2.9 jerks on freeway

[RustedRanger]

Might check the plug-in to the coil also. I cleaned mine on day and no start....until the plug-in was jiggled around,the plug-in itself was bad even though it looked fine. The idle would move up and down as the plug-in was moved around.....something easy to check.

 

[jhammel85]

When I read the title, I thought you meant guys with 2.9L acting like jerks on the highway. LOL

Then I thought "But how?"

By taking forever to hit 65 when merging...I am that guy.

 

[Zachalanche]

replaced the TFI for peace of mind. I still need to pull the codes and se if there is anything else going on, but for now the truck seems to be running ok. thanks everyone for your help.

 

[Beef52751]

my truck is jerking the same way, im going to replace the tfi when i get some time.

and for the jerk in the 2.9 taking forever to get to 65 on the highway.....that would be me too!!!!

 

[tbirdsps]

When my 92 2.3 did that I was reading codes, scratching my head as there were 13 codes......

When I discovered the loose positive cable on the battery I realized that I was the cause. A few days before I cleaned the posts but forgot to tighten the cable.

 

[Zachalanche]

Update:

My truck reminded me to check the codes today when it died twice shortly after startup this morning. Should have been on top of this sooner, but I get lazy sometimes.

The hard codes passes on the KOEO, but the the stored codes showed 54 (ACT high).

The air inlet temperature sensor seems like a fairly simple device that would have a low chance of failure. does anyone know how common it is to have the ACT sensor fail?

 

[Beef52751]

i just changed TFI about 10 minutes ago, seems to have cured my problem but it only happened on occasion so ill see if it does it tomorrow.

 

[RyanL]

My truck reminded me to check the codes today when it died twice shortly after startup this morning. Should have been on top of this sooner, but I get lazy sometimes.

The hard codes passes on the KOEO, but the the stored codes showed 54 (ACT high).

The air inlet temperature sensor seems like a fairly simple device that would have a low chance of failure. does anyone know how common it is to have the ACT sensor fail?

Break out the multimeter and test it. That's the only way to be sure because there's always the chance that the wiring or connection is shorting.

 

[Beef52751]

i drove my truck tonight, it still does it

 

[Zachalanche]

the air temp sensor tested ok, so I cleaned it up and did a little repair work on the connector. the female side of the contacts appeard to be a bit streched out so the sensor might have been losing connection intermittently. I pryed everything back into shape with a small screw driver and apllied some dyelectric grease before plugging the sensor back in, and haven't had a problem since (roughly a week has passed).

If the problem returns I'll keep posting, but hopefully I have it fixed. and hopefully this info helps some of you that might have similar issues.

 

[Beef52751]

is it still running alright???

 

[Zachalanche]

running perfect since my last post.

 

[fordfan]

I had the same thing happen twice in my '88 Ranger 2.9.
First time the fuel pump went about 6 weeks later, the second it was my alternator diodes were fried. As I understand it, it was messing with the computer by allowing AC for periods, rather than DC? Anyways, on a hunch I disconnected the ground while while idling and my truck died. Replaced it and two years later still have no troubles!
Good Luck!

 

[dirtybird62]

Did you ever find the cure for the "Jerking" ? Was it the coil ? My 87 has been giving me fits doing it. I'm afraid to take it out of town lately.........thanks

 

[Marky48170]

Had the same problem, First the guy I bought my 1988 ranger form bypassed the inertia switch and made a bad connetion with the 2 wires. Then when that was fixed it started again, mainly when I was on the expressway. It would totaly cut out like lack of fuel, sometimes I could feather the gas pedal and it would keep it going. other times I would push in the clutch to try and restart it while moving and the starter would grind. Well I replace the electric fuel pump & sending untit and haven't had a problem since. If the fuel pump gets to hot it will cut out or if the fuel gets to low and have to work harder it could cut out also. Does your idiot lights come on when it cuts out???