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Distributor acts like REV LIMITER


Bear in the woods

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Ford ranger XLT
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2.9 in 90 , 4.0 in 99
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Put on a new Distributor and when you kick the throttle it , it acts exactly as a rev limiter does. Got to dark outside to finish. Gotta get it better in time and double check to see if I missed anything that would cause it to act like that.
 


rusty ol ranger

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Put on a new Distributor and when you kick the throttle it , it acts exactly as a rev limiter does. Got to dark outside to finish. Gotta get it better in time and double check to see if I missed anything that would cause it to act like that.
It does it at any speed above idle?

Or just above a certain RPM?

Remember to pull SPOUT when setting time
 

Bear in the woods

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Location
Corinth Ms
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1990/1999
Make / Model
Ford ranger XLT
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Engine Size
2.9 in 90 , 4.0 in 99
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Tire Size
30”
It does it only when you throttle hard. I only drove it about a half mile. Was late and cold. computer hadn’t even reset. After work I’m gonna check it out.
 

rusty ol ranger

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It does it only when you throttle hard. I only drove it about a half mile. Was late and cold. computer hadn’t even reset. After work I’m gonna check it out.
Check fuel pressure.

Or did this just start after the new distributor?
 

Bear in the woods

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Location
Corinth Ms
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1990/1999
Make / Model
Ford ranger XLT
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Engine Size
2.9 in 90 , 4.0 in 99
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Tire Size
30”
Would go about 5 miles then lose all pulling power. Cool down 20 minutes then go another 5. Has new tank pump. New distributor,and ignition module. The rev limiter symptom is new. Just started that after the distributor. Gonna put a new. Coil this weekend. 2.9s are tough, but ornery 🤣
 

rusty ol ranger

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Manual
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My credo
A legend to the old man, a hero to the child...
Would go about 5 miles then lose all pulling power. Cool down 20 minutes then go another 5. Has new tank pump. New distributor,and ignition module. The rev limiter symptom is new. Just started that after the distributor. Gonna put a new. Coil this weekend. 2.9s are tough, but ornery 🤣
Yes they are tempermental bastards.

If it started after the distributor...i would about bet on the TFI then. Did you buy an amazon cheapo? What color is it?
 

Bear in the woods

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Location
Corinth Ms
Vehicle Year
1990/1999
Make / Model
Ford ranger XLT
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Engine Size
2.9 in 90 , 4.0 in 99
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Tire Size
30”
Think the tfi is black on this one. But the new one on the old distributor is grey. Was losing power at about 5 miles before the new distributor. Still does it.
 

rusty ol ranger

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Location
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177 CID
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
My credo
A legend to the old man, a hero to the child...
Think the tfi is black on this one. But the new one on the old distributor is grey. Was losing power at about 5 miles before the new distributor. Still does it.
You need the grey TFI.

Switch TFI's and see where youre at.
 

Bear in the woods

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Location
Corinth Ms
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1990/1999
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Ford ranger XLT
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Engine Size
2.9 in 90 , 4.0 in 99
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Tire Size
30”
I put the grey one on the old distributor and it was still acting like a bad tfi or stator. So I got a new distributor. It came with the black one on it. But I definitely agree. They usually are grey. Will Change it tomorrow.
 

Bear in the woods

Well-Known Member
Joined
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Messages
146
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Location
Corinth Ms
Vehicle Year
1990/1999
Make / Model
Ford ranger XLT
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Engine Size
2.9 in 90 , 4.0 in 99
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Tire Size
30”
Also. It has a new tank pump. But today I drove it till it started acting up,then I used a pair of vise grips to crimp the fuel return line off, it seemed to run a bit better. It got me home but had a little miss.
 

Bear in the woods

Well-Known Member
Joined
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Messages
146
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94
Location
Corinth Ms
Vehicle Year
1990/1999
Make / Model
Ford ranger XLT
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Engine Size
2.9 in 90 , 4.0 in 99
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Tire Size
30”
Maybe my fuel regulator? not sure if it has a secondary fuel pump
 

rusty ol ranger

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Location
Michigan
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1987
Make / Model
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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...
Maybe my fuel regulator? not sure if it has a secondary fuel pump
Doubt the regulator. Usually that will cause a flood when that goes bad. But you can pull the vacuum hose off and check it for fuel. If there is fuel in that vacuum hose then its bad.

But pinching the return line would up pressure....so that points to starvation. Fuel filter...pump getting weak...etc
 

Bear in the woods

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 14, 2023
Messages
146
Reaction score
94
Location
Corinth Ms
Vehicle Year
1990/1999
Make / Model
Ford ranger XLT
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Engine Size
2.9 in 90 , 4.0 in 99
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Tire Size
30”
New filter and tank pump assembly. And only acts up when reaching running temperature. Guess I need to look for a secondary pump. When it starts Messing up it loses all power. Misses like CraZy. But doesn’t blow any smoke at all out of the tail pipe
 

Bear in the woods

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 14, 2023
Messages
146
Reaction score
94
Location
Corinth Ms
Vehicle Year
1990/1999
Make / Model
Ford ranger XLT
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Engine Size
2.9 in 90 , 4.0 in 99
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Tire Size
30”
I have even had to put it in low range to get it to even pull on flat road
 

rusty ol ranger

2.9 Mafia-Don
Supporting Member
Joined
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Messages
13,394
Reaction score
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Location
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...
New filter and tank pump assembly. And only acts up when reaching running temperature. Guess I need to look for a secondary pump. When it starts Messing up it loses all power. Misses like CraZy. But doesn’t blow any smoke at all out of the tail pipe
What year is this truck?

86-87 for sure had an intank lift pump and a hi-po on the frame. 88 could go either way.
 

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