Random stalling issues

[vacustode03]

So lately I've been having some issues with stalling. I'll start with the beginning. Last winter when it was cold, my truck would occasionally throw a check engine light and it didn't seem like it really effected anything. What I mean is it didn't run any differently or do anything it didn't usually do other than the tach would show about half the rpms I was running. All I did when this happened was shut the truck off then started it back and CEL would be off. Then spring and summer came and no CEL. Now it has started to get cold again and CEL started coming back. Again this didn't bother me too bad, but I started to have other problems. Lately I've noticed that when I go out in the morning to start my truck early and get it warmed up before leaving, I'd come back out and my truck would have stalled. Then one day at a red light while idling it stalled and wouldn't start back till 2 green lights later. Since then, I'll be driving and when I'm coasting downhill and all the sudden I have no gas response kinda like it stalled but I'm in gear so the truck doesn't just shut down unless I push in the clutch in, at which point it will stutter to a stall. When I'm coasting downhill and this happens, I can quickly turn the key to the off position then back on and everything is normal again. It also does this when I come to a stop. It doesn't always do this at the stop itself but as I'm pulling out from the stop it likes to do it then as well. I've gotten to the point where I will go ahead and shut it off, coast to the stop start it back up and it doesn't give me problems at stops. I don't know if the earlier CEL thing is related to this stalling thing but I had the codes checked and it didn't really show anything but something about a bad coil. I figured that was because I had the exhaust plug wires swapped around for that better fuel economy mod (that I don't think really works anyway so I swapped them back). Since swapping them back I haven't had codes checked. I did swap out the IAC out with another one I had didn't seem to do anything. I looked at the inertia switch and it looked okay, no melting on the plug or anything. What do you guys think?

1992 ford ranger 4x4 2.3l 8 plug

 

[Mark_88]

Could be a number of things...I would get the codes and see what they tell you first...

It almost sounds like a moisture issue (cold/damp weather) but it wouldn't happen if the engine was warm...which yours does...but once you get the codes you can go from that...even though I doubt the codes are related to what is happening with the stalling...

Did you happen to notice the stalling right after hitting a pothole or other bump in the road? This could be a clue too...

 

[vacustode03]

Could be a number of things...I would get the codes and see what they tell you first...

It almost sounds like a moisture issue (cold/damp weather) but it wouldn't happen if the engine was warm...which yours does...but once you get the codes you can go from that...even though I doubt the codes are related to what is happening with the stalling...

Did you happen to notice the stalling right after hitting a pothole or other bump in the road? This could be a clue too...

I also don't think codes are going to help me decipher this problem. The stalling has just been happening here recently, but I didn't remember hitting any big bumps or potholes or jars. I think you are heading to an inertia switch problem here, but I checked the switch and it wasn't popped out. I unplugged it and there was no fuel pump prime on key on position and when trying to start it would only crank and wouldn't turn over. I don't think it's a inertia switch issue. I replaced one of the coils last night (the ignition coil, the back one of the two) and drove it around for 30+ minutes and it ran great, never stalled once. But on my way to work this morning it stalled 3 times. I'm wondering if I need to change out the exhaust coil as well? And new plugs and wires probably wouldn't hurt.

 

[tomw]

Have you checked your ignition switch? They can start to come apart and lose contact, causing stalling. If yours is failing in that mode, you can see the separation occurring by removing the plastic column cover for inspection. When it gets real bad, the engine will just STOP unless you nudge the key a jiggle towards ON(START), at which time it may catch and keep going.
tom

 

[vacustode03]

Have you checked your ignition switch? They can start to come apart and lose contact, causing stalling. If yours is failing in that mode, you can see the separation occurring by removing the plastic column cover for inspection. When it gets real bad, the engine will just STOP unless you nudge the key a jiggle towards ON(START), at which time it may catch and keep going.
tom

I haven't checked the ignition switch but I went and bought the other ignition coil so that they are both new, also got some new plugs and wires. Drove it for 20 minutes, no stalls so far. We'll see what it does mon morning on the way to work and then back home mon afternoon.

 

[Mark_88]

Well, inertia switch was one thing, but bumps and jars can also shake things loose and, like tomw mentioned, it could be the ignition wires, or even the starter relay...or any power wires.

If just the engine stalling and everything else works then it could be something with the starter/relay circuit only...

However, since you changed the coils and wires already and you haven't seen more stalling...it could be you nailed it with something there...like a loose coil power wire...

The jarring though would be what to watch for...maybe find a nice old backroad with plenty of potholes and drive down that a few times to see if the problem comes back...