RobbieD
2.9l Mafia
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2007
- Messages
- 3,973
- Reaction score
- 3,591
- Points
- 113
- Location
- Georgia
- Vehicle Year
- 1984,1990,1994
- Make / Model
- Ford
- Transmission
- Manual
- 2WD / 4WD
- 2WD
- My credo
- Toonces drives a Ranger . . . . just not very well.
I think that it'd be a good idea, at this point, to check ALL of the ground cables and wires, from the battery negative post to the engine, frame and body. And also check the ground cable or strap between the engine and cab. At least rule this, a bad grounding path, out of the equation.She did not run this poorly before that shadetree mechanic got ahold of her.
In your post #1 photo, that looks like a disconnected ground strap. A lot of "mechanics" remove stuff (like dip sticks), and don't put things back. A lot of your symptoms could be due a bad, or unstable, grounding path. Even the starter (as in a new one drawing less amperage).
Congrats on scoring the dipstick, and don't give up. Things like this are usually something simple, but it's just the aggravating matter of finding the needle in the haystack.
Good Luck!