Hello all, I have a 1997 Ford Ranger 2.3 basic model. It wont start and before i even turn the key to start it, you hear a pop which is my # 19 fuse in the cab fuse box. It says its the ignition coil and pcm system. I figure its a short but where do i start to look for a short. Visually i see no fryed wires, I ran the fuse boxes with multimeter and came up with nothing. Please if anyone else has encountered this or similar issues. I could use some help, Thanks.

 

Welcome to the forum

First thing to do is to pull out Fuse 19 in cab fuse box
Now turn on the key and test which connection for fuse 19 has the 12volts, thats the Power side of the fuse
Making the other connection the LOAD side, and the one you want

When you have the Load side IDed, change volt meter to OHM meter and put 1 probe on the Load connection and the other on a Ground, you should read LOW Ohms, showing a short

If you haven't used an ohm meter before its really simple, set meter to ohms, touch the 2 probes together, thats a short, should see 0 ohms
So fuse 19 load wire is connected to a ground somewhere, which causes fuse to blow
So testing 19 load connection to a ground will show low ohms, close to 0, when that "short" is removed ohms will go high

Now that you have a baseline Ohm reading you can start to unplug things and test if short goes away

There really are only 4 things to check, turn the key OFF
Unplug 1 coil pack
Test ohms, at fuse 19 load connection, ohms will go very high when short is gone
Unplug other coil pack
Test ohms

There is a radio noise suppressor, usually on one of the coil packs, looks like this: https://wholesale.tasca.com/graphics...Z18832BA/0.jpg
It will be plugged into a red/light green wire, unplug it
Test ohms

And last but not least, PCM relay and diode
Its in the engine fuse box

Go here to get 1997 owners manual: https://www.ranger-forums.com/genera...1-models-3747/

Page 225 has the engine fuse box lay out

Pull out the PCM relay
Test ohms

Pull out the PCM Diode
Test ohms

If you haven't found the short yet then its a WIRE that is shorted, not a device
All the load wires from fuse 19 are red with green stripe

My money is on a one of the coil packs, internal short


And just FYI, your 1997 2.3l can run on just one coil pack, running 2 spark plugs in each cylinder is done for extra power only, this 2.3l Lima engine ran just 4 spark plugs(and distributor) from 1974 to 1988 and worked just fine
So if it is a coil pack short leave it unplugged and put in a new fuse so you can drive truck to parts store

This is also a good way to check if all spark plugs are working
When truck is back up and running
Unplug one coil pack and start engine, if there is a miss then one of the spark plugs on that side is not working
turn off engine and plug coil back in and unplug the other one
start engine, see if there a miss using those 4 spark plugs

With both spark plugs firing you can't tell if both are working until BOTH have a problem

 

Hey great. I was going in the wrong direction on my search. Was thinking the swit
ch its self cause the truck wont run. I turn key in aux Mode and pop, you hear #19 blow then no crank no start. I ran the aux fuse box with ohm meter w/o fuses. In a couple house im gonna make come alive, alive i say. Or ill be back with more info on problem. Untill then have a blessed day

 

So hey ya'll me again still struggling with this fuse #19 blowing, but in axx it doesnt blow it blow when i change to run position, "POP" fuse blows but heater fans and heat work i believe lights works, it dings but no crank no, start. Iv look ever the wiring clusters. I think maybe a piece thats attached to my coil maybe broken?

 

Unplug that grey connector!!!!!!

That's for a condenser it is NOT a ground wire


Part that should be there looks like this: https://i.ebayimg.com/thumbs/images/...D5s/s-l225.jpg

It is attached to that screw but just to hold it no GROUND

Thats what is blowing your fuse 19

So unplug connector
Engine will run fine without the condenser, its there it prevent spark noise on the radio