Idles rough and dies when put in gear any ideas?

[Angie]

Ok our 1991 Ford Ranger is walking a tight line here, thinking bomb.....big bomb LOL. Anyways we have been going over this truck like you wouldn't believe but obviously missing something. Found that we had a fuel supply problem checked everything, found some clogged fuel injectors replaced them its firing right up now but as soon as its put into gear (auto) it studders, idles low and dies it is a 4 litre, any ideas as what could be causing us please let us know this is getting to be rather annoying LOL. Thanks in advance!

 

[Born24wheel]

Sounds like a problem I once had. It ended up being a vacuum leak on the intake. I would check to see if theres anywhere the engine could be sucking in air after the throttle body. My .02.

 

[Shran]

Do you have good fuel pressure at the fuel rail?

Replaced fuel filter?

 

[bufordanthony]

Yep, sounds like a vacum problem. They can be a b!*@h to find.

 

[Viva*the*Ranger]

^+1^

 

[dogboy]

My guess would have to be the IAC (Idle Air Control) valve. If it is unplugged, or not working correctly, it will cause a low/ somewhat rough idle that when you put the truck in gear, will a lot of times kill the engine because the engine is then not getting enough air to keep the engine running. I would try unplugging it and to see if your problem changes at all.
If you don't know where it is at, it is on the drivers side of your intake plenum/ manifold.
Also, I'm not saying I "don't" think it's a vacuum leak, I'm just saying, to me it sounds more like the IAC valve.

Hope that helps

 

[Angie]

Do you have good fuel pressure at the fuel rail?

Replaced fuel filter?

yes good pressure and new filter

 

[Angie]

My guess would have to be the IAC (Idle Air Control) valve. If it is unplugged, or not working correctly, it will cause a low/ somewhat rough idle that when you put the truck in gear, will a lot of times kill the engine because the engine is then not getting enough air to keep the engine running. I would try unplugging it and to see if your problem changes at all.
If you don't know where it is at, it is on the drivers side of your intake plenum/ manifold.
Also, I'm not saying I "don't" think it's a vacuum leak, I'm just saying, to me it sounds more like the IAC valve.

Hope that helps

Thanks! We will definitely check that out.

Is it possible to be a torque converter? Just wondering here....

 

[Angie]

Yep, sounds like a vacum problem. They can be a b!*@h to find.

We have checked but will try again......can you say nightmare

 

[Shran]

Thanks! We will definitely check that out.

Is it possible to be a torque converter? Just wondering here....

Probably has nothing to do with the torque converter. I think the suggestions above will probably lead to a fix.

 

[bufordanthony]

If you've thoroughly checked out the vacum lines, then perhaps the IAC. On my 99 4.0L I could start; but need to keep the accelerator at about 1500 rpms or the truck would die. It wouldn't idle at all with out some umph from the gas pedal, but it's a manual, not an auto. As far as fixes go it's pretty simple, two bolts, and a plug. Some might need a gasket. Drivers side of intake manifold right behind the trottle body. I would think these two (vacum, IAC) especially if you've got no codes.

 

[Rangerman4158]

You can check the IAC by tapping it with a hammer lightly not hard and if the idle changes at all it's bad you can remove it and clean it but it will only last a little while before it starts again if it's a vaccum leak use a can of brake clean and spray it around the intake and if the idle speeds up where ever you were spraying when the idle went up is where your vaccum leak is at

 

[Angie]

You can check the IAC by tapping it with a hammer lightly not hard and if the idle changes at all it's bad you can remove it and clean it but it will only last a little while before it starts again if it's a vaccum leak use a can of brake clean and spray it around the intake and if the idle speeds up where ever you were spraying when the idle went up is where your vaccum leak is at

Well we tried the IAC, it seems to be working we tried tapping on it while the engine was running but nothing happened tried cleaning it too. Well its idling alot better now but as soon as we put it in gear it starts bucking and snorting I drove it up the street, it has no power whatsoever, and I can hear tranny noises makes me wonder if we are not looking it the wrong spot. Looked for some more vacume leaks but we couldn't see any. We are stumped........

 

[Shran]

You can always try unplugging sensors one at a time to see if they have any effect on how your engine is running.

I'm assuming you've done plugs, wires, etc, and that they're ALL good? And that you have good compression across all cylinders?

 

[Angie]

You can always try unplugging sensors one at a time to see if they have any effect on how your engine is running.

I'm assuming you've done plugs, wires, etc, and that they're ALL good? And that you have good compression across all cylinders?

Ok we will give that a shot, yes changed plugs, wires, and the electronic distributor, also cleaned the injectors and replaced two of them, idles pretty good now just when its put into gear the problems starts we are now checking into the torque converter and also the module on the transmission. Hopefully we find something soon before I blow it up LOL