My idea of a Shelby Ranger if there would have been one.

[multiranger]

If you are not having issues now it's got nothing ti do with the new plugs being platinum. You changed from Champion to Motorcraft is where your improvement came from. Every Ford I (and my dad) have ever been around ran best with motorcraft/autolite coppers, with the sole exception of the Probe I had it actually called for and ran best on NGK plugs. Just like to point out that includes a '68 F-100, 84 Ranger, 90 BII, '92 (I think) Tempo, '94 F-150, '99 Ranger, 02 Ranger (two of them) and an '02 Taurus. There have also been many older Fords my dad had before I was born including a Pinto, a few falcons, and a mustang. Personally, I've never put Champion plugs in an auto engine. Was told by my dad (there he is again noticing a trend?) that he never had anything but problem with Champion's auto plugs. He'll use them in lawn equipment when he can't get an NGK, and they make great aircraft plugs, but their automotive division sucks.

Back when I was a Tech at Dodge Champion was the best plug for those cars.. A Dodge ran like crap on any other plug.... It's crazy.

 

[Colin]

If you are not having issues now it's got nothing ti do with the new plugs being platinum. You changed from Champion to Motorcraft is where your improvement came from. Every Ford I (and my dad) have ever been around ran best with motorcraft/autolite coppers, with the sole exception of the Probe I had it actually called for and ran best on NGK plugs. Just like to point out that includes a '68 F-100, 84 Ranger, 90 BII, '92 (I think) Tempo, '94 F-150, '99 Ranger, 02 Ranger (two of them) and an '02 Taurus. There have also been many older Fords my dad had before I was born including a Pinto, a few falcons, and a mustang. Personally, I've never put Champion plugs in an auto engine. Was told by my dad (there he is again noticing a trend?) that he never had anything but problem with Champion's auto plugs. He'll use them in lawn equipment when he can't get an NGK, and they make great aircraft plugs, but their automotive division sucks.

yeah it was my first time doing the plugs on my own vehicle, and thats what was recomended at the parts store (this is why i dont go to parts stores for stuff like this anymore) it ran fine for like 6 months and then it started running like complete crap and missing, so i went to the ford plugs.

 

[multiranger]

Still appears to be no change in the MPG... I also replaced the Acts with a new one but haven't drivin it since.. I think the only things left to replace is the crank position sensor and the MAF.oh and the ECM. Everything else has been replaced at least I think so... here is a list of everything replaced on the engine... Not including all the gaskets

Air charge temp
TPS
02
purge valve
canaster.
injectors
timing chain
HV oil pump
k&n air filter
plugs
wires
Fuel pump
fuel filter
FPR
Headman hedders

 

[Robert_1967]

I vote ECM.

sense, it get better mpg's right after you reset it.




Robert

 

[--weezl--]

i vote mechanic, stop pouring money into it with no end in site...

 

[multiranger]

Right now I can't afford to take it to Ford.. Really I can't afford to do anything to it.. I got the acts free so I replaced it.. I am going to throw a crank sensor on it when I have a spare 30 bucks...

 

[multiranger]

Well gentleman the mpg problem seems to have been solved!!!!!! The Temp sensor appears to have been the problem...

Anybody know where the ground wire(s) are located for the guages?

 

[FrankBoss]

Dam... it's about time! I've been reading and reading... it just kept going on...

good thing too, being a cheap fix.

FrankBoss

 

[ZMan]

the ground wire for your gauges is over by the computer on the passenger kick panel. Its good that you found the problem, my buddy had a '97 explorer with the SOHC that was having starting issues because of the temp sensor, for some reason it was reading like -100* so it would dump fuel in and flood the thing. Took him quite a while to figure it out, unfortunately it was in my garage the whole time.

 

[Musick17]

gotta love the top result in google for "4.0 sohc plug specs" bringing you right to TRS tech library!

Honestly, about 80% of the tech questions I search on google brings me to TRS.

 

[--weezl--]

i usually search TRS first, then fix the problem with the answer i find lol

 

[multiranger]

Dam... it's about time! I've been reading and reading... it just kept going on...

good thing too, being a cheap fix.

FrankBoss

Yeah it is!!! Funny thing is I did some work on my dad's Ranger a month or so ago and noticed his went into closed loop a heck of a lot faster than mine but never really thought nothing about it... As I have said mine ran really good with no codes it just liked to drink gaaaassss I am pretty sure it's fixed cause the gas gauge is staying put and I only put 10 gallons of fuel in while it was on empty...

 

[multiranger]

i usually search TRS first, then fix the problem with the answer i find lol

Fixing problems is how I found TRS!!! It was so much help I joined and haven't looked back!! I think of going to TRS is like visiting family

 

[multiranger]

the ground wire for your gauges is over by the computer on the passenger kick panel. Its good that you found the problem, my buddy had a '97 explorer with the SOHC that was having starting issues because of the temp sensor, for some reason it was reading like -100* so it would dump fuel in and flood the thing. Took him quite a while to figure it out, unfortunately it was in my garage the whole time.

It seems like it is always something simple and the last thing to try... I am going to go ahead and replace all the sensors over time so they all wind up new... Thanks for all your help bud!! BTW Your Ranger looks awesome!! I love the paint scheme you laid on it.

 

[bobbywalter]

this is a reason i suggest guys buy a tuner...like the moates 1/4 horse etc...


if you like your old ford its a small investment for what you can do.