if they can READ it to see if it is "OK"
Locksmiths can also CLONE a working PATS key
If your key is "readable", sends out a good number, the locksmith can cut a new Blank PATS key using your key as the pattern, and then WRITE your keys unique 40bit number to the new key, so PATS will recognize it as a Matching number, so its a CLONE of your "working" key, a working spare key

But if new replacement transceiver doesn't work you would need a Mobile Locksmith to come out with laptop and Ford software to cut and add new PATS keys to the system
Or tow the Ranger to Ford or a Locksmith

 

The keys I have are not the original keys, and I think they were synced with the old fried ecm.

should these keys work if the transceiver is bad?

 

I have two keys, neither work and both flash.

 

On the 1999 Ranger you can't just change the ECM(PCM)
In 1999/2000 Rangers the PCM and separate PATS Module are "married", they share a common encryption code, so to swap either out you need to get BOTH parts from another vehicle and the keys for that vehicle as well

2001 and up Rangers have the PATS "module" built-in to the PCM so its not as big an issue

So unfortunately unless you can get the PATS module that matches the "new" PCM you would have to tow the Ranger to a Ford dealer and have them "remarry" current PATS module to the new PCM, if they still do that

Read here, Replacing PCM only PATS Type B, which is what you have: https://my.cardone.com/techdocs/PT%2078-0004.pdf

 

Just so I understand, I can’t get new keys and have them programmed to the new pcm, or reprogram the current keys?

Could i I install a pcm that does not have pats programmed into it?

 

Correct, some one should not have sold you the 1999 PCM unless they also included the PATS module and keys with it

Yes, you should be able to use a 1998 4.0l PCM that matches transmission type, 2WD or 4x4 doesn't matter
In 1998 PATS was "optional" on Rangers but never ran across one

Can't use 1997 or older, fuel pressure issue

Can't use 2000, because it also needs PATS module, and 2001 and up have different speedo and transmission setup

So pretty much 1998 or bust, lol

1999, and most 2000 Rangers didn't have the Starter Interrupt Relay unless it was part of an active alarm system, which is why you can crank the engine even though PATS Theft light is flashing

 

I ordered the ecm through advance, who gets it through cardone. would it be possible to reach out to them and get keys for the ecm?

is there a way to bypass the pats?

 

The keys are not the issue at the moment, because the keys are for the PATS Module NOT the PCM in this case

You can ask for a refund, or an exchange for a 1998 PCM, but they will probably want a VIN for a 1998 4.0l Ranger

No, no way to by-pass PATS, which is the point of a GOOD anti-theft system

You can check with Local Speed Shops to see if they can, or know anyone local that can, program Ford PCMs
because PATS test can be deleted from a PCM, so it won't care if PATS module sends it an "OK to start" message

 

If I were to return it, Could I swap it with the company for one that comes with keys?

How much do you think it would be to have a ford dealer “marry” it?

 

The keys may be an issue for you but its not THE ISSUE at this time
So getting another PCM with matching keys, which by the way NO ONE SHOULD SELL for a 1999 or 2000 Ranger because of the separate PATS module, lol, won't help

Call local Ford dealer and ask, they may say NO, or give you a 1.5 hour shop time quote, which is about right, I think it was 1.5hours to do the swap and remarry

 

After everything I’ve done, including reprogramming keys/module initalization the truck will still not start. It won’t crank in park but will crank in neutral.