2000 3.0L engine shaking
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2000 3.0L engine shaking
My wifes 2000 ranger 3.0L 4X4 has been running great one day and the next day she says the whole motor shakes at stop lights, and while driving down the road. She says the only way to smooth it out is too floor the engine. It has enough power to pull itself down the road but, is not at full power. She says when you open the hood you can see the motor shaking and feel it shake the whole pickup. The ranger has 83000 miles, fuel filter has been replaced 5000 miles ago, and the tranny flushed, other than that nothing has been done to the pickup. She has been using E85 for 5 months off and on but it shakes with regular or ethanol fuel.
thanks for any ideas
thanks for any ideas
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Joined: Feb 2005
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You didn't state so in the original post so I have to ask... Is it an E-85 compatible truck?
You may want to check the catalytic converter. The symptoms were similar to my wife's car when the cat plugged.
You may want to check the catalytic converter. The symptoms were similar to my wife's car when the cat plugged.
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Just drove the pick-up 4 miles at 55 mph and checked underneath and the catalytic converter was cherry red. How much does a new one run? Or should I just knock it out. Any tips on how to do this?
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From: ventura, CA
Thinking about it some more
- the cherry red glow isn't because of a bad cat
- you're either too rich OR
- you have a misfire OR
- your timing is waaaay off
Don't buy a cat! You need to fix the problem and when you do, hopefully the cat you have is still good and not damage from overheating.
- the cherry red glow isn't because of a bad cat
- you're either too rich OR
- you have a misfire OR
- your timing is waaaay off
Don't buy a cat! You need to fix the problem and when you do, hopefully the cat you have is still good and not damage from overheating.
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Drove it to the mechanic this morning and the check engine light came on on the way there. the service guy called and said that the wrong spark plugs were in it so he's putting new plugs and wires in. He said this should fix the problem.
I bought the vehicle used with 20,000 miles and now it has 83,000. I've never replaced the plugs, so why would the "wrong" plugs be in it unless the dealer put new ones in before I bought it, which doesn't make sense at 20,000 miles!! Shouldn't they have still been the factory plugs?
And will this keep the cat from getting so hot?
I bought the vehicle used with 20,000 miles and now it has 83,000. I've never replaced the plugs, so why would the "wrong" plugs be in it unless the dealer put new ones in before I bought it, which doesn't make sense at 20,000 miles!! Shouldn't they have still been the factory plugs?
And will this keep the cat from getting so hot?
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2001
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From: South Jersey
I would want to double check the compression. Did he run it with a few drops of oil in the cylinders too? If the numbers are similar then I would suspect a valve problem and this could be the cause of the problem.
I really don't think the plugs were the cause.
I really don't think the plugs were the cause.