New to us Ranger, not new to Fords

[Summers22]

Just picked up this 01 Ranger 3.0 RWD 5R44E. Body and interior are in amazing shape. It has 101k and maintenance seems to be neglected. All ignition tune up items have been ordered as well as transmission fluid and filter, coolant flush items including thermostat and gasket, rear differential fluid and gasket, as well as sway bar links and bushings. Ordered as much Motorcraft items as possible ,(Hitachi for the IAC). Towed it home 3 hours because the tires are 12 years old. My Superduty made easy work out of the tow. I may daily it a year or 2 as it's for my 13 year old son as his first vehicle.

 

[Jazzer]

You got a good start there Jon, welcome to TRS!

 

[sgtsandman]

The 3.0 is a solid engine with no major issues. While nowhere near a powerhouse, it will get the job done reliably.

It is a sad thing that so many people don't take care of their vehicles but it is the world we live in.

Hopefully, you won't find anything major and it just needs some TLC to get it back where it should be.

 

[Summers22]

Yeah hopefully you are right. I test drove it and while it did "okay" the check engine light came on. I had my scan tool and it was a misfire on 4. The transmission fluid was fairly clean, just a little low and the oil was clean and within the crosshatch area. I'm a stickler for maintenance. Already have over $600 on parts heading this way. It doesn't need to be a power house anyway. Just a reliable truck for a highschooler.......

 

[gaz]

@Jon Summers
GO DaD!!

 

[Summers22]

I'm pretty mechanically inclined so this shouldn't be too much effort. It needs to warm up though!

 

[superj]

thats a beautiful color for a first truck. my youngest son got an extended cab s10 for his first truck and he said that is the truck he still wishes he had. he said that truck was so dependable and had space for everything. he said my 04 single cab was to small inside. so, hopefully your son enjoys it as much as my kids have with their first trucks

 

[Summers22]

Yep, I love the color, almost matches my old 17 F150

 

[superj]

what do they call that, velocity blue? i almost got a new ranger in that color but then i remembered how hard it can be to find stuff on marketplace in those cool colors, sometimes

 

[Summers22]

It was a one year F150 color, N6 Lightning Blue, Velocity was 18 and later, 15 &16 was Blue Flame.

 

[Curious Hound]

Nice truck. That 3.0l will treat you right. Its power band is way up around 3500rpm. So, at low rpms it will feel doggy.

 

[SenorNoob]

It's an automatic. Mash the pedal and let the transmission do it's thing. The power will be there when the skinny pedal gets far enough down.

 

[Summers22]

It's an automatic. Mash the pedal and let the transmission do it's thing. The power will be there when the skinny pedal gets far enough down.

Now thats what I'm talking about! haha

 

[Summers22]

Started on maintenance items today

Cleaned MAF
Removed and cleaned throttle body
Replaced:
IAC (Hitachi)
Motorcraft:
cam synchronizer
cam shaft position sensor
Ignition coil
Plug wires
Sparkplugs
Wix:
Air filter

Runs perfect now, next up is coolant flush and new thermostat (will do heater core separately), then transmission fluid and filter, then rear differential and I have the sway bar links and bushings going on tomorrow along with a new drivers door switch. Will need the 12 year old tires replaced before I drive it any considerable distance.

 

[Summers22]

Did the transmission service and fuel filter yesterday. Got freaked out when I found 3 little metal bits in the pan, only to find out they are part of the original pan gasket. Surprisingly the fluid was still nice and red with no odd smell after 101k and 24 years....