88 2.9 wont go over 3k rpms

[86ranger4x4owner]

I got a 1988 2.9 super cab 4x4 ranger.it has the a4ld and when i floor it in overdrive the rpms wont go over 3000.and i know its not the motor or trans cause they were bot rebuilt not to long ago.the only thing i can do to get over 3000 is change the gears manuely.any help

 

[jhammel85]

So when OD it doesn't kick down a gear? Hows the vac modulator on the side of the trans?

 

[86ranger4x4owner]

It does kickdown but in first and second gear it will go like 4500 and changed but in 3rd or fourth it want kickdown lower than 3rd when its in third.If it is in D can it kickdown to second gear?

 

[adsm08]

Drive should be kick down to 2nd if you are going slow enough. You are dealing with spring pressures and fluid pressures fighting each other in 1 2 and 3.

Honestly, I think these things kinda top out a 3K when in 3rd gear and up. My old one didn't like to go above 3K in 3rd gear or higher, even down hill.

 

[Earl43P]

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/a4ld.html

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/2_9_Page.html

Peak horsepower at 4600 rpm....how do you figure so many of these trucks can still do 75-80 mph if it can't rev past 3k in a drive/OD gear?

Horsepower 140hp @ 4600rpm
Torque 170hp @ 2600rpm


I might buy that answer if he said he was running 35" tires or something.

adsm08, Lemme ask you this, do the older models have a rev limiter in Park and Neutral like the newer models? If so, I'd suspect the NSS is mal-adjusted (PCM thinks trans is in Neutral, won't rev past 3k). That's a pretty common DTRS gripe.

 

[adsm08]

I think it's a worn out engine issue, not a transmission, or sensor issue.

When I dropped a fresh rebuilt 2.9 in my truck and changed nothing else that would affect the running I went from struggling to get up to 3K in 3rd to 5th gears to being able to achieve and hold 4K in OD if I really want to.

Think about it, 20 year old truck, with how many hundred thousand miles on the engine, and it's just a 6 cyl at that, and not a particularly big one. It's just worn out and can't make the power to push the truck and faster.

Think about it like riding a 10 speed bike. Once you get into a certain gear, no matter how hard you push the pedals, your legs aren't going faster anymore. As you get older that speed goes down even more.


My truck used to do the EXACT same thing that the OP is describing, but I have a stick, always have, so there is no question about auto trans crap being the problem. The problem went away when I replaced the engine.

Oh, and on her last real run with the old engine, I had a bed full of junk and was trying to catch up with my wife who had a 15 min head start. I had the speedo buried in the trip meter and still wasn't turning more than 3 grand according to the tach.

 

[86ranger4x4owner]

The engine and trans. were both rebuilt at 188k miles.If i put it in OD and floor it the first two gears will go to 4500 and then the next gear will go to about 3000 not unless its just me letting out cause am doing about 65-70 in a 45 zone lol.Ill test it out somemore and see what it does.And i dont know if this has anything to do with it but it has 410 in the back and it has 31s.

 

[adsm08]

I'd hit the interstate and see what she can do. Just run her flat out and see what she'll do.

Unless you aren't getting the speed you want/need, or really losing it in hills I wouldn't worry about it too much. My engine was beat and I couldn't hold any sort of speed up a hill unless I came into it in 4th, skinny on the floor.

I mean really, a V6 should never get revved up past 3K for long anyway. You can float a valve doing that.

 

[86ranger4x4owner]

It gets down the road ill do 55 no problem goes over most hills without kickin down the 4th but it will keep its speed on a hill with some gas pedal left.I think am just use to driving my step dads chevy with the 5.7l and having to barely push the gas to get it to going lol.

 

[adsm08]

Yeah, even with a fresh rebuild a Cologne will never be a small block. Like I said, I can make my engine that has less than 10,000 miles on it do 4 in OD, but it's not stock. My butt-meter says that it rivals a 4.0 for power to the wheels.

 

[86ranger4x4owner]

mines not stock either.It has headers,been bored over and has an electic fan and some other small things.Also would it have a double kickdown?I know on my step dads chevy if you push it it kickdowns but then if you punch it it kicksdown even farther i think mine is only doing a one kickdown like if i am in OD it only kicksdown to Drive.

 

[86ranger4x4owner]

I was looking at the gas pedal today and i seen two cables i already did the zip tie trick on the throttle cable.but what is the other cable on a automatic? It goes the the transmission so can it be a kickdown cable? And it has a lot of slack so could i put a few zip ties on it?Also today i tryed it out a little.I had it in to the floor with it in od and doing 4000 rpms at 75 miles an hour does that sound right?Idk if it really would go any faster i let off of it but is 4000 at 75 good?And also when doing 55 in fourth gear and then flooring it it doesnt kickdown a gear.In OD it kicksdown to D.If its in D doing 55 and you floor it does is suppose to kickdown?

 

[86ranger4x4owner]

OK i have two questions.Does it suppose to kickdown when its in D going about 45 mph will it kickdown lower?And does anyone know what the cable beside the throttle cable on the gas pedal is?Is it the automatic transmission kickdown cable or for the cruise control?please help.

 

[86ranger4x4owner]

If a a4ld is in D and you put it to the floor does it stay in D or can it kickdown to second? Like if i had it in D or 3rd and am doing about 55 and floor it will it kickdown?Cause in our chevy if you put the gas pedal down it will like kickdown atleast two times or three.

 

[pcollins]

Yes it will kick down 2 gears. My F150, 2007, will kick down one gear if I give it a little push going up a hill...if i really get on it to pass someone it'll kick down 2 gears. I never had an issue in my '97 ranger...granted that was a 4.0L. But i could push it past 3k in any gear including 5th (it was a stick shift)