1994 ranger. 2.3 engine. 8plug model. Dead miss in number 2 cylinder. Changed the plugs, wires and coil pack. Still a dead miss. If the person I got the truck from broke the timing belt while the engine was running would that damage the head or valves in any way?

that post makes little sense.
#5 and 6 means what? add 1 noun please.
spark is good to all 6 cylinders.
no fuel out of all injectors.
THe ECU spark the spark plugs
and if the ECU sees gross spark errors it cuts fuel ,hard pure logic in the ECU does that and by law
ever to the 1994 ECU DTC diagnosic jumper flash code tests
in the service manual>

this is a gasoline engine (petrol Otto cycle rules) and as such
engine must be good first. 150psi compression x6 is good
and next is spark good on all 6 , not just 1,
how many spark coils are there, 1994. (spark tech changes fast then)
the 4.0 has 6 lug HV terminal coil pack and must not be wired up wrong because this coil pack as 3 coils inside, called wasted spark
and if wired wrong 2 or 4 or more spark plugs fail for firing order.
and time. they still spark but at the wrong time.
not the distributor version but is DIS system.I am taking, vin X

Vin -8th = X 4.0, no distrib.
if engine was good, and spark was good even a fully dry fuel TANK
test fuel works now, (spray instant starter fluid) for 3 seconds. each try.
i bet yours fails that test. or sounds horrible misfiring badly.
crank senors dead
cam sensor dead. (cam shaft synchronizer, seen where old disributor was older year) either sensor dead, FUEL IS CUT by LAW.



do not mix up the wires or doomed misfire grossly.

check the ignition coil for that cylinder

its a 2.0L V6 called the h20 engine
in some countries, this engine uses a coil pack with 1 coil per
2 cylinders, this magic is called Wasted spark.
some have 3 coil packs for 6 cylinders
others have 1 huge pack with 3 coils inside.
what you have , im totally clueless, (no country stated, dig?)

but no matter, the pack is bad, or the wire that is FINE, is not FINE
no human on earth can test a HV wire, no body.! ( 1 out of 4 sure)
that is fact, (sure if opened) but what about the other modal failiures.
1: insulation breakdown.
2: resistance wrong, (say too high)
3: intermittent.
4: dead open, anyone can test this, its a no brainer. if ever.

this fact is why the 60k mile tune up, will fix it. new wires.
new HV wire set, I run NGK MAG wires, they last 2x longer.
easy.

no only that. with wasted spark , the other plug in the loop can cause your dead plug to be dead. and its wires too.
that is because it is a LOOP

if both plugs are new and both wires are new
then the coil is bad.
coil packs are usually way more expensive that $2.49 spark plugs
or $20 wires.

A quick way to check the single coil pack if you know for sure which cylinder is miss firing and its setting a code you can swap the coil pack to another cylinder and see if the miss changes from one cylinder to another. If it travels to where you moved the coil then the coil is bad,if not you have other problems.

I would want to know if you have normal compression on all 6 cylinders, and if the other 5 are firing correctly.
Usually when you pull a wire and the engine smooths out, you have another cylinder miss going on at the same time.
How many trouble codes do you have in the computer ?

Go to a local Napa, or Shucks automotive store and ask for the computer to plug into your vehicle and have it give you codes. Take those codes to the employee at which ever automotive store you went to and he'll tell you what issues you have.

If the two dead cylinders are close together,then the head gasket may have blown out in between them.See if the timing has jumped.If it has a coil pack,the the coil pack may not be firing the two dead cylinders.

You have coved all angles i would have looked at maybe it has droped a valve?

1. You need to verify that the spark plug wires are indeed going to their proper cylinders and not crossed.

2. You need to check all the cylinders for the ability to achieve full compression. I had a vehicle that had a Engine Miss code on the OBDII computer and couldn't find any reason for it until we checked the compressions and found 1 cylinder had none which was causing the code to appear.

Good Luck
Rich Lilja

1991-1994 2.9L and 3.0L Engines Firing Order 1-4-2-5-3-6 1995 And Later 3.0L V-6 With DIS Ignition System Firing Order 1-4-2-5-3-6
4.0L Engines Firing Order: 1-4-2-5-3-6 DIS Ignition System