I was driving the other day and stopped at a red light. While idleing, the truck died and wouldn't start. When you turn the key, it cranks and tries to start but won't. Some people have said it's either a fuel problem or ignition problem. It was almost on E, so I added fuel, same problem. My buddy looked at the spark plugs and said there was blue spark. He also checked the fuel filter when I turned the car on and it was getting fuel. To me, it sounds like it not combusting/firing. When you try to start it, you can smell fuel. By the way, I have little to no mechanical knowledge.

 

Welcome to the forum

When you have a no start, you did the right think FIRST........check that you have gas in the tank, lol, surprising how many times people are "sure" they have gas and don't
Add some gas to the tank and take that off the table first

Next is the 50/50 test
This will tell you if spark or fuel is the problem
Having a "blue spark" doesn't mean you have spark at the right time

Put some gasoline in a spray bottle or buy a spray can of Quick Start(ether)
In the engine bay there is a BIG air tube hooked to the engine, pull that off of the engine, usually need a screw driver
Open the throttle plate, i.e. put something on the gas pedal or have someone press gas pedal down
Spray fuel into the engine
Try to start engine

If it starts up and then dies fuel is the problem
If it doesn't start up then spark is the problem
50/50

Now with the 2.3l Lima engine there is one more thing, it uses a timing belt and these break, doesn't hurt the engine, but it will no longer start
When you do the 50/50 test and engine doesn't start then it could be timing belt problem OR spark
If timing belt broke, engine may "sound funny" when cranking, maybe a lope you didn't notice before.
You can often see the timing belt behind the edge of its cover plate.

In this picture: 0820111050.jpg Photo by col_sanders2 | Photobucket

Just in front of the oil filler cap is the timing belt cover, the black hump
See if you can see the cam gear or timing belt, and have someone crank the engine while you watch it, it it is not turning with the engine then belt has broken.

Also in the picture the air cleaner and cover have been removed, on the left, and with it the BIG air tube that connects to the top center of engine, which is where you want to spray the fuel for the 50/50 test

 

Ok, so I put starting fluid in the intake, and it didn't work. One ignition coil was getting spark but the other one wasn't, so I replaced that. I replaced the fuel filter and a new battery. I rented a fuel gauge and I'm getting 40psi at the shrader valve when I try to start the truck. Alas, the truck still won't start. Any suggestions?

 

Only the Exhaust side Coil Pack and spark plugs will be working while starter motor is on.
Intake side coil and spark plugs don't start up until engine RPMs are above 400(engine started)

No start after adding fuel manually to the engine means spark or compression issue, so you can ignore fuel issues now.

1991 2.3l uses a Timing Belt, and these wear out, they can break or stretch and slip, this can prevent engine from starting.

Remove spark plugs from #1 and #2 cylinders just 1 from each, easiest ones to get at.
Crank engine
You should hear very loud "Whooosh" when each cylinder gets to its compression stroke
If possible borrow a compression gauge
2.3l should come in at 170psi, but above 150psi is OK
Any engine needs 100psi or higher to start cold


1991 2.3l engines used an ICM(ignition control module), it is located on the front side of intake manifold facing radiator, it gets RPM from Crank Sensor and times the spark to the coils with that info, over time these did need to be replaced, but most autoparts stores can test them.
When you test spark, on exhaust side, do you get repeated sparks as engine cranks, or just 1 spark?
you should get 1 spark per RPM so lots of sparks with engine cranking a 100RPM