The 2.5L uses a wasted spark ignition system with a single coil pack firing two cylinders simultaneously. Therefore, there isn't a *direct* 1-2-3-4 coil pack order like in engines with individual coil packs per cylinder.
Instead, the coil pack fires cylinders 1 & 3 together, then 4 & 2 together, following the firing order. You should refer to your owner's manual or a reliable repair manual specific to your 1998 Ford Ranger 2.5L for a diagram showing the correct cylinder-to-coil connections. This diagram will be much more helpful than a simple numerical order.
