2,000 miles of torture

[Speedwagon]

For some reason, I thought it would be a good idea to drive my '87 Ranger from Denver to Chicago and back, instead of taking the '92 Ranger, or my Subaru. Turns out, it was a bad idea. I should have kept the thing in the state on a trip, and not go this far with it. Utterly miserable trip.

About the time I get to Nebraska, the truck decides it wants to start giving me power surges. That part, was a good thing, because it let me know the truck had more power than it was giving me since I got it. Halfway through Iowa though, it started driving worse. Much worse. I basically had to either be full off throttle, or full on.

Finally arrive in Chicago, and replaced the TPS right away, which seemed to fix the throttle issue. I also suspected the cat was plugged up, which I was partially correct about. Turns out the insides of the cat were MIA, and likely in the exploded looking muffler. Replaced the muffler, and the truck did drive better after that.

The entire time I was in the Chicago area(about 10 days), I got a consistent 17mpg. The trip to chicago got me around 11-13mpg. And now for the drive back...

Everything was fine, until I get to around Iowa. Truck starts acting funky again, and mpg goes in the crapper once again(back to about 10-13 this time). Sometimes I have power, sometimes I don't. I ended up not using 5th gear, because it would lose all power if I shifted into it, and had to go back to 4th. If the RPMs were too low, the truck would sputter and slow down. Full throttle would usually clear it up, then I would have to slowly let up to attain the speed I wanted. Hills, speed changes, load changes(wind and such), all made driving the truck an extremely tedious chore. I did notice that it seemed to drive better for awhile, if I let it sit for a good hour to cool off. But after some driving, back to the usual games. And lest I forget, I get frequent pops when I shift gears, with a black cloud out the tailpipe.

So what the hell is in an EFI system that could cause this? Obviously it is running WAY too rich, but why? Plugs, wires, cap, rotor, and coil are all new, along with the TPS I replaced in Chicago. I really wanted to just drive the thing off a cliff by the time I hit Nebraska, it was just so frustrating. And I checked for codes before I left, it didn't have any('87 2.3 EFI BTW), and doesn't have a CEL. It DOES have more power now that my exhaust isn't plugged, but that is apparently only a portion of my problem(or was).

I should also mention, that my '92 split bench feels like a La-Z-Boy compared to the bench in the '87 now.

 

[c_note]

just a thought, but check you vacuum lines. thats a cause of alot of issues.

 

[Speedwagon]

just a thought, but check you vacuum lines. thats a cause of alot of issues.

I did that before I left, and periodically at gas stations on the way, no signs of a vacuum leak. I even sprayed WD40 around the engine to try and find a leak, but nothing. Unless it is a sneaky bastard, there doesn't appear to be a leak.

 

[Will]

I was on I-80 this morning on my way back to Indiana from Iowa in my skoolie.

Did you pull the vacuum line off the fuel pressure regulator and smell it to check for gas in the line? If the fpr diaghram leaks it will suck raw fuel in through the vacuum line.

 

[Speedwagon]

I was on I-80 this morning on my way back to Indiana from Iowa in my skoolie.

Did you pull the vacuum line off the fuel pressure regulator and smell it to check for gas in the line? If the fpr diaghram leaks it will suck raw fuel in through the vacuum line.

I have not, but I've had a couple people suggest that in the past 2 days. So obviously that is something I need to go look at ASAP.

 

[5speedin2.3]

Unplug the mass air sensor and drive it around. The computer will go in to "limp mode".

That could be causing the problem. If you get a junkyard air meter make sure its off the same engine as yours. Most people think they're all the same, not true. There should be a calibration code on the sensor itself.

 

[5speedin2.3]

Also, check the coolant, make sure the truck isn't overheating.

 

[93greenbomb]

Try checking the 02 sensors they can make it run rich and act all crazy!

 

[Speedwagon]

Unplug the mass air sensor and drive it around. The computer will go in to "limp mode".

That could be causing the problem. If you get a junkyard air meter make sure its off the same engine as yours. Most people think they're all the same, not true. There should be a calibration code on the sensor itself.

I disconnected it once, and the engine promptly died.

Also, check the coolant, make sure the truck isn't overheating.

Definetaly not, as I recently replaced the radiator, and the truck runs at a solid 170deg according to my cheapo temp gauge(has a 180 tstat in it). Used to run around 200 with the old radiator, but I went from the 3/8" think one to a radiator twice as thick.

Try checking the 02 sensors they can make it run rich and act all crazy!

I have a new o2 sensor to replace the current one, but even a failed one shouldn't be getting me half the fuel economy that it's supposed to have.

 

[Shran]

MAP sensor and fuel pressure regulator would be my two guesses.

 

[93greenbomb]

I have a new o2 sensor to replace the current one, but even a failed one shouldn't be getting me half the fuel economy that it's supposed to have.[/QUOTE]

My dads 90 bII had a bad 02 and it ran rich as hell had no power would cut in and out and lost a lot of mpgs. I am not saying i know that's your problem cause i would also lean towards fuel pressure regulator as well, however, that is easy to test.

 

[5speedin2.3]

It shouldn't die when the mass air sensor is unplugged. Try starting the truck after you unplug it.

Did you bleed all of the air out when you did the coolant system work?

 

[RustedRanger]

Check the fuel pressure with a gauge to check the FPR,mine was bad and didn't leak fuel. Mine also had a bad fan clutch and I couldn't tell until it got over 80 degrees outside and it started running really crappy. The stock gauge wasn't going very high(not even halfway up) but it ran better with the heater on full blast which didn't make for a fun trip to get a fan and clutch on an 80 degree day.

 

[AllanD]

I disconnected it once, and the engine promptly died.



Definetaly not, as I recently replaced the radiator, and the truck runs at a solid 170deg according to my cheapo temp gauge(has a 180 tstat in it). Used to run around 200 with the old radiator, but I went from the 3/8" think one to a radiator twice as thick.



I have a new o2 sensor to replace the current one, but even a failed one shouldn't be getting me half the fuel economy that it's supposed to have.

You cannot have disconnected your Mass Air Sensor, because an '87 2.9 doesn't have one.

Have you corrolated your problem to burning gas you bought in Iowa?


Have you replaced your fuel filter lately?

Personally I'm also Currently in Indiana, but I'm still running on gas I brought with me...

AD

 

[Speedwagon]

Allan,

He does not have a 2.9 in the 87, he has a 2.3. It's probably the MAP sensor he unplugged. My old 88 2.3 had the MAP not a MAF sensor.

I believe the truck has BOTH. There is a sensor with a vacuum hose and electrical plug on the firewall, directly above the exhaust manifold(but at the top of the firewall). And there is a sensor on the airbox, that is plumbed to the inside of the airbox, and has an electrical connection on it. The one I disconnected before was the one on the airbox that made the engine die. I did try it again the other day(engine was cold this time though), and it sputtered, then picked up idle and kept running. Haven't driven it yet though.