low high end trq

[AndrewZ]

Hey all.
first off this is what i have
87 Ranger xl/xlt
Motor: 2.9L efi
Trans: stick shift 4 speed + OD

history, i got the truck two years ago ish, and it had a cracked head so rebuild last summer.

the other day on my way home it lost power, didnt stall but could hardly move,
i got home, put new plugs and wires in it, runs allot better now but still feels week at the top end of the gears, like its hard to get fast enough to even go to the next gear. parking brakes are not locked up, clutch is old and the dampener springs are week but it dont slip

she ant running hot, no milky oil, everything looks right. any ideas? i ant got money to put it in the shop and need it to get to school.

thanks guys.
Andrew

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

have you done a compression test, fuel pressure test, and checked your air filter and intake tube for any blockage? we somehow sucked up the celophane wrapper off a pack of cigarettes with my friends f350 and it ran like hell on the way back from a day at the mx track, and when we finally opened the air box we laughed so hard.

 

[AndrewZ]

I checked the air / filter. i dont have the tools to check compression or fuel pressure. i have a friend that can but he is on the road right now.
the plugs made a big difference, also the plugs i took out were gapped to big (about 65 when calls for a 44)
i dont know much about cars, i try my best lol, but could a bad fuel pump do this?

i just put some cleaner in the gas to help clean the injectors, maybe that will help.

thank you.
andrew

 

[Jolly Roger]

Did you try seafome? I just did it to my 93 2.3l and it worked great. Id start with fuel pump and or cadaletic convertor. If u dont have a presure tester try un hooking a line and run the fuel pump. Put the line in a bottle of some kind. I for get how to measure electrics. The manuals were good if you could get 1/3 of a 20oz. in 30sec. Someone please help me with exact measurements. Ive done these tricks just cant remember.

 

[AndrewZ]

thank you, i will try that tomorow, i'l let you all know, thanks for info

 

[feellnfroggy]

Its not high end torque your losing out on. In the higher rpm band is where your horsepower really starts to kick in. Torquw applies mostly to the lower 3/4 of the rpm bands. If you having problems in the upper bands its an airflow problem. Your engine isnt breathing all that well, try the seafoam and a new air filter and check for blockages in your intake.

 

[AndrewZ]

ok, just found out wat was wrong i think,

the little flapp that controls air flow into the intake wasnt opening, got it open the truck has more power now but seems to be running rough still and still losing power some tims, not much though, could that have done any other dammage to the motor?

thanks so much for help.
Andrew

 

[fyre82]

Most likely not going to cause damage.
You may want to pull codes, there may be some issues that aren't triping a cel if yours has one.
I was having some of the same issues and got a hit on the engine temp sensor, the one that goes to the brain and intermittent hits on O2 sensor which could be related.

My only issues now is the same loss of power and missing before full operating temperature but once I hit op temp it's ok. My maintenance has been a bit remiss so working on that now to hopefully fix it.

Good luck
Rich

 

[AndrewZ]

Thanks bro, the more i have run it the better it seems to be running, i ran it today no power loss at all.

Thanks guys for all the help.

at this time i think it is all fixed so mark this one as done.

and Rich good luck with your truck too bro.

 

[fyre82]

I drove it to work today, 35 miles of mtn highway, then out to the woods.
4 hi into the wood spot and 4 low crawl out loaded. Never missed a lick.
I still have that sensor to change but I'll get it after I check codes again.

Have fun.

Rich

 

[AndrewZ]

thats gr8 Rich.

is there a way to pull codes off a 87 ranger 2.9?

wish mine was 4x4 lol...

 

[AllanD]

Hey all.
first off this is what i have
87 Ranger xl/xlt
Motor: 2.9L efi
Trans: stick shift 4 speed + OD

history, i got the truck two years ago ish, and it had a cracked head so rebuild last summer.

the other day on my way home it lost power, didnt stall but could hardly move,
i got home, put new plugs and wires in it, runs allot better now but still feels week at the top end of the gears, like its hard to get fast enough to even go to the next gear. parking brakes are not locked up, clutch is old and the dampener springs are week but it dont slip

she ant running hot, no milky oil, everything looks right. any ideas? i ant got money to put it in the shop and need it to get to school.

thanks guys.
Andrew

First things to check are fuel and air

First take the cover off your air cleaner, look inside the box under the filter element and make sure that a family of chipmunks hasn't moved into there (or like I found in mine last fall where the airbox was FULL of the silky puffs from milkweed seeds)

After that if the airbox is clear, don't diagnose, don't "Test" just replace the fuel filter.

If you can't remember exactly when you replaced it last it's time for a new one anyway.

If that doesn't clear up the problem THEN start with actual "diagnostics"
on the problem.

Any experienced mechanic will tell you "Always check the stupid shit first"

AD

 

[kimcrwbr1]

thats gr8 Rich.

is there a way to pull codes off a 87 ranger 2.9?

wish mine was 4x4 lol...

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/OBD_I.html
you can get a code reader at the part store

 

[kimcrwbr1]

If you haven`t reset the computer those coud be stored codes in the memory, erase the memory first then disconnect the battery for 1/2 an hour bring the engine up to temp driving at medium speeds then pull the codes again. It could be running on old values resetting the computer to new current values could help.

 

[AndrewZ]

ok thanks guys, have not had time to do anything i parked the truck , getting a new fuel filter tomorow, should have just changed it i have never put one on the truck so no clue how old it is.

thanks for all the help guys,

Andrew