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Need help figuring out this twisted up puzzle.
Last year I bought my 1987 2.9L Ranger XLT 2WD automatic in pristine condition from original owner (now 80 years old). 150K on odo. Started and ran fine through the winter.
Figured the former owner probably never had the injectors cleaned. So I put in some Chevron Techron to clean it up a bit. Truck started idling a bit higher than normal and would surge forward when stopped at traffic lights.
Changed the large fuel filter up on the wheel well on the driver's side and changed the IAC. No help.
Had a heavy odor of exhaust gasses when idling.
Truck started leaking oil from valve cover, timing cover, and oil pan gaskets.
On trips, it would occasionally fog the folks behind me like a mosquito sprayer, then clear up for a while, then do it again.
Took a trip to the N.C. mountains and it didn't have power up the hills. Temp would rise quickly, cool a bit, then rise quickly again.
Stopped to gas up and discovered the PCV blown out the hole.
From all of those symptoms, I figured out that the catalytic converter was apparently plugged, which caused back pressure at the head, pressurizing the crankcase causing the oil leaks, and blowing the PCV out.
While in the mountains, I rodded out both converters and discovered the front one had a lot of "melted material" in it. It's breathing well now and the oil leaks and fogging have completely stopped. Gotta get new cats installed.
Anyway, I reconnected the exhaust and started it up. Ran really nicely.
Headed home from the mountains. For about 150 miles, good power and highway gas mileage (22 mpg), resulting in proud "I'm a smart mechanic" smiles to my wife. Stopped for gas and switched it off. Within 1 second after starting it up, it began misfiring for about 10 seconds, then cleared up. wife said it didn't sound good. I said it was o.k. Wife wasn't impressed.
Drove for about 20 miles on interstate and all o.k.
Then it started bucking horribly and blowing black smoke like it was both intermittently losing fuel flow or pressure and running rich. Bucked like that all the way home. Got like 7 mpg during that. Wife went from unimpressed to hating my truck (or me, take your pick). Truck never had the "check engine" light come on.
When I slowed down to 50 or so mph for the last 16 miles before home, it seemed to run a little better.
Got home, figured the free flowing exhaust may have confused the O2 sensor and caused the truck to run rich. Disconnected the negative cable for a minute and reconnected it to try to reset the computer. Replaced the EGR and cleaned the "gunked up solid" port for it in the intake.
Took another 370 mile trip. Truck ran quite well, fuel mileage up to normal, but still idling higher than normal and surguing when stopped at lights. Also, now, when I apply the brakes to cut off the cruise control, the cruise control cuts off like it should, but then its like it tries to quickly resume the speed setting where it was before applying the brakes. I have to push the button to cut it off.
Wife won't ride in truck now.
O.K. Got any brains cells left to help me with this one?
I've been mechanicking for about 43 years, but mostly old school stuff and motorcycles. Not much fuel injection and electronics stuff.
I bought an Actron CP9150 scanner a couple of days ago, read up on how to use it, but haven't hooked it up to the truck yet.
Will the truck's computer set a trouble code for the scanner to see if the check engine light hasn't ever lit up?
I've had suspicions of problems with the fuel pressure regulator, TPS, coolant temp sensors, and O2 sensors, but haven't had time to check those yet. Got the next week off and plan to poke around a bit.
Any sugesstions will be appreciated.
Thanks.
Rusty
Last year I bought my 1987 2.9L Ranger XLT 2WD automatic in pristine condition from original owner (now 80 years old). 150K on odo. Started and ran fine through the winter.
Figured the former owner probably never had the injectors cleaned. So I put in some Chevron Techron to clean it up a bit. Truck started idling a bit higher than normal and would surge forward when stopped at traffic lights.
Changed the large fuel filter up on the wheel well on the driver's side and changed the IAC. No help.
Had a heavy odor of exhaust gasses when idling.
Truck started leaking oil from valve cover, timing cover, and oil pan gaskets.
On trips, it would occasionally fog the folks behind me like a mosquito sprayer, then clear up for a while, then do it again.
Took a trip to the N.C. mountains and it didn't have power up the hills. Temp would rise quickly, cool a bit, then rise quickly again.
Stopped to gas up and discovered the PCV blown out the hole.
From all of those symptoms, I figured out that the catalytic converter was apparently plugged, which caused back pressure at the head, pressurizing the crankcase causing the oil leaks, and blowing the PCV out.
While in the mountains, I rodded out both converters and discovered the front one had a lot of "melted material" in it. It's breathing well now and the oil leaks and fogging have completely stopped. Gotta get new cats installed.
Anyway, I reconnected the exhaust and started it up. Ran really nicely.
Headed home from the mountains. For about 150 miles, good power and highway gas mileage (22 mpg), resulting in proud "I'm a smart mechanic" smiles to my wife. Stopped for gas and switched it off. Within 1 second after starting it up, it began misfiring for about 10 seconds, then cleared up. wife said it didn't sound good. I said it was o.k. Wife wasn't impressed.
Drove for about 20 miles on interstate and all o.k.
Then it started bucking horribly and blowing black smoke like it was both intermittently losing fuel flow or pressure and running rich. Bucked like that all the way home. Got like 7 mpg during that. Wife went from unimpressed to hating my truck (or me, take your pick). Truck never had the "check engine" light come on.
When I slowed down to 50 or so mph for the last 16 miles before home, it seemed to run a little better.
Got home, figured the free flowing exhaust may have confused the O2 sensor and caused the truck to run rich. Disconnected the negative cable for a minute and reconnected it to try to reset the computer. Replaced the EGR and cleaned the "gunked up solid" port for it in the intake.
Took another 370 mile trip. Truck ran quite well, fuel mileage up to normal, but still idling higher than normal and surguing when stopped at lights. Also, now, when I apply the brakes to cut off the cruise control, the cruise control cuts off like it should, but then its like it tries to quickly resume the speed setting where it was before applying the brakes. I have to push the button to cut it off.
Wife won't ride in truck now.
O.K. Got any brains cells left to help me with this one?
I've been mechanicking for about 43 years, but mostly old school stuff and motorcycles. Not much fuel injection and electronics stuff.
I bought an Actron CP9150 scanner a couple of days ago, read up on how to use it, but haven't hooked it up to the truck yet.
Will the truck's computer set a trouble code for the scanner to see if the check engine light hasn't ever lit up?
I've had suspicions of problems with the fuel pressure regulator, TPS, coolant temp sensors, and O2 sensors, but haven't had time to check those yet. Got the next week off and plan to poke around a bit.
Any sugesstions will be appreciated.
Thanks.
Rusty
