94 Ranger problems - possibly ignition?
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 58
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From: Eastern Shore
94 Ranger problems - possibly ignition?
First post: Forgive the lack of knowledge, my other car is a 5.0 mustang which is much easier to work on.
Had the ranger about a year, 199k on the odometer.
2.3L 4cylinder engine, 5 speed manual tranny
I'm thinking ignition problems, but who knows
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Problem 1: Cold start
Truck hates the cold, will start in cold weather, then immediately stall. I normally turn the heat on full blast, and it almost always starts the 2nd time and idles. Sometimes stalls again. It also wants to stall if I take my foot off the gas too fast pulling out of my driveway in reverse when I go to shift into first.
Problem 2: Throttle sticking in the cold
If I take it too high in rpms when it is cold in 2nd gear (possibly 3rd as well) and push in the clutch while letting off the gas, the rpm's will shoot up.
Problem 3 (THE BIG PROBLEM):
The other 2 I can live with, this one I can't. Within the past 2 weeks, and seemingly at random, and for a random duration (from 2 seconds to over 8 minutes) the truck seems to be running out of timing, or under half its cylinders, or something of that nature. The engine is damn near sputtering, lots of shaking, sounds like a 1955 buick exhaust (from the sputtering). If I push in the clutch, the engine is clearly shaking, and at times, if I give it gas, the engine is actually surging/idling down repeatedly. I do need to give it a tune up, but seeing as it has 2 plugs per cylinder, I found it unlikely that it could be a non firing cylinder.
Help please.
Had the ranger about a year, 199k on the odometer.
2.3L 4cylinder engine, 5 speed manual tranny
I'm thinking ignition problems, but who knows
-----------------------------------------------
Problem 1: Cold start
Truck hates the cold, will start in cold weather, then immediately stall. I normally turn the heat on full blast, and it almost always starts the 2nd time and idles. Sometimes stalls again. It also wants to stall if I take my foot off the gas too fast pulling out of my driveway in reverse when I go to shift into first.
Problem 2: Throttle sticking in the cold
If I take it too high in rpms when it is cold in 2nd gear (possibly 3rd as well) and push in the clutch while letting off the gas, the rpm's will shoot up.
Problem 3 (THE BIG PROBLEM):
The other 2 I can live with, this one I can't. Within the past 2 weeks, and seemingly at random, and for a random duration (from 2 seconds to over 8 minutes) the truck seems to be running out of timing, or under half its cylinders, or something of that nature. The engine is damn near sputtering, lots of shaking, sounds like a 1955 buick exhaust (from the sputtering). If I push in the clutch, the engine is clearly shaking, and at times, if I give it gas, the engine is actually surging/idling down repeatedly. I do need to give it a tune up, but seeing as it has 2 plugs per cylinder, I found it unlikely that it could be a non firing cylinder.
Help please.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 514
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
Not an expert at this but to get things started are you getting a code? Is your CEL/MIL on? Normally I would think these kind of symptoms would trigger it. If so please post all the codes you are getting. If you don't have a reader, most often your neighborhood autoparts store will pull the codes for you, with the hope they may sell you a part or two.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,533
Likes: 1
From: Dexter, MI
94 Ranger problems
When was the last time the MAF (Mass Air Flow) sensor cleaned? When was the IAC (Idle Air Control) cleaned. If either of these is dirty or, in the case of the IAC, sticking, that could be a source of your problems. Is you "Check Engine" (CEL) light lit? See what codes have been set and let us know for suggestion of waht is werong and what is needed to get you engine running smoothly again.
Last edited by michigan66; Feb 12, 2008 at 01:58 PM. Reason: Typos
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,533
Likes: 1
From: Dexter, MI
When was the last time the MAF (Mass Air Flow) sensor was cleaned? When was the IAC (Idle Air Control) cleaned. If either of these is dirty or, in the case of the IAC, sticking, that could be a source of your problems. Is you "Check Engine" (CEL) light lit? See what codes have been set and let us know for suggestions of what is wrong and what is needed to get you engine running smoothly again.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 5,242
Likes: 0
From: Kiev, Ukraine
Problem 1: Cold start
Truck hates the cold, will start in cold weather, then immediately stall. I normally turn the heat on full blast, and it almost always starts the 2nd time and idles. Sometimes stalls again. It also wants to stall if I take my foot off the gas too fast pulling out of my driveway in reverse when I go to shift into first.
Suggest ECT, check voltage, check connector, may be it is corrozed.
Clean MAF
Problem 2: Throttle sticking in the cold
If I take it too high in rpms when it is cold in 2nd gear (possibly 3rd as well) and push in the clutch while letting off the gas, the rpm's will shoot up.
Use WD-40, then linbricate with thin oil....
Problem 3 (THE BIG PROBLEM):
The other 2 I can live with, this one I can't. Within the past 2 weeks, and seemingly at random, and for a random duration (from 2 seconds to over 8 minutes) the truck seems to be running out of timing, or under half its cylinders, or something of that nature. The engine is damn near sputtering, lots of shaking, sounds like a 1955 buick exhaust (from the sputtering). If I push in the clutch, the engine is clearly shaking, and at times, if I give it gas, the engine is actually surging/idling down repeatedly. I do need to give it a tune up, but seeing as it has 2 plugs per cylinder, I found it unlikely that it could be a non firing cylinder.
MAF, atm. pressure sensor, oxy sensor... check all, clean MAF
Truck hates the cold, will start in cold weather, then immediately stall. I normally turn the heat on full blast, and it almost always starts the 2nd time and idles. Sometimes stalls again. It also wants to stall if I take my foot off the gas too fast pulling out of my driveway in reverse when I go to shift into first.
Suggest ECT, check voltage, check connector, may be it is corrozed.
Clean MAF
Problem 2: Throttle sticking in the cold
If I take it too high in rpms when it is cold in 2nd gear (possibly 3rd as well) and push in the clutch while letting off the gas, the rpm's will shoot up.
Use WD-40, then linbricate with thin oil....
Problem 3 (THE BIG PROBLEM):
The other 2 I can live with, this one I can't. Within the past 2 weeks, and seemingly at random, and for a random duration (from 2 seconds to over 8 minutes) the truck seems to be running out of timing, or under half its cylinders, or something of that nature. The engine is damn near sputtering, lots of shaking, sounds like a 1955 buick exhaust (from the sputtering). If I push in the clutch, the engine is clearly shaking, and at times, if I give it gas, the engine is actually surging/idling down repeatedly. I do need to give it a tune up, but seeing as it has 2 plugs per cylinder, I found it unlikely that it could be a non firing cylinder.
MAF, atm. pressure sensor, oxy sensor... check all, clean MAF
