Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and SpacemanSpiff
Member
- Joined
- Dec 15, 2011
- Messages
- 8
- Vehicle Year
- 1996
- Transmission
- Manual
Hey guys and gals.
The GF has a '96 Ranger 4cyl standard with ~¼ million miles on it that's still in really good shape.
Although it usually purrs like a kitten, a few months ago it developed a random "kick", mostly when starting off from a dead stop. It feels like the whole ignition/combustion process stops for a split second and then, *thunk*, picks up where it left off.
I should note that, at least once, it occurred while cruising along @ 55, and not in the middle of a shift.
I replaced the fuel filter first [it was original, cheap and easy], then the TPS [on the recommendation of her ex-] and finally, the plugs and wires on the right bank. I noticed one of the wires had been poorly routed against the end of a bolt sticking out of a bracket and had rubbed through the insulation. I was hopeful that was the cause...starting torque causing the wire to short to ground, interrupting the spark. [Seemed logical at the time]
Looked good for a few weeks, but now it's doing it again.
It appears to do it more frequently after idling at a long traffic light or stop sign, and possibly more often if it's damp...first thing in the morning. But...the same exact scenario may do nothing the next 2, 10, or 50 times.
Any clues, thoughts, suggestions, incantations?
TIA.
-Spiff
The GF has a '96 Ranger 4cyl standard with ~¼ million miles on it that's still in really good shape.
Although it usually purrs like a kitten, a few months ago it developed a random "kick", mostly when starting off from a dead stop. It feels like the whole ignition/combustion process stops for a split second and then, *thunk*, picks up where it left off.
I should note that, at least once, it occurred while cruising along @ 55, and not in the middle of a shift.
I replaced the fuel filter first [it was original, cheap and easy], then the TPS [on the recommendation of her ex-] and finally, the plugs and wires on the right bank. I noticed one of the wires had been poorly routed against the end of a bolt sticking out of a bracket and had rubbed through the insulation. I was hopeful that was the cause...starting torque causing the wire to short to ground, interrupting the spark. [Seemed logical at the time]
Looked good for a few weeks, but now it's doing it again.
It appears to do it more frequently after idling at a long traffic light or stop sign, and possibly more often if it's damp...first thing in the morning. But...the same exact scenario may do nothing the next 2, 10, or 50 times.
Any clues, thoughts, suggestions, incantations?
TIA.
-Spiff
