New Plugs and Wires - Still Pinging - Now What?

[SMB2500]

Have owned the 2000 2.5 for a few months now. It always ran fine, but had a buzz through the radio speakers that kept time with the RPM. No problem, thought I... it probably has original plugs and wires (at 150,000 miles, no less!).

Then lately, it started pinging... especially when fully warmed and on the highway at higher speeds... particularly, of course, going uphill. Only high octane gas would cure it. I thought "wrong".... it shouldn't need high test, especially all of a sudden. So I changed the plugs and wires. And yes... there was nothing left of them! I'm surprised it ran as good as it did.

But to my surprise after the work, I still have the pinging and radio speaker buzz!! I thought for sure it would be fixed. SO.... any recommendations/tips on what to look for next??? I don't suspect major engine problems... the truck uses no oil between changes, and it has always gotten about 25-27 mpg on the highway. Seems to run just fine... save for the infernal pinging!!

Thanks in advance!!

Steve

 

[mrcarcrazy]

Any P codes? Pinging is of course caused by hot spots igniting fuel too soon.

There are a number of potential causes for this.

If no codes are being thrown I'd try seafoam, or BG 44K. Lots of time carbon deposits will build up and can cause some Ping. I have seen the results of BG 44k kill Ping, and tore an engine down after treatment. Cyl walls and combustion chamber of the head were perfect looking. cleaned out nicely. based on the amount of smoke after seafoam treatments I suspect it'll work as well.

 

[scotts90ranger]

I would get some MAF cleaner and try that,

pinging can also be from running too lean, if the MAF is dirty it isn't going to be getting a proper air fuel mixture and will ping... $8 can of MAF cleaner and 5 minutes and you should be good to go.

 

[Rifleman]

If the high octane fuel is curing the ping, either someone has put a tune in the PCM to run high octane for more power, or your area has over-rated fuel like my area. My dad's 99 has a predetonation ping that is cured by higher octane fuel. I've not had a chance to investigate if there is something we can do to retard the timing a couple of degrees beyond purchasing a tune from SCT or the likes.

Keep in mind, I have no idea how affected the Ranger is by such things, but my 2004 Lincoln LS that requires high octane (91+) fuel for the factory tune has bad things occur when running low octane fuel in it. Not only does it get the predetonation ping, but the predetonation sends massive amounts of carbon into the lower and upper intake creating flow issues, as well as IAT MAF and EGR issues.

 

[scotts90ranger]

I calibrate engines at work, if your stock ranger engine pings on regular fuel there is something wrong not necessarily by someone reprogramming the computer. Gasoline engines are easy to get to ping, I've had one do it at work at like 18* spark timing, so I added fuel, stopped pinging...

pinging can be caused by running too lean, intake air temperature too high, too much ignition timing or too high of a compression ratio. It is caused by an increased cylinder temperature (if not directly by timing). Increasing the amount of fuel in the cylinder decreases the cylinder temperature (evaporation, keep note this only works on gasoline, go too rich on propane or natural gas and it'll just get hotter...). If one of the sensors involved in the fuel mixture (MAF and oxygen sensor are the main on many engines) is dirty or somehow faulty the engine will not be getting the correct fuel mixture, and in the right circumstances can cause it to run rich or lean, with the factory spark setting a lean setting will cause it to ping, rich setting will cause it to blubber and smoke... There are several other things that can cause pinging, but these are more common.

 

[SMB2500]

Guys... thanks for the suggestions! I have the truck at work today... I'll do the MAF cleaning on my lunch break, if I have the necessary tools with me. If not, after work. I'll report the results. Thanks again!

 

[Earl43P]

Drive it around with the vaccum line disconnected from the EGR valve (ignore CEL).
Could be the DPFE.

 

[Byrd]

Everyone else has pretty much covered the pinging issue. Not much else that would cause it so suddenly.

However, as far as your buzzing goes. Try looking to see if your noise capacitors on your coils are plugged in still and try replacing them if they are gone or ragged. Should only run you a few bucks at the local parts store. These caps look like little silver M90s with a black wire that likes to fray and break instead of a wick.

-Byrd

 

[SMB2500]

Update.... Cleaned MAF sensor last night. Looked spotless to me when I took it out. But I have a feeling the MAF felt otherwise! So far, runs smoother, no pinging encountered (and I even put in 87 octane) under load. Also, a dip I had in the idle when I would come to a stop, sometimes even killing the engine, is gone! The final test, which I have a feeling the truck will pass with flying colors, will be the drive home from work when it will be hotter out. It's a 45 mile, 70 mph highway drive with steep hills that will put the little motor under a good load.

Byrd... thank you for the tip on the capacitors. I was so sure it was the plug wires and was surprised when it wasn't. I'll check the capacitors today.

Thanks all for your help!!

 

[Byrd]

Update.... Cleaned MAF sensor last night. Looked spotless to me when I took it out. But I have a feeling the MAF felt otherwise! So far, runs smoother, no pinging encountered (and I even put in 87 octane) under load. Also, a dip I had in the idle when I would come to a stop, sometimes even killing the engine, is gone! The final test, which I have a feeling the truck will pass with flying colors, will be the drive home from work when it will be hotter out. It's a 45 mile, 70 mph highway drive with steep hills that will put the little motor under a good load.

Byrd... thank you for the tip on the capacitors. I was so sure it was the plug wires and was surprised when it wasn't. I'll check the capacitors today.

Thanks all for your help!!

Glad to hear your making progress! Its always a good feeling. Let me know how it goes with your radio.

-Byrd

 

[SMB2500]

I went into Autozone, and the counter guy said there is no such capacitor that comes stock on the truck. He said it would be an aftermarket item. Also, I didn't see anything that looks like an M90 near the coil packs. I stopped at an auto stereo shop, and they suggested that the buzzing is a bad radio, and nothing to do with plugs, wires, or anything else. I do know, however, that with the engine off, it is fine. When the engine is started, the buzzing keeps time with the RPMs.

Still got a little bit of pinging on the way home the other day. Not as much... but it wasn't that hot out either. When it was slightly pinging I tried mashing on the accelerator going up a long hill at about 70 with the A/C on. I thought it would ping even worse. But instead, it went away! So I'm still a little baffled by that. Possibly running too lean at 3/4 throttle or so?

 

[locovaca]

Not sure if this link will work for you, but the counter jockey was wrong:

http://arrc.epnet.com/autoasp/logip...=2000%B1FORD%B1RANGER&yr=2000&ff=va128612.pdf

 

[Byrd]

Not sure if this link will work for you, but the counter jockey was wrong:

http://arrc.epnet.com/autoasp/logip...=2000%B1FORD%B1RANGER&yr=2000&ff=va128612.pdf

The link just brings up the main sight and asks for a log on.

But locovaca is 100% right, the counter jockey does not know what hes talking about. Motorcraft PN: E97F-18801-AA is what mine are (One per coil).

The ONLY thing that I can think of that would make the sales guy right is if your later model 2.5 for some reason does not have them. I am not 100% sure if Ford continued to put them on the little trucks after 92'. Someone else will have to back me up for the years after that, but since they continued to use the same coil packs for a number of years after that I don't see why they would negate the noise capacitor.

Do you have an aftermarket head unit in the truck?

-Byrd

 

[locovaca]

The link just brings up the main sight and asks for a log on.

But locovaca is 100% right, the counter jockey does not know what hes talking about. Motorcraft PN: E97F-18801-AA is what mine are (One per coil).

The ONLY thing that I can think of that would make the sales guy right is if your later model 2.5 for some reason does not have them. I am not 100% sure if Ford continued to put them on the little trucks after 92'. Someone else will have to back me up for the years after that, but since they continued to use the same coil packs for a number of years after that I don't see why they would negate the noise capacitor.

Do you have an aftermarket head unit in the truck?

-Byrd

The link was the wiring for the 2000 2.5 engine, which clearly showed the "Radio Noise Capacitor" on the Red/Light Green wire. So it does appear that Ford continued to put them on.

 

[Byrd]

The link was the wiring for the 2000 2.5 engine, which clearly showed the "Radio Noise Capacitor" on the Red/Light Green wire. So it does appear that Ford continued to put them on.

Perfect. Well, atleast hes got a part number to go shove in the dudes face and say, "Bring me this!"

That wiring diagram was a great idea though, I didn't even think about that.

-Byrd