Hello all,

I am new...but I have a problem a cant seem to resolve with THREE Ford dealers.

I'm giving a shout out to any technicians or automotively electrical savy person around the Pittsburgh, PA area (or a little way into ohio/wv)or close to help me. I need the help bigtime.

I got a 2000 Ranger 4 cyl 2x4 2.5 auto that has lost its zip...I think its either electrical or tranny related. No overdrive and no difference in driving from o/d to no o/d...lost its go power, retarded idle, loud heavy air blowing at start up, heavy vibration on engine translating to steering wheel, drivers floor. CAr fixes itslef by burping gas fumes through floor vents and the car goes back to normal...runs like pack of wild horses.... Has done this 2x...once on 5 hour drive, and once after idling in park for 45mins. away goes the rough idle and all virbration, and car runs like dickens like when I bought it. CAr is only three years old and has 15,150 miles on it.

HAd thermo go bad in feb/march 03. Replaced. Vanlaized in july 03 and put locking gas cap on for 6 months and changed back after looking for problem, had brake seperated from rotor (rusted) by Ford dealer in oct 03. Problem developed in Nov 03. Just quit on me.

Codes pulled by 2 reg mech (not Ford)--po 500 speed sensor malfunction, intermittant wiper switch (no problem with them, ignition control switch, window down (dont have power windows)

Had speed sensor changed on differential, battery changed, fuel pressure checked, back pressure checked, and three ford dealers drive and monitor, NONE of which agrre with me or can find anything --I can't make them think beyond the obvious. They just go to staring at me after nothing shows in test drive. Reg mech got po 500 by toggling o/d button during key on engine running test. Could this be a bad cat??? Remeber I hadthe thrmo go bad...sometimes I get heavy exhaust smell and sometimes none at all...reg mech said 1st o2 sensor is really active, but second is "sluggish"...they dont test emisssions in pa by hooking up tailpipe anymore, they test to see if computer working..!! how dumb!! how do I tell if I burned up cat??? just replace and kiss away 500 bucks??


I really think is electrical, cause it fixed itslef at idle one day...I know nothing and am an educated reader and expert sensor and wire "wiggler" thats all. Needs trouble shot along speed senor circuit, tranny circuit, pcm circuit.


PLEASE!!! Anyone that can help I will come and see. Its been 6 months, cant really drive, and lots of dollars and attempted diagnoses

 

Post this in the Ranger forum you should get a quicker response....

 

Thanks for the response...i thought I did that..and thought noone touched it

let me ask...do you think the cat is bad on this thing??/ It burped gas 2 times into cab through vents. and fixed itslef..and reg mech said front o2 sensor real active and one behind cat is "slugggish" should it be.,..

remeber I had the thermo go bad and the car did nt totally over heat, but was in between middle of gauge and top red...drove home awhile like this..this happendd in feb/march 03...problem s started in oct/nov of 03...doesnt drive alot..maybe it just took awhile before cat went bad

here in pa they test the computer for emssions. not the cat/tailpipe...but i dont know how to have cat tested to see if ok without replacing and wasting 400+ dollars..i can ask my mech to take off and see if it fixes problem...is there any other way??/ hes not going to want to do without evidence...hes one that said rear o2 sensor sluggish...

Serb