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What do you hate about your Ranger?


rusty ol ranger

Im a Jeep guy now.
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Michigan
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Engine Size
177 CID
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
My credo
A legend to the old man, a hero to the child...
What do you you hate about the cobalt? I was sort of into the SS version.
The fact its nutless lol. Other then that its not bad. But it does get 30mpg so that kinda cancels it out. Its just a base 4 dr, even has manual windows and locks and no abs.

The SS ones do run pretty good from what ive read.

To be fair i think somethings going on with it. It runs good but when you stand on it to pass about 5000rpm it falls on its face and wont shift till you lay off it. Its throwing a cam sensor code but it has no cam sensor.
 


19Walt93

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Location
Canaan,NH
Vehicle Year
1993
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
351
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Drop
3"
Tire Size
235/55R16
My credo
If you don't have time to do it right will you have time to do it over?
Frost on the windshield on October 3rd.
IMG_0160.JPG
 

Eddo Rogue

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Location
Burbank,CA
Vehicle Year
1993
Make / Model
Ranger 4x4
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
OHV
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
skyjacker front leveling kit
Tire Size
31-10.50R15
My credo
Crossed threads are tight threads.
I have a list of things I hate about my ranger (in order):
-For every problem solved, two more show up.
-It has a cam synchronizer, which goes bad and is discontinued by Motorcraft.
-The door never shuts all the way, and clunks violently loud until I get it to shut.
-just about every window and 3rd brake light leaks air/water.
-The ac is terrible and robs so much power, its very noticable.
- I live in CA, so no mods or motor swaps.
-in todays world of 1000hp and 20mpg's, my ranger has 1/10 of that hp and half the mpg's.

That's about it.
 

scotts90ranger

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Location
Dayton Oregon
Vehicle Year
1990, 1997
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
2.3 (4 Cylinder)
Engine Size
2.3 Turbo
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
6
Tire Size
35"
I have a list of things I hate about my ranger (in order):
-For every problem solved, two more show up.
-It has a cam synchronizer, which goes bad and is discontinued by Motorcraft.
-The door never shuts all the way, and clunks violently loud until I get it to shut.
-just about every window and 3rd brake light leaks air/water.
-The ac is terrible and robs so much power, its very noticable.
- I live in CA, so no mods or motor swaps.
-in todays world of 1000hp and 20mpg's, my ranger has 1/10 of that hp and half the mpg's.

That's about it.
I have some experience on the door issues, simply loosen the latch pin a little and pry it out a touch, if you get the door latch to the pin and the door has to move up or down to latch that's your problem, I fixed my '97 with a 2x6 on edge and a floor jack to jack the door up a little... closes like a dream between the two tweaks, if the body lines are good when the door is closed don't screw with the pin...
 

gaz

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Location
Wa, Bremerton 98310
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
87Ranger Endrigo 2.9l, 87BII Endrigo 4.0l
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
Ranger 5" (2" suspension), BII 4" suspension
Total Drop
Ranger 5sp, BII A4LD
Tire Size
Ranger 33"/4:10LS, BII 29"/3:73LS
My credo
Deengineer until it is how Blue Oval should have sold it!!
It's 1st dent; I had temporarily leaned an upright 8' 4x4 against the auto I was working on, 93-111 or so seconds later I bumped it and it fell...in slow motion towards the 1987 Ranger parked behind.

It landed square on the front corner giving it it's first ever sent. It is almost 8" long and nearly ½" deep. It will probably come out with some modest persuasion but it was a sad moment.

This happened just the other day .(
 

sgtsandman

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Location
Aliquippa, PA
Vehicle Year
2011/2019
Make / Model
Ranger XLT/FX4
Engine Size
4.0 SOHC/2.3 Ecoboost
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
Pre-2008 lift/Stock
Tire Size
31X10.5R15/265/65R17
My things are more irritants than hates and some are self inflicted that will eventually get addressed.

1. Rust. It's a Ford, it's what they do and it's a constant battle. Eventually I'll need to replace the diver's side door and do a patch repair in the right front bed.

2. It doesn't have the power I would like it to have. That is partly my fault and partly the Ford's fault. The truck really should have came with 4.10:1 axle gears and me installing tires 2" taller didn't help. That will eventually get fixed by installing 4.56:1 gears.

That's really about it. There are some things that I wish Ford had done differently but they really aren't a hate or irritant.
 

JoshT

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Vehicle Year
1999
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
I have a list of things I hate about my ranger (in order):
-For every problem solved, two more show up.
-It has a cam synchronizer, which goes bad and is discontinued by Motorcraft.
-The door never shuts all the way, and clunks violently loud until I get it to shut.
-just about every window and 3rd brake light leaks air/water.
-The ac is terrible and robs so much power, its very noticable.
- I live in CA, so no mods or motor swaps.
-in todays world of 1000hp and 20mpg's, my ranger has 1/10 of that hp and half the mpg's.

That's about it.
Sounds like most of your problems could be solved with one simple fix.
 

sgtsandman

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Location
Aliquippa, PA
Vehicle Year
2011/2019
Make / Model
Ranger XLT/FX4
Engine Size
4.0 SOHC/2.3 Ecoboost
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
Pre-2008 lift/Stock
Tire Size
31X10.5R15/265/65R17

mikkelstuff

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Location
Brighton, CO
Vehicle Year
2002
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
3.0 V6
Engine Size
3.0L
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My one gripe is that the 3.0L is so wimpy. Yes it will run 80 mph all day and I think this is a good engine with lots of durability. Just takes a while to get up to speed. Of course this is my problem. Brother and I bought this truck for our Dad. We thought a 3.0L would be plenty and did not look at any 4.0L trucks.

Then too, Colorado emissions will not allow a 5.0L upgrade to this 2002 Ranger! (Engine must be equal or newer than the vehicle.)

Still I'm most pleased to have this truck after Dad died.
 

snoranger

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I didn't ask for your life story, just answer the question!

JoshT

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4WD

avid

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Location
Omaha, NE
Vehicle Year
1998
Make / Model
XLT 4.0 OHV 4wd
Transmission
Automatic
My '98 is running great overall with a replacement 4.0, new Cooling, Exhaust, AC, and Brake Systems/components, shackles, tires, battery, seats, bluetooth stereo, blah blah blah. Eventually I'd like to put new rims and slightly larger tires on as well as heavier leaf springs.

But what I hate is the body: Sun-faded chalky red with mild hail-damage and the beginnings of rust on the cab corners. I've done all the previous mechanical work with some help on the engine swap from a buddy who has since moved to Florida. But I haven't the first idea about how to get started with body work. And I hate the red. I used to own a red car and I've had enough of red vehicles for one lifetime. Would really like to get it a nice midnight blue.
 

snoranger

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Eddo Rogue

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Location
Burbank,CA
Vehicle Year
1993
Make / Model
Ranger 4x4
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
OHV
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
skyjacker front leveling kit
Tire Size
31-10.50R15
My credo
Crossed threads are tight threads.
My one gripe is that the 3.0L is so wimpy. Yes it will run 80 mph all day and I think this is a good engine with lots of durability. Just takes a while to get up to speed. Of course this is my problem. Brother and I bought this truck for our Dad. We thought a 3.0L would be plenty and did not look at any 4.0L trucks.

Then too, Colorado emissions will not allow a 5.0L upgrade to this 2002 Ranger! (Engine must be equal or newer than the vehicle.)

Still I'm most pleased to have this truck after Dad died.
Thats why its called the 3 point slow. The 4.0 is not much better. LS7 might do the trick.
 

sgtsandman

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Location
Aliquippa, PA
Vehicle Year
2011/2019
Make / Model
Ranger XLT/FX4
Engine Size
4.0 SOHC/2.3 Ecoboost
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
Pre-2008 lift/Stock
Tire Size
31X10.5R15/265/65R17
Thats why its called the 3 point slow. The 4.0 is not much better. LS7 might do the trick.
The 3.0 has to be reved up to a higher RPM to get a similar power to the other engines. A lot of people are uncomfortable with doing that. I ran into similar with my Honda CR-Vs. People always thought I was over reving the engine when I was driving it exactly how the manufacturer recommended it be driven (about 2,000 - 3,000 for the standard power band instead 1,000 - 2,000 rpm). As a result, the 3.0 has a reputation for being weak and sluggish.
 

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