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tow-mater


Dav

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U.S. Military - Veteran
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Location
riverview, fl
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
ranger xlt
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Engine Size
, 2.9
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
none but it is a convertible
Tire Size
stock
1988 2.9 auto long bed
towed a trailer for the first time with this truck. trailer and cargo weighed about 2000 lbs.
after 30 miles, the truck started surging from 2700 rpm to 2400 and 5 or 10 seconds later going back up. at first i thought it was trying to shift but it was at near steady speed on flat ground.
any time i slowed down, the fumes would catch up, really nasty fumes. at stops, the engine would idle fine but as i accelerated it would do a few farts and keep going. at one point it started smoking like a major oil leak but there wasn't one.
30 miles later the trailer was unhitched and left. the truck ran fine all the way back.
anyone have any idea what the problem might be?
i have to tow the trailer back next weekend
 


RonD

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TRS Technical Advisor
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Location
canada
Vehicle Year
1994
Make / Model
Ford
Transmission
Manual
Check the modulator vacuum hose on transmission end, make sure there is no trans fluid in it
 

Dav

Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
Joined
Dec 3, 2016
Messages
209
Reaction score
23
Points
18
Location
riverview, fl
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
ranger xlt
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Engine Size
, 2.9
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
none but it is a convertible
Tire Size
stock
well, took a while but i found a line from the intake to the back end of the trans. i'm not as limber as i used to be so crawling under stuff is difficult. could not get the line loose to check it
what would cause atf to get into this line? and will it drain back out on it's own?
 

RonD

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canada
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1994
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Ford
Transmission
Manual
If the diaphragm fails inside the modulator then ATF will go into Vacuum hose and some will be sucked into engine causing surging and smoke as it is burned

I am just guessing as to the cause of your symptoms.
When pulling a load engine runs with higher vacuum at speed.
You can check the engine end of the hose for signs of ATF, its a vacuum hose so will only have seen air all its life, should be no signs of any kind of oil.

Transmission should shift oddly as well which you don't mention
 
Last edited:

Nez'sRanger

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Oct 6, 2018
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Location
Pennsylvania
Vehicle Year
1989
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
2.9L V6
Transmission
Manual
If I remember correctly, my dad's old 1990 ranger had a similar problem going up a certain so hill... It would spew a cloud of atf fluid. Quite freaky actually! After some digging (probably on this site, haha!) he found that the tranny was overheating. He ended up replacing the radiator and he installed a separate transmission cooler. The AC condenser was also shot and blocking air from reaching the radiator, so he deleted the AC as well.
I would look into that possibility as well. If the tranny is overheating, that might explain why fluid is getting in the vacuum hose.
 

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