engine runs out of breath in hot weather

[Ivy Mike]

pulled a couple plugs and they are showing some signs of sooty deposits. I'm going to see if walmart has a replacement tonight since I was an idiot and dropped one and broke it.
Maybe from my misfiring engine or maybe the cause of the misfire. Plugs have been in for less than 6 months.

 

[RustedRanger]

Have you tried higher octane fuel or a fuel additive? Worth a try(cheap) I believe these motors have a knock sensor so it might be pulling some timing out to prevent detonation. Mine idles and starts better the colder it is outside.

 

[Ivy Mike]

Have you tried higher octane fuel or a fuel additive? Worth a try(cheap) I believe these motors have a knock sensor so it might be pulling some timing out to prevent detonation. Mine idles and starts better the colder it is outside.

I need to fill up today so I will give that a shot. I did notice that my coolant temp gauge has been acting funny. For whatever reason, the gauge will just decide that it isn't going to give any real reading. I saw it at first on my way to work last week and got a little concerned that I might be WAY low on coolant but a check of the reservoir and radiator confirmed it was fine. I don't believe the truck is overheating although I suppose I could pull the thermostat before I go home and just let it run open and see if that helps.

Would the coolant temp sensor crapping out cause the motor to pull timing?

 

[holyford86]

if the gauge is screwing up it has nothing to do with the engine coolant temp sensor that the EEC uses. They are two completely different sensors.

 

[ubereal2]

Runs better cool

We're going through the same thing on my sons Ranger that we're doing together as a father and son driver for Tim (my son). e have an 88 Ranger, reg cab, long bad, 2.3 liter, automatic tranny. Runs pretty nice, even smooth until it's been driven awhile. Sluggish, we just barely got it home this evening. Loses all power. Engine temp shows a cool engine. I even put a thermometor in the radiator to check coolant temp. Just hits 170 degrees (F).
Timing belt is fresh, and set, running a smooth 20-22"s of vacuum on a cool engine. Now it's fluctuating around 20-25"s. Really wondering about a clogged cat?
Open to ideas fellers.
Bob

 

[Ivy Mike]

if the gauge is screwing up it has nothing to do with the engine coolant temp sensor that the EEC uses. They are two completely different sensors.

good to know.Thanks.

 

[bimmer325es]

always check spark plugs and wires for cracks i have seen so many vehicles with a cracked ceramic or the post that goes onto the plug. also if you think the climbing heat has something to do with it bet some mandrel U bends cut them to relocate your air filter to a cooler spot, if you can't weld just cut them mock it up and take it somewhere like 20 bucks or less to have them weld it together. goodluck if all else fails get a spare engine

 

[DisturbedMXer8]

Just to let you know, the Fuel Injected rangers are NOT vacuum advanced. If it's fuel injected, it has TFI ignition that electronically advances/retards the ignition timing. Carbureted? Not sure, but I believe the earler distributors are vacuum advanced.

 

[off_road_junkie21]

I have the same problem with my 2.9. When it gets hot here in st louis Mine loses a lot or its power. But when it is around 55-70 degrees out side it runs like a champ. But mine is also bored 40 over. I thinking about moiving my act to my air box. And making me a custom-built cold air intake. I also have no cats.

 

[Ivy Mike]

Update:
Replaced all the filters I could find and saw some improvement.
Flushed radiator and found a leak. New hoses and a junkyard radiator fixed that problem and improved the hot run issue a little more. Still does it although not to the same extent.
Developed a new problem though. Now it seems to stumble coming off the line.

I'm about ready to throw the towel in on this one and just think about a 4.0 swap. The 2.9 is underpowered as it is.

 

[Ivy Mike]

took the Bronquito on a trip to Navajo Lake up in Southern Utah over the weekend. Hot weather leaving Las Vegas even in the morning yielded the typical hesitation and lack of power. What was unexpected was the same hesitation while climbing the hill to the lake. It did the same thing where it can't manage to muster any power from 3k to about 3.5K RPM.

Got to the campgrounds and unloaded. Let the truck sit overnight while we got situated and killed a couple hours fishing. Next morning, fired it up and it ran just fine (considering the altitude) and took us to Cascade Falls and up the trail for the hike around the ice cave. Push button 4x4 works great although the trail hardly required it's use. At least one thing is reliable and working well, lol.
Also, the overnight sit and cool temps helped immensely. No hesitation, no lack of power (again, considering the altitude).
Truck ran well on the highway coming back but most of it was downhill and in cooler temps than usual.

So I'm really out of ideas. I have noticed a little oil around the valve covers so maybe I'll do the valve cover gaskets and check for cracks in the heads (no water in the oil though)


Thanks for the help guys.

 

[ragajungle]

I don't know for sure but I thought vacuum advance was replaced by a ingnition tape module. On hot days, especially in 3rd gear, my 89 b2 lacks a lot of power. I saw somewhere (so may different forums...) that someone moved the tape module away from the distributor, installed a heat sync and small electronics fan. I'll try to find the thread-might be on explorer forums or fordtrucks??

 

[ragajungle]

/it's not the thread I was thinking of but it does show the relocation procedure...
http://forums.corral.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1128946
I am subscribing too!

I DID find one on it here at TRS:

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/remote_tfi.htm

 

[BLUTHUNDER1]

Temp sensor

Have you check the air temp sensor when the engine is running. It is located in the upper intake manifold in the middle runner . Maybe it is malfunction at hot temps check the wiring also just a couple of thoughts