Ranger cranking but not starting

[RollaRanger]

My ranger is turning over fine but will not start. Yesterday it did the same thing but 2 hours later went out to try again and it started right up. Drove the rest of the day with no starting problems. Got up today went to start it and it wont start again. It is cranking fine and I can hear the fuel pump when I turn the key. Any ideas?

[88fivespd]

The first thing you need to do is determine if you have an ignition problem or a fuel delivery problem. When it won't start check to see if you are getting spark through the spark plug wires when cranking the engine. I suspect it is an ignition problem, more specifically one of your ignition components is temporarily dying. I have no hands on with the Ranger, so hopefully one of the other members can help you after you determine if you have an ignition problem or a fuel delivery problem. IMPORTANT: Also list what year your ranger is.

[Moostang]

Last time I had random problems starting it was because a bering had dropped out the bottom of the distributor, making the shaft wiggle around, so sometimes it would start, sometimes it wouldn't. The way we figured that out was after lots of frustration we pulled the distributor and noticed the shaft had to much movement.

If it was only when hot, I would say some electronic part was on its way out, but what I would do is next time it doesn't want to crank check to see if you have spark.

[RollaRanger]

It is a 1994. Ok, so how do I check for a spark? I know... stupid question

[Moostang]

The safest way would be to buy a tool that is supposed to light up when you get spark, someone mentioned it earlier that it is cheap and a lot of tool stores have it.
Like this Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

I wouldn't recommend the way a guy I knew used to do it, he shocked the "you know what" out of himself when he found out the car did have spark

[Moostang]

You know I just had a "duh" moment out in the garage, use a timing light to check for spark. That part that clips onto the wire on plug #1 flashed based on spark. If you don't have one, you will want it to check your timing if you happen to pull your distributor, but most people have them, if you don't check with a friend or neighbor.

[RollaRanger]

Ok, I will try that. So weird... I just tried to start the truck today, after it has sat for a couple of days, and it started for just a few seconds and died. It did it twice. Does that mean it is getting a spark.

[Moostang]

It could be intermittent spark. When it dies, check the spark coming from the distributor to the plug, if you don't get it there, check the wire that goes from the coil to the distributor, that will help you narrow down if it is a coil or distributor issue.