I have an 07 Ranger 4.0 V6 automatic, 4wd, 3.73 final drive, limited slip rear end. It is a 4-door with air, tilt, cruise, am/fm/cd/mp3. It does not have power windows or door locks, and it has 11,000 miles. It sometimes gives me a hard time starting and backfires when it finally starts. It does this mostly when it's cold ( outside ) The dealer service told me that the backfire isn't a backfire, but a heater vent slamming shut when the engine starts, They never adressed the long cranking time to start it. Does anyone have this same experience, or have an idea what the problem is ?

 

Welcome to FTE. This is a great site for good help. Hope you enjoy the site.

While I can't help you with your question, someone will be along shortly to give you help.

In the meantime, would you please add your particulars about your Ranger in you signature. This often helps us give you useful answers.

Good luck.
_

 

You need to drive it more..
I thought my 07 was lower than average with 27K on it. And I drive it like every other weekend. Less than 6K on it since February... I think....

But seriously..

I think it's time you found a new dealership to go to.
Call first but I think you can even go to a Mercury/Lincoln dealer.
Your truck should still be under warranty unless you bought it late in 06.

I have never had that problem with mine. I do hear a click or slight clunk when it idling in Park but that's it. No problems ever with it starting.

 

A "heater vent slamming shut when the engine starts"? Huh?

I agree, find another dealership.

 

The long cranking time sounds like a fuel delivery, or air/fuel ratio problem, so do you have a CEL lit????

Maybe consider, running this puppy by your favorite autoparts store for a no cost computer trouble code scan & post ALL of the code numbers found.

Is it really backfiring, or is the Dealer right about the heater blend door slamming shut on a start????

What happens when you switch the heater control to "Off"????
Does the sound change, or go away & does it affect the way the vehicle starts? If so, then maybe you have a vacuum leak in the Heater/AC control panel or lines, thats leaning the air/fuel mixture out on a cold start.

What I'm trying to do is to assist you in getting an idea whats wrong, so they can't give you a run around & you can put more pressure on the service department to do their danged job & get to the root cause of your problem.

You've paid big bucks for your warranty when you bought your new Ranger & you should get good service when you need it, without having to trouble shoot the problem for them, but such is life sometimes!!!! lol

So maybe consider making an appointment to see the Dealership Service Manager, not a service writer.

Make friends with him & firmly, but politely explain your problem & the replies you've had & give him a chance to put his best Tech on the problem.

A good Ford Tech could probably find & fix this problem in under an hour, maybe half an hour!!!!

If that brings no joy, then I agree with the guys, find another Dealer with a known good Service reputation & make an appointment to see their SM & make friends with him & bend his ear.
I had to do this with my then new 94 Taurus & the new Dealers SM listened & put things right pronto, the first time, even though they didn't sell me the vehicle & it's still right!!!!

Even if your warranty is about to expire, you have a service record that'll show this was a pre-existing condition, so it shouldn't be a problem to have it addressed under warranty.

Some more thoughts to ponder, let us know how it goes & what is found.

 

Thanks for the reply. The noise is not, and I repeat, not a vent door slamming shut. The noise is under the hood and sounds like a backfire into the intake manifold. The long crank over time gets longer as the weather gets colder. I figure that something is sticking, as opposed to a vacuum leak. I'll have to make an appointment with a dealership in a nearby town that has a good reputation with their service department. The only problen is that when I bought the truck, they wouldn't come within $3,000 of the deal I got locally. Time to tuck tail and go have a talk with them.

 

Well if it really is a back fire, I suppose it could be a sticking open intake valve.

If you've been dealing with a service writer & not the Service Manager, I'd give the SM a try, at least he needs to know what kind of answers you've been given & if you get a ruaround answer, or no joy with him, then it's time to look elsewhere for service.