Is the white smoke coming out of your tailpipe when the engine is warmed up ? If so , it sounds like coolant is getting into an engine cylinder from a bad head gasket , warped or cracked head
There are ( 2 ) sparkplugs per engine cylinder for a total of ( 8 ) sparkplugs on your 1997 Ford Ranger 2.3 liter 4 cylinder with Fords twin plug ignition system
If this is in a Ford Ranger : ( 1989 to 1997 is a 2.3 liter four cylinder engine ) ( 1998 to 2001 is a 2.5 liter four cylinder engine )
( 8 ) sparkplugs for the 2.3 liter 4 cylinder engine in a 1997 Ford Ranger with Fords twin plug ignition system
No , it has an Electronic Distributorless Ignition System ( EDIS ) It has ( 2 ) coil packs because it has ( 2 sparkplugs per cylinder / a total of 8 sparkplugs on the 2.3 liter four cylinder engine in a 1993 Ford Ranger ) 1988 and older four cylinder Ford Rangers use a distributor and rotor and one sparkplug per engine cylinder
No , it has a distributorless ignition system . It has ( 2 ) coil packs and ( 8 ) sparkplugs ( 2 sparkplugs per cylinder )
From 1989 to 1997 the 2.3 liter four cylinder engine and from 1998 to 2001 the 2.5 liter four cylinder engine in the Ford Ranger used Fords twin plug ignition system with ( 2 ) sparkplugs per engine cylinder ( a total of 8 sparkplugs ) and had ( 2 ) coil packs used with the EDIS ( Electronic Distributorless Ignition System ) . It lowered the emissions of the engine
It's EDIS ( Electronic Distributorless Ignition System ) It has ( 2 ) coil packs for the ( 8 ) sparkplugs for the Ford twin plug ignition system on the 2.3 liter 4 cylinder engine
You will fail emissions. If you dont figure out a way to make that EGR work.
Never disconnect a battery while an engine is running!
Check and or replace your starter solenoid.
It needs replacing every 60,000 miles.
You can replace the speedometer cable, on your 1988 Ford Ranger, by loosening the cable nut on each end of the cable. The cable will come off and can then be replaced.