'87 Ranger Issues

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Jan 11, 2008 | 07:04 PM

HighSierraFlower

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'87 Ranger Issues

Hi, I'm Nicole. Thank you in advance for your time!

I have an '87 Ranger, 2.9L 4WD. It's having some issues. It has an irregular idle. It raises, and lowers, and raises, etc. In addition to this, there is a quite loud ticking noise coming from high up. Dad said maybe valve issues for the ticking? When driving, it hesitates and kind of chugs and jerks, especially when climbing hills. Sometimes seems like it may even stall out.

This happens regardless of whether engine is warm or cold.

P.S. Any idea if I can get a rebuild kit for my master/slave cylinders? They don't carry anything like that at my local parts place.

Jan 11, 2008 | 10:09 PM

projectnitemare

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The idle air control valve on those is many time the idle problem. Try pulling it off, cleaning it then try it again. If you still have the problem replace it. Check of any vaccum leaks, that can cause the idle problem as well as the power problems. To do this take a can of carb cleaner or something similar and spray it around the intake manifold and any vaccum lines. If the engine speed changes then you have a leak. The ticking is usually lifter noise, sometimes fuel injector noise. Just depends on what you call loud. Do you know if the engine is making good oil pressure? The power issuees could be caused by many things. A vaccum leak, improper timing, fuel pressure, bad plug wires and a good list of other things. The master/slave, for the clutch correct? The slave needs to be replaced, I don't think there is a rebuild for that. It would also be cheaper to replace the master as well, not too sure if there is a rebuild for that either. Most parts stores should carry those or at least be able to get them, I have purchased a few of them.

Matt

Jan 12, 2008 | 01:13 PM

HighSierraFlower

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Thanks for the reply!

I don't know if the engine is making good oil pressure. How would I test that? I'm considering taking it in for some diagnostics, but I'm bound and determined to try some of these things for myself!

In the vacuum instance, should I replace everything? Or is there a way I can figure out where the leak is coming from?

Now, let's say that the tick is coming from the fuel injector... would a fuel injector cleaner help, or would I need to just replace it? I hope that's the ticking, 'cause I don't even know what lifters are. Yikes!

Last edited by HighSierraFlower; Jan 12, 2008 at 01:18 PM. Reason: additional info

Jan 12, 2008 | 05:28 PM

bazzman1953

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From: Ishpeming Mi.

I would assume that you have an oil pressure gauge on the dash, what does that say? My old '86 did. If the oil pressure is too low due to worn rings, main bearings, ect. then try some STP in it to deal with that part. I used to run 3 pints of that in the summer and one pint in the winter just to quiet the clatter. The engine was tired when I bought it but I still coaxed another 5yrs out of it.