i have a 88 ranger(04 jasper engine rebuild) that is running smoothly then all of a sudden stops running while going down road. depending on fuel consumption it back fires. i took Igniton contil module to auto zone. tested good. 5 of 5 times. sometimes when this happens, its hard to restart. other times not. tested my coil it olhmed good and tested for spark at the distributor cap and it had it. veeified that ll connections arent corroded for icm and coil. i am planning on selling truck but cant at its current state
my questions

1 during operation cn the coil act up

2. ignition control module tested good 5 out of 5 times without heating up. since intermitent how can i rule this out

 

Welcome to the forum

2.3l or 2.9l engine?

Fuel filter is clogged up or fuel pump is on its last legs, i.e. not enough fuel is getting to the engine, once reserves are used up engine dies, until more fuel gets to engine
1997 and earlier Rangers with fuel injection run with 30psi pressure at the injectors, there is a test port on the engine, it looks like a tires air valve, because it is, a schrader valve, and it works the same way, push in on center pin and it releases pressure, but BE CAREFUL!!!, there is gasoline in there which doesn't mix well with hot engine parts

Get a can of Quick Starter(ether)
Next time it dies spray some into the engine, if it restarts then Spark is OK, and fuel is the problem, so module is OK
If it doesn't start then there is no spark so may be a module issue

 

its a 2.3 with a manual fuel pump. truck doesnt sputter or act like ita not getting fuel. just moving on and then instantly and abruptly dies. thanks for response. is there any way to check manual pump.

 

Mine would do that and it was always the Duraspark module. Sometimes they would still test as good at Vatozone. I always carried one or two spares with me. Also, when it died and I'd pull over, it wouldn't always restart. If I pulled the connectors apart and plugged them back together, it would restart immediately.




GB :)

 

duraspark module? is that different from ignotoon control module that is located on the drivers side fender

 

You have a rare, but not in a good way, Ranger, lol.

An 1988 2.3l with carb was rare, most 2.3l Rangers got Fuel Injection(EFI) in 1985, 2.0l stayed with carb until 1988

If distributor has a Vacuum advance then you have a DuraSpark system, if no vacuum advance then you have a TFI system
My bet would be Duraspark, since TFI was usually fuel injection only engines

Duraspark Module looks like this: http://www.therangerstation.com/tech...tionmodule.jpg

And yes these did cause issues as described when they got older, replacements are not very long lasting, no Motorcraft left, all "made in china" which don't seem to last

There is a conversion to HEI module which is more reliable and all around better, plus dirt cheap if you already have the DuraSpark distributor, cost is like $30 for the conversion
And very very simple to wire
Google: ford duraspark to hei conversion