02 Ranger 3.0 sudden engine problem
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02 Ranger 3.0 sudden engine problem
I started the truck today and it idled fine for the first 20 secs, then it went to hell. The truck started shaking and was making a metal on metal sound. The truck has 110,000 on it and has had all routine maintenance, oil changes and tune ups done. Before this there was no indication of any problems at all, no noises, no hesitation, no rough idle, no power loss. It's like it all of a sudden had a heart attack. Help please, this truck is my baby and I have treated it as so.
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No, in fact it is due for a oil change in a few hundred miles. I can't see how it coud e some kind of mechanical enginefailure if there were no warning signs. So far I have checked the plugs, wires, and fuel system.
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From: SW Va
Did the oil pressure gauge indicate low, or did the oil pressure warning light come on, when the noise was present???
Have you connected a mechanical oil pressure gauge at the oil pressure sending units location, to measure oil pressure & if so, what were your readings.
If the engine is sludged up, such that the oil pump pickup screen is clogged, or has a faulty oil filter, whos element has collasped, that could cause a problem. What brand of oil filter are you using????
Have you connected a mechanical oil pressure gauge at the oil pressure sending units location, to measure oil pressure & if so, what were your readings.
If the engine is sludged up, such that the oil pump pickup screen is clogged, or has a faulty oil filter, whos element has collasped, that could cause a problem. What brand of oil filter are you using????
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Oil level and pressure are fine, compression test checks out fine also, no oil lights, always used Motorcraft filters, no CEL either. I am starting to think timing chain, but it baffles me that there were no symptoms, just a major malfunction in a split second.
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From: SW Va
Did you use a mechanical oil pressure gauge in place of the oil sending unit to check pressure????
Our factory pressure gauge isn't more than a mechanical idiot gauge, as Ford has it wired to read mid scale if we have between about 7-11 lbs of oil pressure & at that pressure the idiot light also turns off!!!!
If you have compression, the timing chain is still intact.
The 3.0L Vulcan is known to have cam sensor problems, so maybe the cam sensor gears have decided to self destruct.
Or maybe some belt driven accessory is acting out, like the A/C compresor clutch, or belt tensioner or idler pully, ect, ect.
Could you be more descriptive on where & what the metal, on metal sound was coming from in the engine compartment & what it sounded like. Scraping, squeeling, pounding, rattling, ect, ect.
Our factory pressure gauge isn't more than a mechanical idiot gauge, as Ford has it wired to read mid scale if we have between about 7-11 lbs of oil pressure & at that pressure the idiot light also turns off!!!!
If you have compression, the timing chain is still intact.
The 3.0L Vulcan is known to have cam sensor problems, so maybe the cam sensor gears have decided to self destruct.
Or maybe some belt driven accessory is acting out, like the A/C compresor clutch, or belt tensioner or idler pully, ect, ect.
Could you be more descriptive on where & what the metal, on metal sound was coming from in the engine compartment & what it sounded like. Scraping, squeeling, pounding, rattling, ect, ect.
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Did you by any chance take the radiator cap off and check the coolant level?
My truck had a similar problem but it happened while I was driving. It started running rough.Threw no codes and I changed plugs and wires.
I think I have narrowed it down to being a cracked head.
ZZ
My truck had a similar problem but it happened while I was driving. It started running rough.Threw no codes and I changed plugs and wires.
I think I have narrowed it down to being a cracked head.
ZZ
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Coolant level was ok, so I don't believe the head is cracked.
Also, I have given up on diagnosing it myself, I towed it to my mechanic, I just don't have time to fool around with it, I need it working again. I thank you guys for the input, and will let you know what the mechanic finds.
Also, I have given up on diagnosing it myself, I towed it to my mechanic, I just don't have time to fool around with it, I need it working again. I thank you guys for the input, and will let you know what the mechanic finds.
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It was a exhaust valve spring
So it turns out that a valve spring broke, I didn't even think about that one. My mechanic is inspecting it to see if it did any damage. I wonder if anyone else has had this happen to their 3.0.
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From: SW Va
I've had a valve spring break on my 71 Toyota Corolla 1200cc engine one morning after getting on the interstate.
It first sounded like I was dragging a branch under neath. After I quickly shifted to "N" & the rpm came down, you could hear the buzz of the valve bouncing off the broken spring.
Mine didn't do any piston, or head damage.
It first sounded like I was dragging a branch under neath. After I quickly shifted to "N" & the rpm came down, you could hear the buzz of the valve bouncing off the broken spring.
Mine didn't do any piston, or head damage.
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