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I have a 2001 ranger ext. cab 4by4 4.0L auto, and it has done some of this for a while and some of it it has gotten a lot worse on. The truck will buck in park around 3grand just like it's being limited. It's done that for a while. Now you notice it bad while your driving specially 40mph and higher. As soon as you step on the gas a bit while cruising it starts to shake and buck like. I've had the valve body deal done at ford a year ago but I don't really feel that that was really the propblem. Has new wires and plugs in it. I still wonder if a sensor or limiter problem but no lights are on. Only has 76000k on it.
You can find the information on cleaning the MAF here. It is the Technical information when you enter the Ranger & B-Series forum at the top. A lot of good information there.
Good luck on your problem. I am working through a similar problem on my 96 2.3l 5sp Ranger. Mine is a misfire causing the same problem, but under load and at idle. Will run fine at times and at times will be so bad that it feels like it is trying to run on 2 cylinders under load for a couple of seconds.
Last edited by pike_hunter; Feb 23, 2006 at 08:29 AM.
A sticking EGR can also cause the truck to buck. Try running with the vacuum hose plugged with a golf Tee to test. Do not leave disconnected as you will get pinging and crappy gas mileage.
A sticking IAC can cause the 2.3 to drop out at idle, and bad grounds on the coil pack can cause intermittent misfire.
Cleaning can't hurt.
tom
Last edited by tomw; Feb 23, 2006 at 08:41 AM.
Reason: spelling
I'd also continue on after that, with bringing the ride up to date on all due, past & present, scheduled maintenance & see how things go along the way.
Well guys I tried cleaning the MAF with TB cleaner and that made not a heap of a difference. If you get on now from a dead stop it struggles getting up to speed for bucking and coughing just like when you have it in park and rev the engine. With no load in park it won"t rev over 3200rpm, that where it seems to be limited. My buddy has a 2000 explorer, same engine and he says his will tach right out and I've heard it.Still not sure what I've got yet.
Has the fuel filter been changed ever? Upon re-reading, it seems as if it is fuel starved, which can be pump, filter or pickup sock. Even the gas cap can restrict fuel flow if the vent doesn't work.
tom
I think after reading the tech articles on plugs, I think I am going to rechange the plugs and see if that doesn't make a difference. The ones I put in were NGK Vpower style which I've had great luck with in older applications. I just wonder what the correct gap should be for 4.0L The books say 44 but the old ones and my new ones out of the box seem to be around 60-65.
This sounds like what happen to mine when a set of plugs went bad a couple years ago. My plugs were new too, they had prematurely worn out( Bosch plat)replaced with Autolite double plats. The first set if I am not mistaken had less than 12k on them. At $4 a plug little steep but better than a bucking engine.
I would stay away from any Bosch plug my 2 cents.