General Maintainence: Nope!

[MAKG]

I did the timing belt on my Honda in an hour and needed no special tools.

The pushrod 4.0 you gotta take the heads off to get the lifters out. That's about $200 in parts just to get the lifters in your hands--not to mention the fantastic amount of work involved.

Old Rangers aren't hard to work on though. It's the thing I like about them.

Will, pushrod 4.0Ls are old Rangers now.

And 2.9Ls had the exact same issue. So, to get a V6 engine that precedes that issue, you have to go back to 1985. I don't think anyone can reasonably call that FBC 2.8L "easy to work on." Maybe easy to remove and haul to the scrapper.

I can do the timing belt on my Prizm (Corolla) in about two hours, with no "special" tools, but it does require special techniques such as unbolting three of four engine mounts, jacking up the vehicle, unbolting the A/C compressor, and removing the water pump pulley.

The first time requires an impact wrench (to break the locktite off the harmonic balancer bolt). But some folks with more guts than me use a breaker bar against the suspension and the vehicle starter motor. Just putting it in 5th gear isn't enough; I walked the vehicle uphill with the (good) parking brake on that way.

 

[BlackBII]

I found all my RBV's relatively easy to work on compared to other vehicles I have owned. Of course, there is the '85 Chev C10, where I can take a nap in the engine compartment lol.

I think the OP needs to stop complaining and change the Air filter and Plugs on a 87 Audi 4000....Then he can complain.

 

[rickcdewitt]

I did the timing belt on my Honda

so whats your point?do you think this guy could?

I cannot readily access to change supposedly "simple" and general maintainence items.I'm RIDICULOUS.
Screw you, Ford.

The pushrod 4.0 you gotta take the heads off to get the lifters out.

don't sound like regular maintenance to me,whats that got to do with?

 

[turbo cat]

some people just need a tissue lol

 

[Jspafford]

Have you even tried doing these repairs or are you just shooting off because of what it says in the manual. I look in the manual for a general idea. It is all hands on though, most of the special tools needed you can get by without. I've never used a special tool to remove my backwards threaded fan.

 

[Sevensecondsuv]

I could do all the things he said in the OP in about 2 hours with no special tools and without removing half the vehicle. I think this guy needs to actually try working on his truck instead of believing stuff he reads about working on his truck.

I've worked on plenty of honda's, and I'll stick with the RBVs for my personal vehicles, thanks...

If he has this much trouble doing basic maintenance on a ranger, this guy shouldn't be allowed near a set of tools at all!

 

[turbo cat]

the best use ive found fore a haynes or chiltons manual is to start a bonfire

 

[Daniel_187]

the spark plugs were a bitch till I found out I could get at them better from the under side. All newer autos are heading this way

 

[Jspafford]

If you want a comprehensive set of manuals, but the shop manuals published by Ford.

 

[MAKG]

the best use ive found fore a haynes or chiltons manual is to start a bonfire

Naw, they SUCK at that, unless you shred them first.

But they make nice booster seats for a preschooler (though the factory manuals or a big city phone book are better). And they are quite good as source material for papier mache.

 

[Will]

I can do the timing belt on my Prizm (Corolla) in about two hours, with no "special" tools, but it does require special techniques such as unbolting three of four engine mounts, jacking up the vehicle, unbolting the A/C compressor, and removing the water pump pulley.

Yeah, I had my '90 Prizm down pretty well too. I did it every 60,000 and we had it for 300,000. In the beginning, I removed all of those mounts and supported the engine. The last couple times I found ways around that--just pulling off the mount that the belt goes around. My Civic is much easier. It doesn't require removing any mounts or accessories. Just the crank pulley, belts and plastic covers. It will be a 30 minute job next time.

 

[Ranger5.0]

maybe he should come over and try changing the #8 plug in my truck lol....sounds like your a bit of a sally dude. Quitch'er bitch'in and dig into it.

 

[MAKG]

Yeah, I had my '90 Prizm down pretty well too. I did it every 60,000 and we had it for 300,000. In the beginning, I removed all of those mounts and supported the engine. The last couple times I found ways around that--just pulling off the mount that the belt goes around. My Civic is much easier. It doesn't require removing any mounts or accessories. Just the crank pulley, belts and plastic covers. It will be a 30 minute job next time.

Maybe that works on a '90, but I really don't see how you could get the bottom two timing belt covers off with the water pump pulley in place. And it's too close to the frame to come off without jacking the engine WAY up.

 

[Will]

I don't know exactly and I really don't remember what it looked like. It seems to me there is a way to snake that pulley out. The first time I had the engine loose and held up with a 4x4 across the fenders. The second time, I just noticed something and didn't have to do that. The next couple times after that, it was a snap.

 

[AllanD]

The comment on needing to get the heads off to access the lifters on a 4.0 really cracks me up....

That isn't "maintainance", that's "overhaul"

It's like the guy complaining that you couldn't get the oil pan off
with the engine in the chassis and the trans in place...

Frankly if anything goes enough "Wrong" with a 4.0 that I feel the
need to pull the pan off of it I certainly don't want to work on any
such problem flat on my back under the truck with oil dripping in my face.

and frankly anyone that doesn't think it through that far in advance
before starting deserves all the trouble they get for it.

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