hard to start/idles wont accelerate

[1rustyranger]

My 91 ranger has the 4.0 manual trans combo. its been hard to start turns over for like a a minute or so and then starts. it runs ruff for about 15 sec then it smooths out. it seems like when it hits about 2500 rpm its not making good power. now it will idle but wont do anything else. if i give it fuel it acts like it wants to die and i have to feather the gas to get it to move a couple feet. any ideas

 

[mosher41]

i just chased my 99 4.0 all over with the same symptoms....plugged cats were my issue, Hold your hand at the exhaust pipe and have someone rev the motor and see if the flow changes...mine barely changed at all when engine was reved up.

 

[Big Jim M]

Times two! It could be lots and lots of other things also.. But starting with the cat or muffler plugged then going to the temp sensor and then the fuel flow.. That's about where I'd begin.
Big JIm

 

[Spowerback]

wash intake systeme.the MAF dust

 

[mosher41]

it never hurts to clean the MAF meter either, I have done this for a few of my buddies rangers and it seems to be a quick and easy fix. It made improvments to every truck I have done it to. the step by step instructions are on this site.

 

[Spowerback]

the fuel filter maybe or will be a solution