Runs like a freight train

[Buggyman]

Hey folks...


My 98 Ranger suddenly started running really rough the other day. It is hard to get started (cranks 5-6 times before firing), idles rough (back window rattles) and shakes and misses when I am trying to accelerate. Once I get above 45 MPH it smooths out, but still has a substantial loss of power and has dropped from 16 MPG to 10 MPG in a week. It is a 3.0, V6, 4x4, manual with 220,000 miles on it. I noticed a nick in one of the plug wires and replaced all of them last week to no avail, plugs looked fine but did not pull them. The problem is always consistent and is not effected by the weather.

I pulled the codes today and its indicating a camshaft position sensor error, multi cylinder misfire, and some emissions code (advanced auto checked it). Could the camshaft sensor cause this problem and be causing the huge increase in fuel usage? How hard is it to change this?


Thanks for any advice,

-Philip Sallee

 

[88gt]

well, if the cam isn't reading right, it cant fire right, right? if it aint fireing right, the emissions will be off. i have heard about the cam sensor goin and messing things up, but never had first hand experience with it. i had a spark wire blow out on me resulting in a loss of a cylinder of power and got multiple misfire codes and emissions codes, but all i did was replace the wires and all was good again, ask advance if there is anyway to test the cam sensor without pulling it, o just replace it if it isnt that expensive. just my .02

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

a failed cam sensor will usually cause a long crank before starting, but ive never seen one cause rough running.

which emission code and which misfire codes?