timing belt broke- spark plugs not fireing?

I DON'T think your engine is an interference fit engine. Check your CRANK SENSOR. Perhaps it got damaged with the timing belt change. CHeck the wiring harness to it. If the computer gets no crank signal, no Spark is made. These engines have COIL PACKS instead of a distributor. NO CRANK SIGNAL, NO SPARK, it is a simple as that. You might try to unload your OBDII engine codes to see if there is other troubles, here. HOPEFULLY you are using an iridium or platinum plugs in there. ANything else will lose power, mpg's and smoothness. Denso and Bosch are the most refined. GOOD LUCK!!

Well, the correct wording is "interference engine" if in fact this was such an engine. Doubt it. Most engines are NOT interference engines.

I think you need to make sure the camshaft position sensor is picking up the cam position in the correct position. And same with the crankshaft position sensor if your truck has both of these sensors.

You probably need to do a compression test. Rotate the camshaft until the #1 cylinder is theoretically at top dead center on the compression stroke. You'd see the intake valve close when you rotate the camshaft and then both vavles are closed and then put some air to the hose screwed into the spark plug hole. You can do this with all cylinders so you'd know if they all hold compression. If you don't have a compression tester kit then you can borrow one from the local AutoZone or AdvanceAuto. You don't need the gauge, just the hose that screws into the spark plug hole and an air compressor.

You'll hear air leaking out around the piston rings but as long as the air does compress inside the cylinder then the valves are not bent and are sealing.

Good Luck!

could be bent valves ? this can be a common event with broken belt. removing all plugs and carrying out a compression test is a good way of checking basic engine is Ok with no serious damage .

we also need ot check we have not forgotten anything such as a sensor plug? eg crank position sensor ( or cam) etc.

have we checked for actual sparks when cranking over? most engines wont be happy with cam or crank being 180 out and will cause impact with valves on piston heads . ( often fatally)

so start with basic assuming ? timing of belt is correct ? will it turn over evenly by hand with all plugs out? when cranking do we get a spark? is it at correct timing?

if we have decent compression? fuel? spark? and timing is correct ? then basic physics demands it will fire and run. so one of these must by logic be wrong.

The only Ford 2.3L Ranger engines that were interference engines with timing belts were the 86-88 engines so that isn't likely the problem.

http://www.aa1car.com/library/timing_belts_interfe...

When the belt came off, did it take something else out with it? That's what happened when my serpentine belt went out on my Chevy.

Are you getting spark? Take a plug out and ground it, then crank the engine - don't get caught in the moving parts.

I would check the coil if you arent getting any power to the plug itself

That should be an easy fix to do, and is a likely culprit

good luck

The worse posibilities include bent valves if you get no spark anywhere, a broken position sensor, and other such awful things. Coil first, hope that you dont have a ruined engine second

Interferance engines bend valves when the cam belt breaks. No compression acts like no spark.

Did you actually see a spark during cranking? On a four stroke you need to turn 360 degrees to go from compression point to exhaust/inlet.

This is an interference engine, when the belt breaks the piston hits the valves. The car is gone. The only way to fix this is rebuild or replace the engine. As for the vehicle- $1500 sight unseen.

You may have warped the valves and don't have enough compression to make it crank.

are you sure the valves aren't bent? maybe your cam positioning sensor or your crank sensor..