2.3L ('83-'97) 88' Misfires, bogging down and stalling issues

[opijmee]

1988 2.3 5speed 2wd extcab
Hey guys, got a tricky one for ya this time. My truck has been having some engine issues that I'm having some trouble figuring out.

A bit of history, a few months ago my truck started having an issue where, when at operating temp, is would stall out way easier than before, meaning I would have to gas the shit outta it to not stall, also it would buck like crazy when going from a stop and sometimes shifting from 1st to 2nd or 3rd (very violently too). Then after a while of that, some kind of surge happened, upper radiator hose got blown off as well as the vacuum line to the brake booster (lemme tell ya that was real fun!), but after that happened the engine wouldn't buck, instead it would just bog down really bad when going from stop and shifting to new gears. Still stalls really easily too. This is how the truck is driving at the moment, its fine when its cold but once it reaches operating temp it goes to shit.

Here's what I've changed so far,
Recently:
Sparkplugs
Sparkplug wires
MAP Sensor
O2 sensor
Fuel Filter

Last Year:
EGR valve
Dpfe sensor
Iac senor
Fuel pump replaced maybe 2 years ago

I really can't nail down what the culprit could be and I don't wanna just keep throwing parts at it hoping to find a fix. I tried checking the OBD1 with a multimeter but I couldn't get it to give me anything. I love this truck, it's my only car and has been my daily driver to several years but at its current state its an absolute nightmare to drive.
Help me save this old truck, thank you.

 

[RobbieD]

At any point, have you opened up the ECM to check for blown capacitors?

Usually it's an easy visual if they've gone bad, and there are several threads on here about the subject.

 

[opijmee]

I have not but I'd be willing to check it when I get the chance.

 

[SenorNoob]

88. Did you change both fuel pumps? I've never heard of DPFE on an 88. Have you checked the temperature sensor? The 2 wire sensor not the one wire sender for the gauge. There is another 2 wire temperature sensor in the intake air tract somewhere that will make a huge difference. What about compression and vacuum tests?

 

[opijmee]

I changed the one in the fuel tank itself, I've heard about an inline one but I've never looked into it.

This is the sensor I changed that related to the egr, I think I saw somewhere online about a 1st gen ranger dpfe but I must've been mistaken.
I actually have a new temp sensor but I haven't put it in yet, I tried to changed it a few weeks ago but I had to remove the throttle body to get to it and I wound up not having the right sized socket, pissed me off real good lol. I'll get around to it at some point soon, just seemed unlikely to me, would be surprised if just that sensor could've caused the jerking that was happening earlier.
Not sure about an air temp sensor though, I'll look into that.
Haven't done any vacuum or compression tests yet but a friend of mine has a compression yest kit, so hopefully we can check that out this weekend.

 

[sgtsandman]

I changed the one in the fuel tank itself, I've heard about an inline one but I've never looked into it.
View attachment 126050
This is the sensor I changed that related to the egr, I think I saw somewhere online about a 1st gen ranger dpfe but I must've been mistaken.
I actually have a new temp sensor but I haven't put it in yet, I tried to changed it a few weeks ago but I had to remove the throttle body to get to it and I wound up not having the right sized socket, pissed me off real good lol. I'll get around to it at some point soon, just seemed unlikely to me, would be surprised if just that sensor could've caused the jerking that was happening earlier.
Not sure about an air temp sensor though, I'll look into that.
Haven't done any vacuum or compression tests yet but a friend of mine has a compression yest kit, so hopefully we can check that out this weekend.

The older Rangers have two pumps. The first is a low pressure pump, just get the fuel out of the tank and the second is the high pressure pump to feed the engine. That one is mounted on the frame. Thus why the question about changing both pumps.

 

[opijmee]

Ahh ok, that makes sense. I'll look into that as well.

 

[opijmee]

One thing I forgot to mention is that when I changed the plugs (they were only like a year old) there was quite a bit of carbon build up on them, seemed enough to me to be carbon fouled which, as far as I can tell, indicates that the engine is running rich. So I'm not sure if that would point the issue more towards a sensor issue rather than a fuel delivery issue, just something I thought I should mention.

 

[sgtsandman]

Was it sooty or oily? Sooty would be rich. Oily would be oil burning. The MAP sensor and O2 sensor should have addressed that unless they are bad, new parts.

Is your engine carburetor fed or fuel injected? I want to say carburetor.

 

[RobbieD]

I want to say carburetor.

I can relate. I used to have trouble with that one too.

It's not that hard, if you try breaking it into pieces, and slowing down.

Like this; repeat after me:

"car - burr - rate - ore"

You've got this; now, go impress your friends!

 

[opijmee]

Was it sooty or oily? Sooty would be rich. Oily would be oil burning. The MAP sensor and O2 sensor should have addressed that unless they are bad, new parts.

Is your engine carburetor fed or fuel injected? I want to say carburetor.

They are just sooty, I didn't notice any oil on them when I pulled them out.
And my engine is actually fuel injected.

 

[sgtsandman]

They are just sooty, I didn't notice any oil on them when I pulled them out.
And my engine is actually fuel injected.

What brands were the MAP and O2 sensors? That can make a very big difference. Some brands don't play well with Fords, which is not an unheard of thing. Honda has the same deal with certain things made by Bosch.

 

[opijmee]

What brands were the MAP and O2 sensors? That can make a very big difference. Some brands don't play well with Fords, which is not an unheard of thing. Honda has the same deal with certain things made by Bosch.

The O2 sensor is Bosch and the MAP sensor is SFY. I will note that the issue was happening before I replaced those sensors and I didn't notice any change after replacing them.

 

[sgtsandman]

The O2 sensor is Bosch and the MAP sensor is SFY. I will note that the issue was happening before I replaced those sensors and I didn't notice any change after replacing them.

Bosch is fine with Fords, I'm not sure on the MAP. Since there was no change, it doesn't matter anyway.

 

[opijmee]

Bosch is fine with Fords, I'm not sure on the MAP. Since there was no change, it doesn't matter anyway.

Yeah, thats what I figured when I replaced them.