96 Ranger problems...
 

Sorry for the long post...

96' Ranger with 183,000 miles. 2.3 cyl., Automatic, XLT

When I'am driving and get to the 35 to 60 mph range, my trucks transmission wants to upshift, then immediately downshift to the gear it just left. It goes back and forth like this till I get where I am going, or after about 10 miles it will stop doing it. I checked the transmission fluid, and it is full and still pink.

I took it to Advanced Auto, and it blew a code of ECL Bank 1 I believe. I looked around the 'net and I think it came out to be the front O2 sensor may be bad/going bad.

Last week while it was warm enough I was driving with the rear window open, and noticed the faint smell of Rotten Eggs (this has been the only time though). Today I drove about 50 miles and basically used a quarter of a tank of gas.

I'am wondering if the catalytic convertor may also be going bad?

Any advice would be appreciated!!!

Welcome to FTE.

You may have more than one problem, so post All trouble code Numbers extracted from the computer, as they can offer up good trouble shooting clues.

If the truck is lacking power at road speed it may try upshifing then have to down shift to keep going. Just a wild guess.

Thanks for the replies!!! I took it to O'reillys and it blew a P1443 and a P0420.

OK, good feedback on the trouble codes.

P0420= Cat converter efficiency below threshold = stinky cat, maybe plugged too, which could cause excessive exhaust back pressure & driveability/power & engine over heating problems.
So break out your vacuum gauge & do the clogged exhaust/back pressure check. EDIT: Vacuum gauge titorial, you'll be interested in scenario 14. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...-tutorial.html

P1443= Evap control valve malfunction, can cause cold start & cold engine driveability problems. The charcoal canister purge valve is a fairly common problem part that you can replace yourself.

Some thoughts for consideration, let us know how your trouble shoot goes.

Thanks for reply!!! I will be looking into these as possible solutions, will post back asap!

I cleaned the MAF sensor today and it drives better than before, with very little switching of gears. I reset the power to the 'puter, so I can get go and get the codes read tomarrow, and see whats showing now.

Yup, catalytic converters rarely fail on their own, especially not on Fords. If you have a converter code, it usually means that the vehicle has other issues going on, which may or may not set codes. The converter requires a near perfect fuel to air ratio to function correctly, and the converter also requires that most of that fuel and air is consumed in the engine. When the computer gets bad information from its sensors, such as a MAF sensor, it cannot maintain a perfect fuel to air ratio.

Yes, the MAF is also important to transmission function, the MAF is used to help calculate load in conjunction with the Throttle Position Sensors, and the computer decides its shifting strategy based on load.

Clean your MAF, replace your air filter, replace your fuel filter, run a good injector cleaner through a couple tanks of gas, fix any intake leaks, fix any EVAP codes, and if you have more than 80,000 miles on it, replace the primary O2 sensor.

Thanks for all the advice! I got it scanned, and its just the 1443 now, so I think I know whats going to take to fix. Thanks again!

Before replacing the purge valve, check its wiring & electrical connector pins & sockets for corrosion, bent pins, spread sockets, damaged wiring insulation.
After disconnecting the battery B- cable to wipe the corrupt fuel trim tables while doing the repair, maybe consider doing the cold & warm idle relearn strategy routine after re-connecting the battery cable, as it too gets wiped with a battery disconnect. Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums - View Single Post - high idle problem