New ECU did the trick

[macx]

Bought what turned out to be a sadly neglected, even abused, 93 Ranger 2.3 5 spd a couple months ago. Cheap. Yeah. Paint rough, but only 75k on the truck. Two months later and lots of new parts and quite a few hours of wrenching, most things fixed. Except the engine ran rough in 4th & 5th on the highway, and even for a 4 cyl it felt down on power at highway speeds.

So tried to pull the codes, couldn't get a good clear, decisive reading. After that, the ck engine light stayed on, it died when first started cold, rev'd high when started warm, and at steady speed in lower gears felt like I was turning the key on and off - jerking - altho the engine didn't die.

Figured I had to start with the ecu so I could at least pull codes. A couple 2 digit codes I did get when I first pulled them had to do with it running rich and a possible fault with the EGR system, like the vac solenoid or the position sensor. Took the EGR off and cleaned it out - wasn't plugged but had enuf carbon in it that it was stuck open some. 1/2 a can of carb spray later, it sealed tight, opened under vacuum and closed properly, and no vac leak when I put the position sensor back on.

So found a decent deal on a used ecu on ebay, with at least an exhange if it was bad, so ordered it.

Stuck it on this afternoon. Started it up and no check engine light! and it didn't die started cold! Two good improvements. Very promising.

Took it out on the freeway for the "big test" and shifted into 5th at about 2200 rpm (5th) on an uphill grade and, for the very first time, it actually accelerated going up a mild grade in 5th! And the engine now runs smooth as silk - not a sign of a miss or sputter or "burble".

Brought it back, pulled the codes after the drive, "3"'s all the way!! Still going to do a compression check "just to see"

Now if that tach in the used sport instrument cluster I bought would just work! :-/

Nothing on ebay at the moment. Put in a request on

http://www.usedpartslive.com/catalog/models.php?make_text=1616&year=4294963731

and am next checking the Classifieds on here. If anyone has one - - -

When I get my trans put in from Mr Boyer after it arrives this Thurs, I'll finally have most of the mechanical repairs done.

 

[k3eaxk3eax]

What was the cost of the ECU?

Al

 

[macx]

There were several available on eBay and, as usual, prices varied widely.

A rebuilt one thru a low-price supplier i.e. Rock Auto was over $150, so turned to
used on eBay.

Got one with at least an exchange policy if it didn't work for about $50.

Salvage yards vary widely in cost, too, so it pays to call around and ask,
but often there there's no returns/exchanges if something electrical
doesn't work, so you'd need to make sure before you buy one.

If you happen to know someone with the same model / year / engine / trans,
you could always swap and try it. But it's got to be the same specs and
part #.