Help!,96 2.3 4wd. Has no power alot of recent new parts!

[ChaoticDave]

Hi guys,great forum with great info. But I am stumped on a truck I just bought. I had a 94 2wd years ago and loved it.Never had any issues.

Anyways I bought this 96 2.3 4wd Ranger at a really good price.Bodys perfect,Inspected etc.front end all new. The owner sold it because after 4 years of it the latest problem he didnt want to tackle.

It has no power at all and likes to stall when u let off the gas.Occasionally it will idle but not really.I hooked my computer to it and it gives me a Emmisions evap code.Generic code. He has changed timing belt and damper.He told some pully used to work its way lose and knock the timing out of wack? So he bought a new damper and hasnt had the problem again.Until last week but this time he knows the pulley is tight. So he drillled a hole in the converter thinking it was it no change.

I picked it up and changed the cat and fuel filter first.Still no change.No other codes come up but he said when it first started doing this last week his garage guy had it on a snap on computer and something about the timing being retarded.My 40 dollar scanner doesnt tell me that.

I am out of ideas and I dont want to change sensors upon endless sensors.I am borrowing a fuel pressure tester tomorrow and going to see how that goes.It has 152,000 miles on it and It doesnt smoke or leak anything.It sounds decent except a little rattle on the top half when you rev it up.It does not sound like its missing just a long delay to get the rpms up and then when u let off it dies ,sometimes not.I have a friend that has a 36,000 mile 2.3 out of another truck.But I dont think this motor is bad.Can the timing knock itself off? Just wondering if any of you guys have suggestions.Thanks!

 

[wvcat]

I would bet on the timing belt. Either it has slipped a tooth or was put on 1 tooth off. I would get a manual and check the timing marks to see if the belt is on correctly, and probably replace it with the amount of miles the truck has...it could be stretched.

 

[feellnfroggy]

Iac

 

[ChaoticDave]

Thanks for the quick replies. I will ask him when he put the belt on I think he said last year. And the IAC I remember having the clean that on a taurus I owned.I will try that too.Thanks!

 

[wvcat]

The timing marks can be confusing because there is a triangle and a dimple. I forget which is the correct one to line up so you need a manual or a drawing with the right marks.

 

[Bryan22]

I would bet on the timing belt. Either it has slipped a tooth or was put on 1 tooth off. I would get a manual and check the timing marks to see if the belt is on correctly, and probably replace it with the amount of miles the truck has...it could be stretched.

+1 i would also say the timing being off is the first thing i'd check, plus it's free !

 

[ChaoticDave]

Excellent guys,I will check it tomorrow Im going to buy a book for it tonight.Is it a huge job to retime it?

 

[wvcat]

Not a huge job just a pita. You have to pull the timing cover and loosen the tensioner to reposition the belt while keeping all the marks in place.

 

[ChaoticDave]

Update. I ruled out a few things but here is exactly what it is doing now. Truck will start and run fine for a few secs.Then starts to stumble.If i keep my foot on the gas steady above 1500rpm's it runs ok.If iI let it go below that it just wants to die.I havent messed with the IAC I am going to do that tomorrow.

 

[Bryan22]

try cleaning the MAF. and did you ever check out the timing belt?

 

[ChaoticDave]

Yes timing is fine,Originally thought it was the problem.Going to clean the IAC and maf tomorrow hopefully.Snow sidelined that today

 

[Bryan22]

check the egr system too. A sticky EGR valve will make it not want to idle. You can take it off and clean it out with some carb cleaner or something. but you'll need to buy a gasket. An easy way to see if it's stuck is to take the connection from the tube to the valve apart and put something in between to block of the passage to the EGR valve. if the idle smooths out when you block the flow your EGR is sticking or stuck. It's a pretty easy test, shouldn't take more than 10 minutes and a 1 1/16 in wrench if i remember correctly.

 

[ChaoticDave]

Update

I went to work on it today and sure enough the crank pulley is wobbling all over the place.Im gonna try and take it off tomorrow and see why it came loose.I think that would knock it out of time being loose.