I'm calling it "Low-C"

[pentode]

Done!
Nice cold air now. Well, except idling at stoplights it drops off a bit.
So far so good, let's see if this chinese compressor holds together long-term or not.
And again, thanks to all you guys for the advice, I probably never would have tried this on my own had I not been challenged.

Well done! I'm sure it's in the realm of normal that it falls off at idle. Mine's probably a fraction low on charge but it really gets max cold once rolling down the road. At idle you're not moving much freon and no air through the condenser so....

 

[ForgedCrank]

Well done! I'm sure it's in the realm of normal that it falls off at idle. Mine's probably a fraction low on charge but it really gets max cold once rolling down the road. At idle you're not moving much freon and no air through the condenser so....

Yea, it appears to be operating pretty normal. The only thing I don't like is the compressor is making a bit of clattering noise. It's very faint, but it's there. Could just be me being paranoid. I'm not normally standing next to the car AC compressor when it's running and paying attention so could be normal for all I know. I'm confident regarding my oil levels and everything, so if it blows, it's because it was faulty... but only time will tell.
Up next: brakes! I'm going to go through them completely to make sure this thing is trip worthy when needed. I have several large plots of land 50 to 75 acres or so each, but they are all about 2 hours away from where I currently live, so I make trips up north to manage that mess... cleaning scrub, running a flail mower where I can, clearing trees where they get out of control, etc. I'd like for this to be my new road beater for those trips once I feel like I can trust it. I have a 4X4 Dakota V8 that I normally take, but that thing isn't very kind when it comes to the gas bill. Plus I'm trying to keep the mileage down on the nicer stuff. I recon maybe tomorrow I'm going to go over to the interstate and get this Ranger wound up to 70+ and make it go 10 or 20 miles to make sure it can survive that. I don't think it's going to be a problem, I've just never had this thing above 45mph yet. Heck, I also don't even know if this thing CAN go 70+ hehe. I am starting to get used to the absent torque and power. It's not all bad once you get the rhythm of it I suppose. The wife has been poking at me because of all these cars around and I'm driving that old Ranger. But I'm really starting to take a liking to the thing. I'm 5' 10", so I'm just the right size for it too. I can see if anyone was much bigger, they might struggle in there, but it fits me like a glove.

 

[RobbieD]

But I'm really starting to take a liking to the thing.

I've noticed that a lot of the "new to the Ranger" guys that land on TRS say things like this. Not knocking all of the other trucks out there, but Ford really nailed it with the Ranger.

I recon maybe tomorrow I'm going to go over to the interstate and get this Ranger wound up to 70+ and make it go 10 or 20 miles to make sure it can survive that.

The way that you've been repairing things, and catching up on maintenance, where needed, this truck will be dependable, and it will last you a long time. 1994 was a great year for these trucks.

The wife has been poking at me because of all these cars around and I'm driving that old Ranger.

Once you get it dialed in right, just let her drive it. Afterward you'll probably have to hide the keys to keep her out of it.

 

[ForgedCrank]

Once you get it dialed in right, just let her drive it. Afterward you'll probably have to hide the keys to keep her out of it.

Hmph... that woman is spoiled rotten. She drives a '21 Corsair. If the car doesn't talk to her, she doesn't want anything to do with it.

Me? I have to say, I'm really starting to dig the stripped down, rude and primitive nature of the old Ranger. It takes me back. I do wish this was a 4wd version though. I'll just have to relegate this one for non-inclement weather use. I can't imagine this thing is useful at all in the snow.
Right now the thing is running like a sewing machine. I've been pondering what I assumed was a low rpm miss. Now that I have a tach I can see that whats really wrong is the thing is just simply idling too low. I have a digital tach (the ones you use with a piece of tape) and I verified the dash tach is accurate. Right now, it idles @ around 500, and that is right on the edge for this thing, so it gets a little lumpy sometimes. To be frank, I'm just going to ignore that and drive it. I'm not going to start swapping modules and everything else trying to figure it out, it runs very good otherwise.

 

[mtnrgr]

Even though it shouldn't be done on efi, you can slowly turn up the idle by adjusting the throttle idle screw. These are best idle at 750 to 850. Reason it's stumbling is the idle is to low and it fighting to not shudder and die.

 

[ForgedCrank]

Even though it shouldn't be done on efi, you can slowly turn up the idle by adjusting the throttle idle screw. These are best idle at 750 to 850. Reason it's stumbling is the idle is to low and it fighting to not shudder and die. My experience with the early 4.0 5spd explorers and rangers had a lower idle than the 2.3 and 3.0 5spd trucks.

Will that actually work on this thing? In the past when I tried to do that on other vehicles, it didn't matter what you do with that screw, the computer just puts it right back anyway

 

[RobbieD]

I'm really starting to dig the stripped down, rude and primitive nature of the old Ranger. It takes me back.

I have 3 '94s, a '90, and an '84. I get the biggest grin driving the 1984. Now, if I can only find a genuine Ford AM/FM 8-track to go in it, I could really go back in time.

 

[mtnrgr]

Will that actually work on this thing? In the past when I tried to do that on other vehicles, it didn't matter what you do with that screw, the computer just puts it right back anyway

Yes it will work. Do this after it's been driven to have a full operation of temperature. On a cold start rpms are to high. Early days of ford efi obd1 is like the later days of carburetors...slightly advanced. Adjust it to where your comfortable with the rpm numbers.

Now all these new vehicles are self adjustment from all sensors and all the miles of wiring.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Before you do that I might just take the IAC off the side of the throttle/intake and clean it out with MAF cleaner or electric parts cleaner, I don't think it's opening. If you unplug the IAC with the engine running it should drop down to about 500rpm but since you're already there it might stall, if it stalls then adjust the screw until the idle is up around 500rpm then plug it back in and it should get better...

 

[ForgedCrank]

Before you do that I might just take the IAC off the side of the throttle/intake and clean it out with MAF cleaner or electric parts cleaner, I don't think it's opening. If you unplug the IAC with the engine running it should drop down to about 500rpm but since you're already there it might stall, if it stalls then adjust the screw until the idle is up around 500rpm then plug it back in and it should get better...

Well, I was goofing around this morning... warmed up the truck and then pulled the IAC connector and it immediately idles down further, then dies. It appears to be doing it's job at least somewhat. I'm starting to suspect maybe someone was already messing with that throttle body stop screw in the past.
I'm going to pull that IAC valve and clean it this weekend, then if that makes no difference, i'll jack the stop screw in a little until I get it closer to 800~ rpm.

 

[superj]

i like mine being stripped down too. old school.

the wife wants me to get a jeep gladiator. we have been driving them around and trying them out. they are nice and would be good for trips because her 2019 wrangler is very good for trips but she wants something we can put larger stuff in the bed and tow more with then the ranger stepside does.

but we are keeping the ranger. we can sell off some of hte other vehicles but the ranger is to solid a truck to get rid of for something new and electronic

 

[scotts90ranger]

Well, I was goofing around this morning... warmed up the truck and then pulled the IAC connector and it immediately idles down further, then dies. It appears to be doing it's job at least somewhat. I'm starting to suspect maybe someone was already messing with that throttle body stop screw in the past.
I'm going to pull that IAC valve and clean it this weekend, then if that makes no difference, i'll jack the stop screw in a little until I get it closer to 800~ rpm.

The more proper way is to adjust it to ~500 or so with the IAC unplugged but yeah, you're on the right track.

 

[ForgedCrank]

Well, I took the IAC valve off and cleaned it up real nice... now the thing won't idle at all. hahaha
RANGER DOWN! RANGER DOWN!

Anyway, new one on order. Hopefully this thing was the problem all along but we'll see.

 

[nickname23]

Really miss that dashboard, don't get me wrong my new ranger is not that much older but that 80s dash always had more character

 

[scotts90ranger]

Really miss that dashboard, don't get me wrong my new ranger is not that much older but that 80s dash always had more character

I agree, my favorite is the '89-94 dash