Weird Ranger Pinging !!!!!

[RonSerling]

Ok, here's the situation !!!! First, I have a 93 Ranger 4.0 4X4, Second I live up in the mountains in so Cal. Now here is the issues as they just started and have me baffled !!! I took a road trip last week and on the return run I'm driving along and the "check engine" light comes on. I figured I would make it home and have it looked at but the funny thing is about ten minutes later it goes off !!!! And it has been doing it intermittently since !!! Next is since that started when I am coming up the mountain I have heard what sounds like pinging coming from the engine compartment but the funny thing is it only happens when I am accelerating and going into a right curve going up the hill !! Doesn't happen going straight or going into a left curve just going right !!!
The truck has always run great as I use it for work everyday but this is a couple things that really baffled me. I always thought when the engine light comes on it generally stays on until you get it diagnosed and have the computer reset and that pinging noise really has me lost as I cannot figure out why it only does it when hitting a right hand curve in the road !!! So if anyone has some suggestions or any insight on either of these issues I would welcome your thoughts !!! Thanks

 

[Mark_88]

Well, with a name that is close to Rod Serling, I'd say you are just about in the Twilight Zone...

However, until you get there...

Detonation can be prevented by any or all of the following techniques:

• the use of a fuel with high octane rating, which increases the combustion temperature of the fuel and reduces the proclivity to detonate;
• enriching the air-fuel ratio which alters the chemical reactions during combustion, reduces the combustion temperature and increases the margin above detonation;
• reducing peak cylinder pressure by decreasing the engine revolutions (e.g., shifting to a higher gear, there is also evidence that knock occurs more easily at high rpm than low regardless of other factors);
• decreasing the manifold pressure by reducing the throttle opening, boost pressure or
• reducing the load on the engine.

I'd pull the codes if you got the check engine light to see if any sensors are out of spec...


The right hand cornering issue could indicate a few things...something is loose or, perhaps, you are triggering your inertia switch temporarily (if you have one) to shut down the pumps...but not long enough to trip the switch...

 

[GentleRF]

Something I'd add is check the Spout plug in the passenger side wiring harness. If its just hanging in there instead of being snug in the socket, that might be the cause of the pinging. It would indicate you are running on the fixed timing mode.

I hope this helps.