No Power + engine surge

[dimmermanj]

okay i am the proud owner of a 1995 ford ranger 2.3l, recently i have noticed a severe power loss to the point where my truck barely runs 5th gear/OD on the freeway going 70mph, and i cant figure out why. my only guess is that possibly the timing belt skipped a lug but i figured it would likely just snap being that it is 160,xxx miles old. another problem i have is that is at cruising speed the truck surges/misses at a pretty constant rate. i have replaced plugs and wires and havent solved the problem so could it possibly be a fuel injector?

-Jim

 

[jdm90]

Is that the original belt?

 

[dimmermanj]

i believe that it is the original its cracked and in rough shape, i am planning on replacing it when i get back to town from college next weekend

 

[jdm90]

Make sure you replace the tensioner also. You might want to check the waterpump while you are in that area of the engine if it is OE.

 

[dimmermanj]

yeah its probably a good idea to check that out while im in there, any other suggestions? i am more of a old school engine guy and the whole Fuel injected miles of wiring late model ford ect ect is a little new for me.

 

[jdm90]

maybe a new thermostat

 

[phatcap]

i doubt a bad thermostat would be causing severe power loss...

start off by testing different components of the engine and finding out if its throwing any codes before throwing parts at it. if you try the search function at the top, a lot of the testing procedures have been talked about on here. most of the tests just require a simple voltmeter. you can test the coil packs, mass air flow sensor, idle air control valve, egr valve, DPFE sensor, fuel injectors, etc., etc. you might want to try a compression test too.

 

[jdm90]

I was just saying to replace it while he was replacing the belt.

 

[phatcap]

gotcha...

 

[dimmermanj]

yeah those are the kinds of things i was thinking about doing.. i wont really know much till then, im still gonna replace timing belt regardless because it is so old, but thank you for the information any other ideas would be great!

 

[jdm90]

Yea, I just mentioned those since you would be in that area of the engine.

 

[jdm90]

Have you replaced the fuel filter?

 

[dimmermanj]

yes the fuel filter was replaced right after i bought the truck, other than that i have also changed plugs and wires and that is pretty much it

 

[jdm90]

What does the back side of the throttle body look like?

 

[dimmermanj]

i haven't looked at it recently but last time i did (about 8mos ago) it was pretty clean. i am assuming your talking about inside back behind the "butterfly" and whether there is carbon buildup?