4.0 skipping

[tlandreth]

I have a 1995 Ranger 4.0 2wd with an automatic transmission that skips when I am driving slowly and even sitting at say a red light or stop sign. My headlights go dim and the battery Gage goes wild when it skips. It has choked down on me every now and again. We recently changed the spark plugs as well as the spark plug wires, so that is not the problem.

 

[swynx]

check all your connections and grounds. your alternator, have it tested. maybe you got some lose connections some place. you hit a bump and it goes dead. then hit another and it comes back. maybe theres a short some place?

 

[jhammel85]

check all your connections and grounds. your alternator, have it tested. maybe you got some lose connections some place. you hit a bump and it goes dead. then hit another and it comes back. maybe theres a short some place?

Agreed. In my experience, when a gauge goes wild like that it's because of a broken or loose connection. Sometimes even a short.

 

[06RangerXLT]

my guess is a bad ground. and a bump is making it shake loose

 

[Ranger44]

My guesses?

Bad or going bad alternator.

Bad or corroded battery terminals or connection to the alt.

or the unlikely..but possible..a Battery going bad. (Batteries aren't only for start up, they also act as an electric filter, and prevent spikes/fluctuations in the system).

 

[tlandreth]

Thnks for the relplies! The problem is that it constantly skips. The only time it doesn't skip is while I am actually driving it or when I start it up after it has sat for a few hours. It does skip when it is idling or moving between 10-20 mph. It has cut off on me several times at a red light when i am just starting off. I am going to get the alternator checked today and i got a new battery for it in September.