Pinging
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Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Bothell USA
Pinging
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 29-Sep-02 AT 02:05 AM (EST)]What is with these damn 4-bangers in the rangers pinging? My friend has the 2.3 and it pings up hill and I have a 2.5 it ping sometimes and I've talked to 4 other owners of rangers from the years 1997-2001 anyone know if there is a recall or a fix?
1979 F-150 4x4 351M C-6 NP205
2001 Ranger XL
1979 F-150 4x4 351M C-6 NP205
2001 Ranger XL
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,205
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From: Vancouver WA
Pinging
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 29-Sep-02 AT 10:09 PM (EST)]If you read in the owners manual it will say that some pinging is "normal". The company I used to work for used Rangers as company vehicles. They all had the V-6's though. Every one of them pinged like crazy no matter what grade or brand of gas was used. The oldest one, a '98 or '99, would ping going down a level road at a steady speed. Might have had something to do with the fact that the guy who drove it most of the time thought the gas pedal was just an on or off switch, either all the way down or nothing.
The manual also says that using premium grade gas will harm the engine.
The manual also says that using premium grade gas will harm the engine.
New User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 3
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Pinging
>If you read in the owners manual it will say that some
>pinging is "normal". The company I used to work for used
>Rangers as company vehicles. They all had the V-6's though.
> Every one of them pinged like crazy no matter what grade or
>brand of gas was used. The oldest one, a '98 or '99, would
>ping going down a level road at a steady speed. Might have
>had something to do with the fact that the guy who drove it
>most of the time thought the gas pedal was just an on or off
>switch, either all the way down or nothing.
>
>The manual also says that using premium grade gas will harm
>the engine.
I've got a 93 4.0l that is a pinger when on hills. I've reduced some of it by always running 92 octane. Are you saying I'm hurting my motor by running higher grade fuel? I had the same problem with a 90 2.3l. It ran for 240,000 miles before I sold it. The only problem I had with it was a cam shaft bearing freeze. When I removed the head, the cylinder walls and pistons were clean. I believe it has something to do with the distributerless motor. Maybe a bad ping sensor?
>pinging is "normal". The company I used to work for used
>Rangers as company vehicles. They all had the V-6's though.
> Every one of them pinged like crazy no matter what grade or
>brand of gas was used. The oldest one, a '98 or '99, would
>ping going down a level road at a steady speed. Might have
>had something to do with the fact that the guy who drove it
>most of the time thought the gas pedal was just an on or off
>switch, either all the way down or nothing.
>
>The manual also says that using premium grade gas will harm
>the engine.
I've got a 93 4.0l that is a pinger when on hills. I've reduced some of it by always running 92 octane. Are you saying I'm hurting my motor by running higher grade fuel? I had the same problem with a 90 2.3l. It ran for 240,000 miles before I sold it. The only problem I had with it was a cam shaft bearing freeze. When I removed the head, the cylinder walls and pistons were clean. I believe it has something to do with the distributerless motor. Maybe a bad ping sensor?
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 773
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From: VA/USA
Pinging
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 08-Oct-02 AT 08:43 AM (EST)]>My 1998 2.5l was a pinging monster until I changed the plugs
>back to Motorcraft Double Platinums. That was 50,000 miles
>ago and so far, so good.
Hey bubbernator - what plug's did you 'change back' FROM ? In other words, which plugs were you having problems with ?
>back to Motorcraft Double Platinums. That was 50,000 miles
>ago and so far, so good.
Hey bubbernator - what plug's did you 'change back' FROM ? In other words, which plugs were you having problems with ?
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Elder User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 773
Likes: 0
From: VA/USA
Pinging
>If you read in the owners manual it will say that some
>pinging is "normal". The company I used to work for used
>Rangers as company vehicles. They all had the V-6's though.
> Every one of them pinged like crazy no matter what grade or
>brand of gas was used. The oldest one, a '98 or '99, would
>ping going down a level road at a steady speed. Might have
>had something to do with the fact that the guy who drove it
>most of the time thought the gas pedal was just an on or off
>switch, either all the way down or nothing.
>
>The manual also says that using premium grade gas will harm
>the engine.
Mrwizard - man that's depressing to hear pinging going down a level road at steady speed - on the O's manual thing though - I think mine says, something to the effect - if there is a "problem", higher octane won't fix it, or, could make the problem more pronounced...
>pinging is "normal". The company I used to work for used
>Rangers as company vehicles. They all had the V-6's though.
> Every one of them pinged like crazy no matter what grade or
>brand of gas was used. The oldest one, a '98 or '99, would
>ping going down a level road at a steady speed. Might have
>had something to do with the fact that the guy who drove it
>most of the time thought the gas pedal was just an on or off
>switch, either all the way down or nothing.
>
>The manual also says that using premium grade gas will harm
>the engine.
Mrwizard - man that's depressing to hear pinging going down a level road at steady speed - on the O's manual thing though - I think mine says, something to the effect - if there is a "problem", higher octane won't fix it, or, could make the problem more pronounced...
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Elder User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 773
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From: VA/USA
Pinging
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 08-Oct-02 AT 09:50 AM (EST)]I've got an `99 3.0, 64,000 miles (FFV - don't know if that makes any difference, better or worse [?] ) and I rarely get any ping - I do quite a bit of "mountainous" driving, maybe occassionaly on a hot day with the A\C, going up-hill or carrying a load I might get a bit - but not much. I tend to just give her a lil' kick (passing gear - when I can get away with it) and it seems to straighten out. Though weather seems to effect it too - I think when the air is dry (barometer - relative humidity) I tend to "hear" more ping, or is it the other way around (?) - I forget now - could be an elevation ("thinner" air) thing though, going up and down approx. 3-4000 feet. By the way, those with the FFV, my O's manual does call for a different plug than the conventional 3.0's...
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 773
Likes: 0
From: VA/USA
Pinging
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 08-Oct-02 AT 11:28 PM (EST)]Thanks for the tip - heard from one person who's had luck with Bosch in their Ford - probably about ten who have not - thanks again . . .
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 306
Likes: 0
Pinging
I've got a 98 Ranger 4.0 xlt with 63k miles. Just started a very faint ping when coming over a mountain pass. I put in 89 octance, and haven't heard it since. I don't know if it was bad gas, or what. In my case, higher octane fixed it, but could've just been bad gas. Who knows. At any rate, I've been afraid to put regular back in 
.
Pulled a 5x8 uhaul trailer all over the place through town, mountains and interstates this week with no problems or pinging. Now if I could just get rid of the damn 'marbling' noise at idle....
.Pulled a 5x8 uhaul trailer all over the place through town, mountains and interstates this week with no problems or pinging. Now if I could just get rid of the damn 'marbling' noise at idle....