I have a 99 4.0 2wd ranger. I had a head that gave out on me. So I replaced the head and all the gaskets for both sides. I had the heads checked out and all is good. I also replaced the water pump.plugs and wires, tension pully, belt and battery. I tried to start it and it sputters and does not want to idol.When runing I have to keep the gas all the way down to just get a little power. I have taken the valve covers back off to see if the drive train needed adjusting. Everything seems fine. I went over all the bolts, plugs and hoses, everything is correct. Could it be the timing? I never took the coil pack off the intake. If so how would I re-set the timing?? I have been working on this issue for two weeks everyday after work and I'm lost for answers. Does anyone know why my truck may be running this way? If so what do I need to do correct it. Please help I need my truck back!! She has 125K miles on her.

 

A few things to check until someone who knows your engine chimes in. Are all the fuel injection wiring plugs connected? Are all ground wires connected and clean and tight? Have you double checked the firing ordet? Is the cat plugged? Hope this helps.

 

The plug wires are routed correctly, right? See: Ford 3.0L & 4.0L Cylinder & Coilpack Terminal ID Numbering (DIS/EDIS)

 

There are almost no adjustments that need to be made. Unless you removed the timing chain, there is no way the timing is off, and there is no way to/no need to adjust anything. The timing is not adjustable, nor does it need to be, the computer controls timing. But if the wires are not routed to the correct plugs, that could cause your problem. Were you having this same problem prior to pulling the heads.

 

Welcome to FTE.

Do you have a Check Engine Light lit????? If so, pull the codes & post ALL the trouble code numbers & the order in which they were found.

If the head gasket/s were blown, then the coolant may have wiped out the O2 sensor/s, so check their switching speed.

A dirty MAF sensor can fib to the computer & confuse it about true air flow demand into the engine. so you could disconnect it & see if it runs better or worse.

If better when disconnected, clean the MAF sensor with a nonresidual spray that says it's recipe is for cleaning MAF sensors.

A dirty air filter, or rodent plugged intake air tubing can choke the engines beathing.

Make sure you got the plug wires back on the correct plug.

Check engine compression, if it's not right, make sure the valve timing is right, then check the ignition timing with a light.

If you had the CMP out, make sure you got it aliged/timed right, as it controls the fuel injectors.

Have you disconnected the B- battery cable since all the repairs, to reset the computer, so it can begin to relearn all the things it needs too????

More thoughts for pondering, let us know how it goes.