Good Afternoon everyone.
1988 Rangers 2wd, 2.9 5 speed.
About a month ago I started to notice something was up, the truck would shake a bit more than usual. I could see it in the shifter as well as the rpms going from regular 1k down to 7-800 at idle . Didn’t think it was a problem but it’s gotten progressively worse. Truck idles pretty rough and I believe the driver side farthest front (facing grille) cylinder missing. Could be more than that. In the past I’ve washed the engine bay and it would bog/ hop at the first hundred feet or so. Yes I take the air filter out. I’d let it sit for a while, then warm up for about 15 minutes, no longer did it. Last week I had a show and wanted to spice up the bay so cleaned it with a hose, brush and some soap. I was proud of my powder coated plenum
. Had it all polished up and was driving to the show the next evening, started bogging out under load… I was on the highway cruising, had been driving a mile or 2 until I came to a stoplight. When I tried to go she started bucking and not responding at all. Felt as if I was firing off one cylinder. I made it to the show after letting it sit for a while and was fine that night. Problem does NOT occur 2200+ rpms. Only when I’ve got load on the engine. It has started happening every time I drive, will seem fine for a few miles and then starts bogging out. It idles for ~30 seconds and then nearly stalls but always catches itself. Then idles a constant 1k. Never boggs down in idle. Overall power has gone down significantly.
I’ve scrutinized the plug wires, changed plugs since I had them around. Distributor cap was dry and no carbon streaks. Have new plug wires, rotor, cap and coil on the way. Everything is original, I’d say it’s due. I have low expectations that they’re my problem, everything seems fine, it’s all dry now.
I am thinking about renting a pressure gauge to see what I’m getting, injectors are always suspect. FPR is new and vacuum line is dry, that cylinder is firing anyway so don’t believe it’s the problem. IAC is working I believe, engine dies when unplugged. Same with MAP. Last week I did replace my intake manifold, it worked great for ~80 miles up until I washed everything. I use the highest grade gaskets with Indian head on both sides on anything I’m sealing. CEL did come one yesterday for a time after it lugged out of a traffic light. Went away in less than a minute. Came on once more then off again. Only codes it’s giving are 332, EGR. My understanding is 88 had EGR deleted form factory. Both my OE intake and new were sealed off. Codes weren’t much help. I did get a 331 and I believe a 41. Not 100% it was 41.
Hoping one of y’all can guide me in the right direction here, it’s easy to throw money at it. I’m not trying to replace everything known to man. Just want it running like it used to for as relatively cheap as I can.
I’d like to find closure and be confident I found the problem.
Thank you for your time everyone, have a great day!
-Tyler
1988 Rangers 2wd, 2.9 5 speed.
About a month ago I started to notice something was up, the truck would shake a bit more than usual. I could see it in the shifter as well as the rpms going from regular 1k down to 7-800 at idle . Didn’t think it was a problem but it’s gotten progressively worse. Truck idles pretty rough and I believe the driver side farthest front (facing grille) cylinder missing. Could be more than that. In the past I’ve washed the engine bay and it would bog/ hop at the first hundred feet or so. Yes I take the air filter out. I’d let it sit for a while, then warm up for about 15 minutes, no longer did it. Last week I had a show and wanted to spice up the bay so cleaned it with a hose, brush and some soap. I was proud of my powder coated plenum
. Had it all polished up and was driving to the show the next evening, started bogging out under load… I was on the highway cruising, had been driving a mile or 2 until I came to a stoplight. When I tried to go she started bucking and not responding at all. Felt as if I was firing off one cylinder. I made it to the show after letting it sit for a while and was fine that night. Problem does NOT occur 2200+ rpms. Only when I’ve got load on the engine. It has started happening every time I drive, will seem fine for a few miles and then starts bogging out. It idles for ~30 seconds and then nearly stalls but always catches itself. Then idles a constant 1k. Never boggs down in idle. Overall power has gone down significantly.I’ve scrutinized the plug wires, changed plugs since I had them around. Distributor cap was dry and no carbon streaks. Have new plug wires, rotor, cap and coil on the way. Everything is original, I’d say it’s due. I have low expectations that they’re my problem, everything seems fine, it’s all dry now.
I am thinking about renting a pressure gauge to see what I’m getting, injectors are always suspect. FPR is new and vacuum line is dry, that cylinder is firing anyway so don’t believe it’s the problem. IAC is working I believe, engine dies when unplugged. Same with MAP. Last week I did replace my intake manifold, it worked great for ~80 miles up until I washed everything. I use the highest grade gaskets with Indian head on both sides on anything I’m sealing. CEL did come one yesterday for a time after it lugged out of a traffic light. Went away in less than a minute. Came on once more then off again. Only codes it’s giving are 332, EGR. My understanding is 88 had EGR deleted form factory. Both my OE intake and new were sealed off. Codes weren’t much help. I did get a 331 and I believe a 41. Not 100% it was 41.
Hoping one of y’all can guide me in the right direction here, it’s easy to throw money at it. I’m not trying to replace everything known to man. Just want it running like it used to for as relatively cheap as I can.
I’d like to find closure and be confident I found the problem.
Thank you for your time everyone, have a great day!
-Tyler
