Running Rough

[DSR1]

I have a 98 ranger 2.5L 4 banger, My CEL is on and flashes when I hit 45-50mph. The truck tries to stall in 1st and reverse if I don't give her gas. I have already changed an O2 sensor and done a tune up. Auto zone says I still have a misfire in my 3rd cylinder. please help!!!

 

[Mirage]

Have you got any codes to go with that CEL? If so post them, it would help us help you. But if the guy from autozone is right, then I'd look at the spark plug wires, make sure you have them in the right order. That all the wires are good (I've gotten a bad wire out of brand new set from the zone). Also check out the resistance of the coil pack, it's possible one terminal is failing causing a misfire. Once you check that stuff out get back to us with the results.

 

[super91(2.3)]

Plugs wires and Lucas oil fuel treatment.. That should fix your problem. Same thing was happening to me last week

 

[DSR1]

ok so I went back and got the codes. P0171 and P0303 are the codes I got back , while there I cleaned my MAF and my EGR. My idle smoothed just a little. On the way home my CEL started flashing at 40mph and when I slowly hit 60mph it stopped flashing and just stayed on.
Any thoughts?

 

[modelageek]

I have a 98 ranger 2.5L 4 banger, My CEL is on and flashes when I hit 45-50mph. The truck tries to stall in 1st and reverse if I don't give her gas. I have already changed an O2 sensor and done a tune up. Auto zone says I still have a misfire in my 3rd cylinder. please help!!!

* as mentioned it could be a wire or the coilpack. a cheap way of testing the coilpack is for resistance with a MM or you can swap the coipacks........if the truck runs differently after the swap then it is the coilpack

so you had the p0303 before you did work to it and now after replacing the plugs and wires you still have the P0303?.........you replaced all 8 plugs right? what brand plugs and wires did you use? did you do anything else? seafoam?

 

[modelageek]

ok so I went back and got the codes. P0171 and P0303 are the codes I got back , while there I cleaned my MAF and my EGR. My idle smoothed just a little. On the way home my CEL started flashing at 40mph and when I slowly hit 60mph it stopped flashing and just stayed on.
Any thoughts?

* your MAF sould only be cleaned when it is COOL and should be let to dry before installing and starting the engine

have you changed your fuel filter? did you ad Techron or a fuel injector cleaner to the tank? you might want to consider doing a fuel pressure check. please answer my questions from the other post

 

[DSR1]

p0303 showed up before and after I worked on it and Yes, I did change all 8 plugs they were ac delco and the wires are motor craft. I have changed the fuel filter and added a bottle of injector cleaner but have not tried seafoam.

 

[modelageek]

p0303 showed up before and after I worked on it and Yes, I did change all 8 plugs they were ac delco and the wires are motor craft. I have changed the fuel filter and added a bottle of injector cleaner but have not tried seafoam.

I would not use the seafoam at this point. I would test and or swap the coilpacks?......if that is not it .maybe the injector....if not that ECU or a compression issue..................check the coilpacks and hope that is your issue. the idea with swapping the coilpacks is that the exhaust side is not always working so when you swap them if the truck runs better or worse then you know you have found the issue......my guess is that when you swap them the truck will run better ........Haynes has instructions for testing the primary and secondary resistance with a MM

* in the future the best plugs for these motors is the autolites or Motorcraft DP's