Carb air mixture solenoid

[Sgt fink]

I have an early 83 ranger 4x4 with 2.3 it is a high altitude truck carb has air mixture solenoid on carter carb what controls this to engage at speed there is what looks like a control switch on fender but this truck doesn’t match the all data site info if anti has seen this before please help we can’t pass smog test with it not working running way to rich

 

[RonD]

If you have a "feedback carb" system then you will have an O2 sensor, these will cause rich running as they get too old

When was yours last changed?
1983 would not be a "heated" O2 sensor, so not very expensive, under $25


Not familiar with Carters feedback system, try Googling: carter carb altitude adjustment

 

[Sgt fink]

No O2 sensors on this truck that’s what all data said but apparently early 83 was something different it’s actually built 11/82 first run of the small rangers

 

[bilbo]

Mine is an early '83 as well. It had the Carter YFA feedback carb too. The O2 sensor is in the exhaust manifold; if it has the feedback system I would think it had to have had an O2 sensor. It has a single wire coming out of it.

From what I could gather, the solenoid is controlled by the 'computer.' That's in a box on the passenger fender under the hood. It clicks on/off at a given frequency to allow more or less air into the carb to lean out the mixture in response to the signal from the O2 sensor.

 

[Sgt fink]

Thanks but nothing on passenger fender that’s what all data showed and there’s a plug in the manifold but no wires disconnected or cut

 

[docmott]

I have an early 83 ranger 4x4 with 2.3 it is a high altitude truck carb has air mixture solenoid on carter carb what controls this to engage at speed there is what looks like a control switch on fender but this truck doesn’t match the all data site info if anti has seen this before please help we can’t pass smog test with it not working running way to rich

Are you in California? if so I think if over so many years old you don't need a smog ck?

 

[19Walt93]

That system was called MCU, microprocessor control unit and it didn't do a lot beyond operation the feedback solenoid and run the TAB and TAD solenoids for the Thermactor(air pump) system. It sounds like most of yours has been stripped off. The solenoids started failing so often that I'd change them in the yard and not bother dispatching the job to a tech. Initially the solenoids were $98 at dealer cost- 98 1983 dollars- and after Ford bought a bunch on warranty claims, the price dropped to $12.