camshaft synchronizer? please help!

[ALayton29]

i have a 2000 4.0 ranger. it is kind of sluggish at low end and starts to buck sometimes around 2-2500 rpms. also it sputters getting up to speed and loss of power could this be my camshaft synchronizer? please help me!

 

[ALayton29]

also i have new plugs, wires fuel filter fuel injectors cleaned, new air filter cleaned my MAF, and my TPS

 

[aspevacek]

have the fuel pressure checked. I would suspect that causeign a loss of power befor ethe cam Syncronizer.

 

[JoshT]

2000 is still OHV right? Might also want to add compression test to that. Your problem sounds suspiciously like my 99 was acting when I had a bad head gasket.

 

[RangerSVT]

If you put anything besides double platinum plugs in, that's your problem. I ran single platinum in my 4.0, I got maybe 3000 miles and ran shitty...

SVT

 

[ALayton29]

today it threw a code of p0136. no idea what that is

 

[shane96ranger]

today it threw a code of p0136. no idea what that is

Oxygen O2 Sensor Circuit Low Voltage (Bank 1, Sensor 2)

 

[ALayton29]

Oxygen O2 Sensor Circuit Low Voltage (Bank 1, Sensor 2)

what must i do in order to fix it?

 

[RangerSVT]

Change your o2 sensor...

SVT

 

[ALayton29]

Change your o2 sensor...

SVT

is that it? will that cause the hesitation and bucking to stop[ as well?

 

[JoshT]

It might if the problem is actually the O2 sensor.

 

[modelageek]

is that it? will that cause the hesitation and bucking to stop[ as well?

Most likely the sensor is going bad......I think they are pretty cheap on rockauto. i would recommend a motor-craft but at least get a direct fit one.......check the wiring on the sensor first..........now for the not so good news.........most likely that is not the cause of your bucking......the after cat sensors on your 2000 for the most part only read information. they makes sure the truck is running right.....they do not have anything to do with engine management(for the most part, change it out and we will see. I just don't want to lead you into thinking it is an absolute fix)...You want the sensor working properly so that you don't end up burning out your CAT.....If you own that scanner check frequently for pending codes. This a great way to solve issues like yours.

 

[modelageek]

i have a 2000 4.0 ranger. it is kind of sluggish at low end and starts to buck sometimes around 2-2500 rpms. also it sputters getting up to speed and loss of power could this be my camshaft synchronizer? please help me!

I am no expert on the 4.0 but I don't believe they have an issue with the camshaft syncro. they might not even have a camshaft syncro........the 3.0 is the engine with the syncro issue.

 

[feellnfroggy]

lotta things can cause an engine to throw the 02 code. I had the plunger on the egr valve go bad and cause the same thing, or the cats getting clogged can do that. not saying it will, just can. unplugg the 02 sensor and see if there is any change.

 

[JoshT]

Most likely the sensor is going bad......I think they are pretty cheap on rockauto. i would recommend a motor-craft but at least get a direct fit one.......check the wiring on the sensor first..........now for the not so good news.........most likely that is not the cause of your bucking......

I know what you are saying, but I doubt his sensor is even going bad. I hate to say it but I wouldn't be surprised if he needs a head gasket. The more he posts the more it sounds like what my 99 Ranger 4.0L has done twice in the past. First time it did exactly what OP mentions threw codes, hesitated and was bucking. After much headache and grief it turned out that I had two cracked heads, apparently the PO let it overheat at some point. The second time was shortly after the heater valve busted on me dumping most of my coolant. The truck started getting those symptoms again so I did compression test, one of the cylinders was low. This time it was a bad head gasket causing it to leak into the coolant system. I figure it was partially because of the slight overheat when the valve broke, and partially because of the near 30 year old (never been calibrated) torque wrench my dad had. Bought a new Torque wrench, replaced head gaskets, and haven't had a minute of problem since.