realy rough idle

[86ranger4x4owner]

I have a 198 ford ranger 2.3l 5 speed. It has a really rough idle. It will idle without cutting off but its really rough and doesn't have enough power to even move. I have replaced whole ignition system. Am thinking its the fuel injectors. I've checked for vacuum leaks and it has none and has new fuel pressure regulator and has good gas pressure. Anybody know what this could be? Thanks.

 

[Insanejughead]

Check your timing. Even slightly retarded or advanced can make it run shitty.

Check the output voltage of your Throttle Position Sensor to make sure it's within it's proper range.

Check your Idle Air Control valve and solenoid. Does unplugging it make any difference?

I'll post up more things as I think of them...

 

[86ranger4x4owner]

Check your timing. Even slightly retarded or advanced can make it run shitty.

Check the output voltage of your Throttle Position Sensor to make sure it's within it's proper range.

Check your Idle Air Control valve and solenoid. Does unplugging it make any difference?

I'll post up more things as I think of them...

I checked tps and its good. If I unplug the air control it will cut off. I've double checked all timing its right. Any other ideas?

 

[Insanejughead]

Check your compression.

 

[zekew64]

Check your compression.

What he means is, get a Haynes manual and follow the compression leak-down test. If you put a small amount of oil in a cylinder after getting a first reading, and it rises significantly, you have bad compression rings.

 

[86ranger4x4owner]

Check your compression.

I had a mechanic check it and he told me a bad valve. I had the whole head rebuilt so it should be good. Can fuel injectors cause s really tough idle? He told me two were working sometimes but I listened to all of them an they were all clicking.

 

[86ranger4x4owner]

OK today I put about 4 gallons of gas in and it idled fine. It has done this a couple of times now. I think its because I let it completely run out of gas one time. Any ideas of what could be causing this? Also when I drive it in 3rd, 4th or 5th gear and give it a good bit of gas it knocks on top end and doesn't have a lot of power. Also when going up a hill it knocks. The head just got rebuilt last week. What could this be? Thanks.

 

[zekew64]

Basically, I'm thinking you're putting in gas that has a lot of water in it. Run some dry gas, or some SeaFoam, through your tank and see if that doesn't help. Going up a hill, the only thing I can say is that you've got low gearing in the rear, and there isn't much you can do that, other than switching your rear end.

 

[86ranger4x4owner]

Basically, I'm thinking you're putting in gas that has a lot of water in it. Run some dry gas, or some SeaFoam, through your tank and see if that doesn't help. Going up a hill, the only thing I can say is that you've got low gearing in the rear, and there isn't much you can do that, other than switching your rear end.

Its done this a couple of times and I've got gas at different gas stations and it has 3.73 gears. Am thinking its fuel filter. I let it run out of gas once and its been doing this since then. Am thinking the filter has gotten half way stopped but am replacing it as a good measure anyway

 

[one1]

OK today I put about 4 gallons of gas in and it idled fine. It has done this a couple of times now. I think its because I let it completely run out of gas one time. Any ideas of what could be causing this? Also when I drive it in 3rd, 4th or 5th gear and give it a good bit of gas it knocks on top end and doesn't have a lot of power. Also when going up a hill it knocks. The head just got rebuilt last week. What could this be? Thanks.

It's a plug. I've already been through this. Pull your plugs and inspect them until you find the one with the cracked insulator. There WILL be one with a cracked insulator. When you are in higher gears and give it a lot of gas it strains and puts out a lot of spark and fuel, but at a lower rpm so it knocks as the plug arcs. If you hadn't said that I'd not have known, but since you did it's the clue I need.

Pull them and look real close. You'll find one bad if your description is accurate.

 

[86ranger4x4owner]

It's a plug. I've already been through this. Pull your plugs and inspect them until you find the one with the cracked insulator. There WILL be one with a cracked insulator. When you are in higher gears and give it a lot of gas it strains and puts out a lot of spark and fuel, but at a lower rpm so it knocks as the plug arcs. If you hadn't said that I'd not have known, but since you did it's the clue I need.

Pull them and look real close. You'll find one bad if your description is accurate.

I'll pull them and look they looked good when I put them in which was not to long ago as I had a head job done. It only knocks with a load on it. not at low speeds or idling. The guy put a new valve in and lifter so that's all good I don't know what could be knocking.

 

[Earl43P]

2 fuel pumps?
Suspect the lift pump in the tank died.
Disconnect the connector on the pump at the fuel rail.
Remove the fuel filter you are replacing anyway.
Turn key to Run with a bucket under there to catch the fuel.

Should see minimal flow out as the line drains, then good flow each time the pump in the tank runs each time the key is turned from off to run (pump will only run for two seconds).

 

[86ranger4x4owner]

2 fuel pumps?
Suspect the lift pump in the tank died.
Disconnect the connector on the pump at the fuel rail.
Remove the fuel filter you are replacing anyway.
Turn key to Run with a bucket under there to catch the fuel.

Should see minimal flow out as the line drains, then good flow each time the pump in the tank runs each time the key is turned from off to run (pump will only run for two seconds).

Yea it has two. I was going to suspect that after I changed the filter. If it comes out good is it working right?

 

[86ranger4x4owner]

I had to take the whole canister off truck cause I couldn't get a oil filter wrench in there I open it and black liquid starts coming out and filter is black. I got a new filter but I can't get it screwed back together its really tight and also the o ring won't seat perfectly in that groove on bottom part of canister. Anybody else had this problem?

 

[Mark_88]

Not that i can recall...they either screw on right or not at all...unless you cross thread them...then they are pooched and you need to get another oil filter...you could probably drain and flush the old one if you have to drive to get a new oil filter...and you don't have to drop the oil again just to change the filter so you won't loose much on that effort...