1986 Ranger I need your HELP!

[MattA]

Hi,

This is my first post and it's awesome to have this resource available!

I purchased a 1986 Ford Ranger 2wd 2.3l EFI 4 cylinder standard cab from my neighbors widow. I bought it 2 weeks ago for $500 and it has 36,000 original miles. It wasn't running when I got it, I replaced the low pressure fuel pump in the tank, high pressure fuel pump on the frame as well as a new fuel filter. It started right up after I replaced the pumps and filter.

Next I changed the Oil filter and oil, I wanted to change the air filter but somehow I bought the wrong one so I kept the old on in and took it for a ride once the engine warmed up. I'm on my way out the door to buy the correct air filter as soon as I'm done with this post.

It starts and idles without a problem but when I lightly press the accelerator in park it wants to stall and will unless I feather the throttle once the rpms are up it has no problem. In all other gears it cuts out when I lightly depress the throttle but it if I feather the throttle a bit it will run just fine until I come to a stop. At a complete stop it will idle but hesistate/ bogg down once I try to accelerate unless I feather the throttle again.

Before I spend any more money I needed to hear some opinions. So far my dad has said that it could be:

-MAP Sensor needs to be cleaned but I can't find it. Does it have a MAP or does it have an MAF?

-could need new plugs, wires, and distributor cap. I had removed the cap and saw a light rusty dusting on the inside, I proceeded to blow out the cap cleaned the metal contact things on the inside. This didn't help anything.

Just to note, I'm 35 and have been working on my own vehicles since i was 17. I'm no expert but have successfully replaced water pumps, fuel pumps, ac compressors, starters, brakes and all those random things that go wrong on my 1993 and 2002 S-10 trucks. I was hoping to replace my 2002, 270,000 mile S-10 with this 86 for ranger due to the low mileage.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
-Matt

 

[adsm08]

Kinda sounds like either the low end of the throttle position sensor is worn out, or maybe the oxygen sensor is dying.

 

[MattA]

Thanks for the reply! Sounds like a legitimate possiblity, could it also be any of the reasons I listed in my post? Also what's the likelyhood that it's the idle air control valve, because the problem started after I disconnected and reconnected it.

 

[MattA]

We'll, I answered my own problem! I cleaned the idle air control valve with MAP sensor cleaner and the problem is gone.