ok so last january i bought a 99 ranger 3.0 4x4 at the time i ticked really bad when starting up cold and running rough. i changed oil and filter. ticking goes away. after a few month of idleing rough a CEL came up. misfire on 4 and 6 i believe. replaced plugs and wires (autolight) in april. everything is fine and dandy untill yesterday. same old symptoms. it's due for an oil change so i'm hoping that fixes the ticking but is it possiable that it needs plugs and wires again? i've put about 6000 miles on the truck since i bought it if that. not sure if it's the colder weather or what. i know i have a vac leak somewere because my a/c and heat automatically go to defrost when above 2000 rpm. could this cause it to run like poo? if it makes a difference it idles rough when in gear but smooths out if i put it in neutral or park.

sorry for the long post just trying to cover everything

 

did some checking and double checking today changes plugs and wires 8000 miles ago and CEL indicates a P0301 cylider one misfire

 

just an update. after two days of looking and working to no avail, took it to a very trusted local shop. determined the motor is pretty much shot. almsot no compression on cylider one along with other problems. we decided to get a new motor so another week without the danger ranger.