4X4 Ranger Edge Standard cab 4.0??

[fastpakr]

Sorry, but that's a load of carp. If you're having to replace a slave once a year, you need to find out what's causing them to fail or find another source for replacements. While they do occasionally fail, it's rare for them not to outlast the clutch. The Mazda transmission is very reliable, and has been since '88 when it came out.

 

[Fx4wannabe01]

It's not a load of crap. Several 01+ 4.0 owners report the same issues I've just reported in this thread. From what I've read, Ford made a slight design change in the slave cylinder in the late 90's. They are a ticking time bomb that go off at no notice. Shoot...Bob Rwenzing didn't even hit 10k when his first went. Of course we all know he went 5.0/auto at about 28k or so.

I've owned the truck since Nov '04 with 30k. in about June '05 at approx 50k, all ford replacements went in(including ford luk clutch set because the stocker was almost toast) when the first slave went. 2nd slave took a dump at about 65, replaced with another Ford slave and also upgraded to a StageII Spec clutch. Now on the 3rd slave.....3rd one wasn't on it's way out when my 2nd gear decided to not work anymore at approx 75-80k, so in went the 2nd trans and I decided to go for a Raybestos brand slave. Better safe than sorry since the trans is out anyway. Somewhere around the 90k range, I started having issues again...so I dropped the trans again, replaced with a Raybestos under lifetime warranty, and the issue turned out to be the Master Cyl...so now I'm on slave #5 in the trucks life, master #2, and trans #2. I'm currently at 111k on the truck and it's working flawlessly now with the Spec clutch, Ford master, and Raybestos slave, minus the POS 01-02 4.0L Timing chain issues. '06 1,000 mile 4.0 is going in this week.

I've been told I don't know how to drive a manual before in the forum world, but this is not the case. After owning 6 vehicles, all of which were manuals, and been driving manuals since age 10, I've determined the manual trans Rangers issues to be caused by poor design in the slave cylinder department. And in my opinion, I look at it to be the cost of owning a manual Ranger. Its the price in which I don't mind paying for the enjoyment it gives me. Had I known about this or the timing issues before I bought the truck...maybe it would've changed my mind. Maybe Bob can chime in with his wealth of knowledge.

 

[Jay FX4]

Seems like the perfect time to throw on some 32x11.50s on 15x8's to me!

+1. That's probably what I'm going to do, since I've pretty much ruled out a lift.

 

[Bird76Mojo]

I don't know much about the newer models but before posting here I had Googled for problems and recalls. I did see a LOT of stuff about the automatics and their problems, AND the manuals having slave cylinder problems. Maybe some lived in high traffic areas and are using their clutch a bunch? Probably a bad design from what I know of the Ford slaves though. For what it's worth I NEVER trusted those disconnects and have always bled the system more than necessary after replacing clutches, pressure plates, slaves, etc..

THIS is exactly the kind of stuff I wanted to hear about in my thread though. Especially the timing chain thing he mentioned, which I've read about as well, but hadn't nailed it down to certain years yet.. Very interesting!

Too bad someone hasn't come up with a timing gear set for the 4.0....


GB

 

[Fx4wannabe01]

LOL! Timing gears? Ummm...that'd be WEIRD. The chains on the 4.0L SOHC's....driver side chain is on the front of the engine. Passenger side chain is on the back of the engine. SO...if chains need replaced, engine comes out. The problem was recalled on the SOHC Explorers when the engine first appeared in them, but Ford didn't recall the Rangers...they just issued a TSB on it where it's a tensioner and guide change. Sometime during the '03 model year, Ford redesigned the tensioner and the guides, so pretty much to be safe, 04+ model years. I've lived with the rattle on and off since 40,000 miles(mostly in the wintertime at approx 2,000 rpm) and now i'm at 111,000 miles and it's as worse as it's ever been, rattling no matter the RPM and no matter the season. My 111K 4.0 has the timing issues, it's drank mud water on 3 occasions, and it had a punk ass teenager behind the wheel of it since 30k(me! lol). I've chosen to swap the engine for a '06 1,000 mile used engine. Same price as the chain swaps, plus I get a new engine instead of the crapped out beat up alcoholic one with new chains.

And to be honest with you...If I did what you are doing by researching the downsides to the truck, I would've definately looked for a '00 rather than an 01+. Based purely on pushrods(4.0L OHV). I'd swap a '01-03 front end on it..and it'd be the '01 I always wanted. lol.

Don't let these issues steer you clear of the newer ranger....ALL vehicles have their issues. Some more than others. My example is an extreme...as some trucks even at 140k don't have a rattle that are '01 4.0's. My truck has treated me very well the last 5 years I've owned it, and I do tend to beat on it a little harder than I should, but she likes it. lol.

 

[Bird76Mojo]

First let me say that I am pretty ignorant when it comes to the 4.0 Ford mill. I've been working on 2.9 Ford Rangers and Broncos for over 10 years but I've never had to do anything with a timing chain. Not in 200,000 miles. *finger crossed* God knows I've done everything else to the 2.9, especially head work. Timing gears may be an impossibility with the 4.0, I don't know? The only real timing chain experience I've had is with smallblock Chevy mills. We always replaced them with gear sets. Since those are indestructable I just thought it'd be nice if one could add that to a 4.0..

Forgive my ignorance here..

I'm trying to educate myself on the quirks of the 2001 model year so I can determine during the testdrive wether that 01 model is worth buying or not. So far I know I have to verify that the 4x4 is working, and also test the trannsmission by verifying that it has "engine braking" in 1st gear out of overdrive..

I appreciate ANY/ALL info you guys are throwing my way!!

GB

 

[BlackBII]

The 4.0 SOHC is a different animal than the 4.0 you are probably talking about. Hence the reason you have not had any timing chain issues.

The slaves go out because people hold the clutch in too much at stop lights, stop sign etc.

Keep your foot off the clutch and the slave will last a lot longer. It's simple, the more you use something, the faster it's going to wear out.

 

[Fx4wannabe01]

Nah man...don't worry about it. I didn't know anything about them when I got my truck...I thought they were like the old 4.0's or like the SBC's I ALWAYS find myself working on. It's very similar to the 4.6L modular engines found in the mustangs....there's a camshaft in each head...but on the 4.0L SOHC, there's a chain in the front running one cam, and a chain in rear running the other. Now...the '00 and older 4.0L OHV engines are ALOT like a SBC with a timing set in the front of hte block, pushrods, rockers, etc. SOHC's don't have pushrods. Oh...BTW...I have timing gears in my 475hp 406ci SBC. hehe.

Like I said earlier....the timing rattle issues vary from truck to truck. My truck is awful, but my buddy's truck with 130k doesn't have it. Both are '01 4.0L 4x4's. Some people report having less rattle using Royal Purple motor oil, which is all I've ever used in my truck(except for the last two changes using Mobil 1 0w-30) When looking at your possible future truck, listen to it at first start up..when the rpms jump up then settle down. When it jumps up, you'll possibly hear alot of rattling. Then, when the engine is good and warm, hop out and manually throttle the engine rpm up with your hand...hold it steady at approx 1500 or 2000 rpm and listen for the rattle. Maybe later today, I can get my vid I made about a week ago edited and put on youtube or photobucket that shows exactly what the timing rattle sounds like.

 

[Fx4wannabe01]

The 4.0 SOHC is a different animal than the 4.0 you are probably talking about. Hence the reason you have not had any timing chain issues.

The slaves go out because people hold the clutch in too much at stop lights, stop sign etc.

Keep your foot off the clutch and the slave will last a lot longer. It's simple, the more you use something, the faster it's going to wear out.

hmm...I'm always in neutral with the foot off the clutch at stop lights for more than 10 seconds.... t/o bearing should go before the slave IMO.

 

[97RangerXLT]

Hey Bird

Not to hijack this thread... but I just noticed you are from Toledo IL. I grew up and lived in Neoga for the last 30 years until last year when I moved to the Indy area.

Glad to see TRS is represented from Cumberland County!


AJ

 

[Bird76Mojo]

That's awesome man! Hell I probably know you somehow then.. I'm in Chicago right now, on my way to Columbus Ohio to go testdrive that black Ranger.. It better be every bit as nice as the guy made it sound, after all of this trouble!!

 

[Jay FX4]

Good luck on the test drive! I hope the truck rocks!

 

[97RangerXLT]

If you are coming down 65 through Indy, watch your speed!!! they will nail you.

AJ

 

[Bird76Mojo]

Well she's covered in fine scratches just about everywhere, and it needs new tires/alignment, but she's mine!! I think it'll give me a chance to get that buffer out that's been sitting in it's box since new..

The tranny checked out good in my book. "Engine braking" worked fine, although it upshifts just a tiny bit, and I mean tiny bit, too hard. The overdrive functions like it should. The cruise worked flawlessly. The 4x4 worked well in high and low, and she's FAST. At least for a 4x4..

I think it's gonna need a front brake job as well..

I think I'm gonna let my local Ford guy check it out and do a complete change of all fluids just to give it the once over. Hopefully I don't wake up tomorrow to oil full of coolant or some such bulls#*t.. There wasn't any "snot" on the underside of the oil fill cap. The overflow tank didn't gurgle or anything either, so I think it'll be fine.

GB

 

[Jay FX4]

Finally! Congratulations!