A few issues

[JakePSD]

I have a few issues with my truck that i wanna know how to fix. First off, when its warmer outside, cruising about 55 to 60 mph i get some pinging, almost sounds like a diesel, only quiet. I give it more pedal or let off and it goes away til i get cruising again. Why is it doing that and how do i fix it? I have new autolite platinum plugs, wires, and coil packs.

I also have a bit of a miss at idle.

Also when i first start it after its been sitting for a few hours i get a rapid ticking for a second or so.

Not related to the engine but my headlights SUCK. High beams are about the same brightness as my super duty's low beams. I have new silverstar bulbs in it. Relay not making good contact maybe?

Also i need to know what years of rear leaf springs will bolt in. Mine are shot, i had to weld together the circle part around the front hanger. I wanna get that fixed. Also can i flip the shackle to level out the rear? I wanna drop the back just a bit to level it.

 

[JakePSD]

Oh yeah, and i have a check engine light that will flash at me sometimes for an instant. It happens at random.

 

[JakePSD]

And also the quickest easiest way to change the timing belt. Mine is starting to crack. And how important is is to put the cover back on?

 

[JakePSD]

Anyone?

 

[modelageek]

you have a lot of stuff there.......the flashing cel is misfires and it is not good to be driving with a flashing cel.......you need to bring the maintenance up, by a can of seafoam and put a third in the oil a third in the gas tank and a third thru the break booster.....drive it for 100 miles or so then do then change the oil and the spark plugs....,,,,fuel filter, air filter, clean tb iacv, plugs and wires, etc etc.........that will probably take care of the misfire and idle.........

 

[modelageek]

you should post the suspension question in the suspension forum. do a search for timing belts there are a 1000 threads study them and if you have questions post a thread......someone will help you

 

[scotts90ranger]

first off, go HERE and pull the codes, get yourself a small paper clip and place it between the "sig-rtn" and the "self-test in" pins on the diagnostic connectors, then hop in the cab and turn the key on with a piece of paper and a pen/pencil handy, count the check engine light flashes and look up the codes at the link above.

does your truck have a tachometer? if so, what does it idle at? a miss at idle can be fouled spark plugs or wires, or a number of other things, check the codes before throwing any money at it.

the ticking after startup is probably a lack of oil pressure, it's common for the oil pump pickup to plug with gasket goo.

as for leaf springs, '83 to present...

 

[JakePSD]

you have a lot of stuff there.......the flashing cel is misfires and it is not good to be driving with a flashing cel.......you need to bring the maintenance up, by a can of seafoam and put a third in the oil a third in the gas tank and a third thru the break booster.....drive it for 100 miles or so then do then change the oil and the spark plugs....,,,,fuel filter, air filter, clean tb iacv, plugs and wires, etc etc.........that will probably take care of the misfire and idle.........

The CEL is very random and rare. Seems to do it more on my way to work in the morning when its cold as hell outside. Maintenance has been very good. There isn't much room to bring it up. I've done the seafoam though the booster vacuum tube. Ended up doing it twice, half a can each time. I haven't tried it in the fuel yet, but i really really don't like the idea of it being in my oil. Seems like a bad idea to me. Spark plugs, wires, coils, and air filter are all new within the last few months. Fuel filter is the only thing i haven't changed.

What is TB IACV?

Other than the random pinging and CEL it drives perfectly fine down the road, i haven't noticed any loss of fuel economy either other than that brought on by the cold weather.

first off, go HERE and pull the codes, get yourself a small paper clip and place it between the "sig-rtn" and the "self-test in" pins on the diagnostic connectors, then hop in the cab and turn the key on with a piece of paper and a pen/pencil handy, count the check engine light flashes and look up the codes at the link above.

does your truck have a tachometer? if so, what does it idle at? a miss at idle can be fouled spark plugs or wires, or a number of other things, check the codes before throwing any money at it.

the ticking after startup is probably a lack of oil pressure, it's common for the oil pump pickup to plug with gasket goo.

as for leaf springs, '83 to present...

Thank you. I'll check those codes either today or tomorrow and get back with you on what they are. I tried getting them checked at vatozone but they said they cant check codes unless the light is on.

I do have a tach on it. When its warm it idles around 650-700ish. The plugs aren't fouled. I took them out when i did the timing belt last night. Looks like it is actually running quite lean. The tips were pretty white. That is probably another issue im gonna have to fix.

So is that oil pickup something i need to be concerned about? When i start it up the oil pressure gauge immediately jumps to the middle of "normal." However im gonna guess the gauge is more or less just an idiot light like it is on my super duty. On my big truck anything over i think 8 psi shows middle of normal, anything under that shows nothing.

83 to present... Hm. Haha, other than body styles did they change anything on these trucks? I've learned that all bodies are interchangeable. Is there any ride height or ride quality difference between years of springs? Like if i found springs from a 2010 would it be any different than what i have now?

 

[scotts90ranger]

if the check engine light comes on at all, whatever caused it stays in memory for quite a while (around 100 ignition cycles or something)

The IAC is the idle air controller, it's right behind the throttle body near where the intake tube clamps on. if you unplug it and it doesn't start you need to up the base throttle screw, with it unplugged adjust it to idle at around 500rpm, plug it in and it should go to around 900rpm.

yep, the oil gage is a glorified light, anything above like 5psi it goes to normal, it's best to get a manual gage and check what it is in reality.

not all bodies swap around but '83-92 are pretty similar and should swap around. There are a few differences in leaf springs but not a whole bunch. In the mid 90's there were some fiberglass springs used. The main difference on a newer spring versus an older one is just the age, a newer one won't have the time on it to wear out.

 

[JakePSD]

Ok i unplugged the AIC. It started and idled around 500. Is there any reason i cant just leave that unplugged? I'm guessing this is what causes my engine to rev the piss out of itself on start up, which makes me cringe every time it does it. Its like self destruction. 0 degrees outside, turn the key and bam, 2500-2700 rpm. That can NOT be good on things.

Also got the codes:
11 System checks OK
29 Vehicle Speed Sensor problem - VSS
33 ALL - (O, M) EGR did not open/ respond during test or if memory code, did not open intermittently - EVP EVR PFE
63 Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) signal too low TPS

I'm guessing the vss is the sensor on the speed cable coming out of the trans. This would make sense to me because i don't have it hooked up because the new cable i put on did not have the sensor at the end, so i just zip tied the connector up out of the way.

I'm not sure what plug i unhooked while trying to find the AIC, but its the wide, i think 3 wire connector on the top of the valve body. When i started it there was a CEL from that. I'm guessing that was either the EGR or the TPS. Whichever one it wasn't im assuming is my problem with getting the random CEL flash, and possibly the pinging and lean running condition. As i mentioned before, my plugs were pretty white on the end.

 

[JakePSD]

Any advice here?

 

[v8318cid]

The EVP sensor on the EGR valve usually is a round connector with 3(?) pins in it. Assuming the orientation didn't change between 89 and 92, its mounted almost vertically under the EGR valve. You'd know if you disconnected it. Its rather difficult (though not impossible) to get to without removing the upper intake. If you grabbed a 3-pin connector that was horizontally (flat) oriented, that should have come off of the IAC. Only other sensor there is the TPS (throttle position sensor), and I believe it is mounted closer to the air intake hose on the TB.
You could leave the IAC unplugged, but you could see idle stability issues when cold. If I'm not mistaken, it monitors air flowing through the throttle body and adjusts the base idle to compensate as needed, especially when the engine is cold.
Pinging is unforunately normal on a lot of Ford engines. My 92 2.3 was consistently pinging once warmed up. Never could make it stop unless I manually altered the timing by moving the cam gear one to two teeth retarding the timing. That killed the pinging, but also killed the power. I also have a '10 2.3 that pings even with only 6500 miles on it. Annoying, yes, but not unbearable. Only Ford I've driven that didn't do it was a 96 or 97 Thunderbird with the 4.6L modular V8.
Did you ever resolve your headlamp issue? If not, check ebay for replacement lenses. You can sometimes find replacements considerably cheaper than at parts stores. You could also try the headlight restoration kits, but I can't tell you whether they work or not. These oh-so-lovely composite headlamp lenses were bad about yellowing and obscuring the lights. My 92 was so badly yellowed that I couldn't drive at night before I replaced the lenses.

 

[dmassey]

If I'm not mistaken, it monitors air flowing through the throttle body and adjusts the base idle to compensate as needed, especially when the engine is cold.

The IAC opens a valve which allows air to bypass the closed throttle plate during idle or closed throttle. With it unplugged, your idle should or will eventually be rough, eratic and the engine may even stall. Just like the choke plate on a carb staying closed.

 

[JakePSD]

So i guess it was the TPS that i unplugged. So that means my CEL is from the EGR. Any ideas on what could be wrong with that? Any typical failure points?

It runs pretty decent with the IACV unplugged. When i first start it i have to hold the pedal a bit to keep it running but after a minute or 2 it will idle on its own.

Isn't pinging really bad on an engine? Like, very prematurely wear it out?

Also, has anyone ever tried these? I thought these might look half decent on my truck. I don't really care much for the LED's in them but i like that they are smoked.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/89-9...rd|Model:Ranger|Year:1989&hash=item53e548ae24

 

[JakePSD]

Any answers to my questions?