rpm trouble

[rangerchick88]

Hello,

I just got my first vehicle last June. It's a 1990 Ranger and when I got it, it only had 52,000 miles on it. I'm trying to learn as much as I can about trucks and my engine, so I don't get screwed over when I take it to a mechanic. I've looked everywhere and I can't find an answer to my problem...

It started off losing a little bit of power when you accelerate, but it would be just fine. Now, I can barely get over 1500 RPMs and my truck won't shift. It took 10 minutes to get it from 0 to 45 the other day. When it idles (around 1200 rpms) it will randomly drop RPMs to 600 and the check engine light flips on. It only seems to do this when the engine is hot. Does anyone have a similar problem or know what's going on?

 

[BlackBII]

Hmm, maybe a Fuel delivery problem

If the check engine light came on, I would pull the codes, looky here
http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/OBD_I.html

 

[rangerchick88]

thanks, a lot, i'll check that out.

 

[salvagetug]

1990 Ranger w a 2.9L

My daughter is rangerchick88 and this Pick up is giving us headaches. The truck is a 1990 with about 50,000 orginal miles. It sat most of the year, (it was owned by a "snowbird") We've replaced the Muffler, (and according to the Midas guy the catalitic converter is insider the muffler), the fuel pump, in line filter, and had the fuel tank cleaned. We've replaced the plugs and wires, distributer cap. She has run injector cleaner through the fuel lines about every other tank. I have also had the transmission serviced. Tonight she called again and the truck will be running fine and then loose power. She will creap along at 1000 rpm's (in second gear), the temp goes up and then it will stall. She waits a couple minutes and then the truck starts up and drives fine for a little while, then it does it again.
Not sure if anyone posting on here has encountered this before, but some of her friends have suggested a computer chip could be the cause, (to the tune of $400+ installation). I don't want to go there unless I am sure this will fix her issues.

Any one have any ideas??

Appreciate any assistance

 

[DieselSmoke]

its a 2.9 that's the problem


my old truck did that, it was something in the fuel/air sensor system, i cant remember which sensor, the shop couldnt get a code from it so we just started replacing sensors tell it was fixed


edit: maybe a scan would work for you, my electrical system was bad but yours may not be

 

[salvagetug]

thanks

I've start looking at sensors, (or find someone that knows about them).

Appreciate the assistance

 

[holyford86]

it sounds like a catalyst problem to me, and the catalytic converter is not inside the muffler. the catalytic converter is bolted to the exhaust "Y" pipe by three bolts, its right next to the transmission

 

[salvagetug]

Removing the converter

Well sure glad the Midas guy knew what he was talking about. Is that something I can take off/disconnect? or does it need to be replaced?

Appreciate the feedback

 

[BlackBII]

If the Cat is glowing red (dark outside) after driving for a while, then it needs to be replaced. Also, there is a TFI Module on the back of the distributor, if that gets too hott, it will make the truck run like crap, usually it will kill the truck completly untill it cools down.

In this case, it sounds more like a plugged up cat, as the if the Module was the issue, the truck probably wouldn't run at all when it would get hot.

And if you can Remove it.....That is up to you and how rusty the exhaust is. You are 'supposed' to be able to just unbolt it, but every one I've had I have busted the studs and then needed to drill them out and/or revert to the sawzall. And modifying exhaust/emissions and not being certified is illegal, but, the feds don't need to know

 

[BlackBII]

I just re-read your post, and I'm leaning towards a TFI Module now maybe...

Need to check and see if the cat is glowing, meaning it's too hott and therefore plugged up

 

[Syko]

I had the same problemon my 87 b2 once i hit 2000 rpm it lost all power. then it got worse down to 1500 rpm and it would loose all power.. took it to a shop and asked whats wrong they scanned for codes and a bunch came up but they looked like they didnt know what they were doing so i went to another shop, they said the cats were plugged. 600 bucks for new ones :S cause theres 2! i donno why..so instead of paying 600 for new ones, i just cut mine open took all the melted shit out (it was bad) folded it back closed and welded it shut. it worked like a charm besides it being a lil bit louder it runs great now

 

[MAKG]

If the Cat is glowing red (dark outside) after driving for a while, then it needs to be replaced.

Dude, if you don't know, don't give bad advice.

If the cat EVER glows red, it's working just fine. Something is dumping excessive fuel in there, and the cat is burning it off, just like it is supposed to.

Now, something else is causing the rich condition.

A plugged exhaust is easily checked with a vacuum gauge, but it has NOTHING to do with engine temperature (just time and RPM). I'd suspect -- rather strongly -- that the fuel pressure regulator is blown. Easily checked with a hand vacuum pump.

 

[BlackBII]

My bad, I had read that somewhere else. Sorry 'bout that, thanks for clearing that up Gross

 

[0ldman]

My truck was eating fuel pumps, turns out the fuel treatment was burning up the pumps, we're talking 15 seconds run time, turn it off, dead pump.

I'm not a big fan of fuel treatments. I wouldn't run them every other tank. Might have eaten your injectors or fpr.

With ethanol being added to our fuel over the past few years, I'm a bit curious how it interacts with the fuel system cleaners. Both are corrosive.