1997 ford ranger troubleshooting

[97ranger2wd]

I have a 97 ford ranger with the 2.3l 4cly, with 186,000 miles. I failed to do the timing belt and it went, but it's a non interferance motor. So I replaced it and it just hasn't been right. Hard start, spark knock, so I pulled the head and went through everything. There wasn't one cracked seat bent valve or ever a single mark I a piston. So I got all new gaskets and put it back together by the book. Same thing and I know I got the timing right because I went and got another ranger the same motor and did the the timing exactly how I did it on my other one and I've been driving it ever since. I've also replaced most everything, the computer, crank sensor, mass air flow, air change, throttle position and engine coolant temp sensor. Still the same thing, no power hard start and spark knock. I talk to one guy and said it might be a clogged car so I undid it right after the exhaust manifold still the same just loud now. So if anyone had any ideas please help I have gone through hell trying to figure it out. Thank you for reading -Jonathan

 

[Rick]

Hard to start and spark knock sure makes it sound like a timing issues...

 

[97ranger2wd]

The only thing is is that I did it exactly the same on my other 2.3 and it's running great, and I've also tried re doing the timing 12 times already and different ways and still nothing

 

[Rick]

Wish I had a good answer for you. That's a puzzler for sure...

 

[Tbars4]

..Have you tried checking for stored codes?

 

[97ranger2wd]

Yeah all it says is a misfire in cylinder 1 but I've already done all of the diagnostics for that and it keeps saying the same thing