Great place and a question

[my80chevette]

I purchased a 1988 Ranger a week ago with the 2.9 and stick. It ran but pretty poorly and I figured I would need to do a bit of work on it. The engine would start almost immediately but died right away. Then when giving it gas to keep it running it sort of surges and will die if you just keep a steady pressure on the gas. Plus it makes it a bucking bronco out of it when your in low gears. After looking on here I began checking various sensors and today I disconnected the map sensor and the truck stayed running and not surging. So this must be the culprit in my problems with the truck, right? I would check the codes but I have no check engine light and no way read the codes any other way. What do you guys think??? Thanks for any help and this site really is great!!

 

[IMenriched]

I purchased a 1988 Ranger a week ago with the 2.9 and stick. It ran but pretty poorly and I figured I would need to do a bit of work on it. The engine would start almost immediately but died right away. Then when giving it gas to keep it running it sort of surges and will die if you just keep a steady pressure on the gas. Plus it makes it a bucking bronco out of it when your in low gears. After looking on here I began checking various sensors and today I disconnected the map sensor and the truck stayed running and not surging. So this must be the culprit in my problems with the truck, right? I would check the codes but I have no check engine light and no way read the codes any other way. What do you guys think??? Thanks for any help and this site really is great!!

the tech library show one how to get codes with a analog multimeter.

getting the codes would be most helpful.

try pulling the small vacuum line off the FPR...if fuel dribbles out of it, the FPR is done.

can't stress enough to make sure the grounds are all good. & check for vacuum leaks

 

[bobbywalter]

yeah, major vacuum leaks will definatly affect the map sensor.

its why its there...

 

[my80chevette]

I don't have access to a meter but maybe I can find one somewhere cheap. If stupid unexpected bills would stop showing up I could actually afford to get this thing running properly. Wish me luck!!

 

[IMenriched]

I can FULLY appreciate your cash flow situation...
Wally world does have a cheap needle sweep multi-meter....I'll let you define cheep thou.

as I re-read your post ...yes MAP sensor seems to be your led suspect.
but code will help confirm that...

some parts stores will run codes for you to...you just have to get it there in a running state.

 

[88gt]

you CEL might be burnt out giving the truck is that old...

 

[my80chevette]

you CEL might be burnt out giving the truck is that old...

It could be but I never mentioned that the truck was originally a 2.0 liter 4 banger. I dont think the check engine light was ever hooked up. I sure wish it was just a burnt out light.......make my life alot easier!!

 

[Cyberbeer]

I might be wrong but I thought most 86,87,88 rangers didnt actually come with the CEL installed, just a cut out.

 

[holyford86]

88 did come with a CEL, 86 had no provision for one, 87 had the provision but no light. if you have a CEL you can pull codes with a paperclip.