Park/Neutral Rev limiter? 2001 3.0L

[JoshT]

We've got an 01 Ranger 3.0L automatic that was a former fleet truck. Don't have any experience on how it should run because it was barely running when given to us. A tune up and new fuel pump got it running the best that it has since we started working on it.

Now we've got what dad thinks is a new issue, I'm thinking it might be the way it's programmed. When in park it sounds like the truck hits a Rev limiter at about 3100 rpm. Do these have a Park/Neutral Rev limiter?

 

[hoosier1104]

Is he revving the motor in park/neutral? If not, it sounds like a air issue or ECM programming due to being a fleet vehicle previously.

 

[Rearanger]

Why would he want to rev higher than 3100 in P/N?

 

[vista4.0]

There is a rev limiter from the factory from I think the year 2000+ on the automatics. Rev limiter is around the 3000 rpm in park or neutral.

 

[JoshT]

Why would he want to rev higher than 3100 in P/N?

He doesn't particularly, but he did want to make sure that the engine would run better than it did when we got the truck (it was a freebee). At that time it would struggle to hit 2000 RPM in park, driving down the road it was extremely sluggish and no way it could keep up with traffic. When I say extremely sluggish I don't mean the usual 3.0L sluggish. I had a 4 cylinder Probe with truck tires (I literally installed the wheels and tires off my totaled 2wd Ranger) running on 2 cylinders and a bent connecting rod and it was faster and had more power than this truck did.

We've slowly been tuning it up and looking for problems. Recently dad decided to disconnected the catalytic converter to see if it would make a difference, but fuel pump died before we could test. Got the new fuel pump in last weekend, he wanted to test the pump before we bolted the bed back down and see if it would rev up any better with the cat loose. He hit the park/neutral rev limiter and though it was something else wrong. He didn't want to try a test drive if the engine wouldn't turn over 3100 RPM going down the road.

FWIW, engine sounds like it's running a lot better with the cat disconnected. Sounds like it is stronger and it definitely spins up better. Wonder how its going to do on a test drive. Maybe the problem has been a plugged cat all along?

Is he revving the motor in park/neutral? If not, it sounds like a air issue or ECM programming due to being a fleet vehicle previously.

Yes, revving in park. That's the reason I was asking about a park / neutral limiter. If it has same problem when he takes it for a test drive I'll suggest checking into those. I really don't think it's an air issue, but ECM is possible. My cousin used it for years before we got it, but I don't really know how she drives.

There is a rev limiter from the factory from I think the year 2000+ on the automatics. Rev limiter is around the 3000 rpm in park or neutral.

Thanks, after more googling I've found the same suggested in a few places. Passed that news on to dad, hopefully he'll bolt the bed back on and test it next week.

 

[Sdsmracer95]

yeah its just a rev limiter for neutral and park. mine does that as well. i trick people into thinking i have launch control or something like that LOL