Need some Ford help.
 

My 88 Ranger will 2.3L four cylinder runs great, but starting it is a problem. When cold starts right up and runs up to a fast idle and then slowly drops down and eventually stalls unless you keep your foot on the gas. Once up to temp doesn't stall.

Warm/hot starting is another issue and I am sure they are connected. It starts alittle hard after warm. It basically seems flooded and will sputter to life and then run just fine. I notice what appear to be alittle black smoke from the tailpipe when it does this.

I has new plugs/wires/cap/rotor/fuel and air filters. Figured we might have a ford mechanic here.

Allen

Is it fuel injected? Might be the idle air control valve. I had a 89 Crown Vic that had similar symtoms. It would start fine though, just had problems idling, especially when cold. Bought the idle air control valve and noticed alot of carbon when taking the old one off. For grins I cleaned up the the carbon and re-installed. It worked great and I never installed the new one. Still have it somewhere I'm sure.

I also have a Ranger. Have you tried:

www.therangerstation.com

I did clean the IAC. It may be that it still isn't good enough. I also read I should have lubed it before reinstalling.

Thanks. I will take it off again and try it. I may need to spray some wd40 on it.

I forgot to mention the high Idle speed of about 1300 when warm.

Allen

Sounds like the IAC, But those fords can be tricky.

Thanks to Cal, we will shortly be able to rule out the IAC. New one on its way.

I think I will plan on replacing the O2 sensor, but I loan the special socket out and its in KY now. So probably need to get another one.

Also going to check timing. Won't hurt to make sure it set right.

The good thing is the truck is all stock and has not been hacked by someone over the years.

Allen

Wanna borrow my O2 sensor tool?

I will have my friend mail mine back to me. He borrowed it and it moved to KY with him.

I checked the tires and they were all about 20-25psi so aired them up to 40psi where I like to run them. The tires are rated for 44 max.

That should help the mileage alittle bit. (Barack said so)

Neighbor kid (He's 20) was over and pointed to the IAC also. His 88 ranger was doing the same thing.

Will keep ya posted.

Allen

Dropped off the IAC at the post office this morning. Should have by the weekend. Looked up the fuel mileage on this site and acctually you are not far off on the mileage.

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/Feg/bymake/bymanuNF.shtml

I think with the tires inflated now I may pick up a couple mpg. My driving is suburban. Not really highway or stop and go. Usually cruising about 45-50mph.

With those numbers I am expecting about 23 or so. I can live with that. Might try so synthetic in the trans and rear end to see if that will help too.

Allen

My 4X4, driven very gently, with an A4LD automatic gets about 16 in suburban traffic. It's in perfect tune. Pretty lousy but it is what it is. I drive it mostly only in bad weather anyway. That's why we have bikes!

Well this is a 4cyl 2wd 5spd with street tires. I think I was losing out with the tires low on air. Expecting at least 2 mpg increase with air in the tires.

I believe my 86 4x4 got about 20 on the hwy. Of course MN winters had lightened the load quite a bit too.

Allen

Sorry to jump in with no assistance of any kind...

This guy is on the electric motorcycle forum I found, he put together a little video about the mileage on his toyota...

http://truths.treehugger.com/interna...ge_its_eas.php

Granted, it is probably harder to double your mileage or achieve the results he did if your car isn't running like crap to start with.

That a good video. Alot of people could benefit from it. I have already done a few things there. Not sure I'm ready to ditch the bumper though. I may try to smooth up some aerodynamics.

I also don't believe the global warming nonsense either, but I don't see any reason we can't try to conserve more.

That truck going from 5mpg to 36mpg is pretty amazing though. Notice he got rid of the big mud tires and brought it down some.

Yeah, it was pretty bad to start with, I think I get better mileage in the Peterbilt I drive :lol:

Yeah I don't think I'd ditch the bumpers, that would likely get you a ticket, I guess dependant on local laws.

I was thinking that toyota must have been in terrible condition to get 5mpg. The IH I drove with a NA 7.3 diesel loaded did about 8mpg. Now the 460 ford got about 7mpg.

I really think I will see a good improvement with the tires inflated. I would have a bed cover, but its alot of hassle to remove it to haul stuff.

If I can get it to 30mpg I will be happy.

Allen

My dad owned a mid 80's 4cyl Ranger..think it was an '86. It got crap for gas mileage, he still bitches about it today! Was the last Ford he's ever owned and that is all he drove before that. Could have been a Monday morning build, as he was constantly fixing something on it. I was only just a kid when he had it but I still remember that thing farting and puking in the driveway on him!

Now he has his '94 Half Ton Chev with 400,000km on it and won't get rid of it... :)

If you get 30MPG out of that Ranger do share and I'll send you a big THUMBS up Mr. Green. :)

We will see. I think I can get it to 25 for sure.

Allen

Cal. Got the IAC it didn't help. Actually it idles at 1500rpm now.

My temp guages stays pretty cool all the time. I am thinking that the ECT might be faulty.

Allen

Is the "check engine" light on?
Have you tried a code reader? Are there any codes pending?

If there are no codes showing/pending (because you must remember that auto manufacturers have attempted to make their vehicles "idiot proof", it's far cheaper to charge the customer for electronic mumbo jumbo, than train mechanics) you must step into the basics. Thermostats in Ford trucks (Rangers) seem to last only a year, or two, replace your thermostat with one of the proper temperature (this is the first step, and the cheapest, in trying to regain mileage), next take a compression test of all the cylinders to check on the engine's general condition. I happen to know that sometimes the gasket between the intake manifold and the plenum chamber takes a shit, not really detectable with a vacuum gauge, and sometimes spraying oil on the seam does nothing (because the part of the gasket that takes a shit is at the back, where you can't get at it properly). A real bitch to get off, if everything else looks ok, it is worth a look.

No check engine light. I am thinking that I should change the thermostat. I read that they like to run hotter. Someone may have put a 180 in there.

Still working on pulling codes. I sprayed carb cleaner around the vacuum lines and the intake manifold. No change.

I also had the battery disconnected all afternoon to reset the computer.

I really think it may be temp related. Considering that is has been about 95 degrees here and the thing only get about a 1/4 of the way of the temp guage.

Allen

only get about a 1/4 of the way of the temp gauge

Mine runs at about 1/2, but the gauges in these trucks aren't accurate. If you run the thing at factory temp the damn rad let's go, the plastic tank, over time (and heat) develops a crack. When you get it out you will see it was designed to fail. It's a Ford, you don't buy parts, you rent them.

I sprayed carb cleaner around the vacuum lines and the intake manifold

It's the gasket joint between the intake, and the plenum (that alloy casting that the throttle body hangs off of), sometimes there is no detecting a gasket failure there, you just dig out the $300 worth of snap-off tools, undo the bolts, and lift it up to see (I *think* the gasket is worth a couple of bucks).

Everything else on these vehicles is "wired" to tell you if it is fubared, other than mechanical failure.

I really wouldn't surprise me to find a 180 thermostat in there. Going to drain alittle fluid and take a look and probably just pop a new one in there while its apart.

Wouldn't the truck get really lean if that gasket has failed?

As far as renting them. A GM is worse.

At least the parts are cheap.

Allen

Wouldn't the truck get really lean if that gasket has failed?

Only one cylinder would get lean, causing the computer to *think* the IAC isn't open enough (there is no single cylinder monitoring, the computer "sees" the engine as a whole), and/or the fuel gets turned up to compensate for a low/rough idle situation. It is a really "dumb" system. I would guess the EGR could be acting up (because the symptom would be the same for a stuck open EGR, but there is an electronic feed back (to the computer) for the EGR system. I have seen these gaskets fail, in Fords, at anything in excess of 100,000 km. The individual intake runners start just inside the throttle valve, so a vacuum leak at the gasket is far enough away from where the runners start for the other cylinders not to affect them much.

Interesting, Well the plugs I pulled from the truck all looked fine. None indicated a lean condition. All of them about the same.

Allen

sounds to me like your coolant temp sensor could be going bad . i have been turning wrenches for almost 20 years and also work at autozone . the coolant temp sensor tells the computer that your truck is always cold causing it to go into a "flood " mode trying to crank the truck up . when the engine is warm all the other sensors are telling the computer it is warm but the cts keeps telling it it is cold causing it to pour more fuel . can also cause very crappy fuel mileage .

Do the thermostat first, before going anywhere else first, see how that goes, it's the easiest (and cheapest) thing to try.

Yep. I was planning to pick a thermostat up today and get that in there. The ECT sensor is not very expensive either.

Since I plan to keep and use this truck I don't mind spending alittle to get it right.

Still have less than a china bike in it.

Allen

Well Thursday after I picked up the atv I stopped to buy some batteries and came out to the ranger and it wouldn't start. Nothing when I hit the switch.

Pulled a screwdriver from the toolbox and jump the solenoid and it fired right up. Drove home and parked it. Didn't use it until today I go to start it up and nothing again. This time the screwdriver didn't work.

Seems the battery may be drained. Put the charger on it and will check it later.

Still have to fix the stalling/hard start issues.

Allen

Low therm in it will cause it to run a little bad and bad gas milage but I doubt It would cause the hard start issue.

I am wondering if the ECT may not be doing anything at all. Found out how to test it. Will try that.

I don't know where the temp guage gets it input from. It works so I don't know if there is another sensor for the guage. It may be that it is not reading high enough. The guage is barely into the normal even with the hot weather and low speed driving I do alot of.

I guess first thing is now to figure out if I have a bad switch/solenoid/starter/battery/alternator. Thought was switch/solenoid.

Allen

Got home. Battery didn't seem to take a charge. Connected a good battery that is alittle low and it would attempt to start with that.

So its looks like it is battery replacement time.

Allen

the temp sensor should be right by the thermostat housing . that sensor makes the gauge read and it also sends a signal to the computer saying how cold the engine is . if it fails or doesnt read properly it will cause the truck to run REALLY rich

I wouldn't say it is really rich. Probably need to check the thermostat. Who knows. It may be missing like the mazda.

Still have to solve the battery problem. I charge up another battery and will give it a try.

Allen

Did some work today. Battery problem. Bad connection on positive terminal. Clean it good and truck fired right up.

Did some more looking. Found the ECT and the connection didn't look right. It wasn't connected. Pushed it on and took it for a ride. Hot starts just fine now. Guess when the PO installed the used engine he didn't get it connected well.

Also the power is much better. Even with the AC on I can pull most hills in 4th gear at 45mph. Got some big ones here in the foothills.

Feels like I picked up 10hp. This should help the mileage issue out too.

The AC is colder than the 05 chrysler.

Allen

thats great . funny how little things can gine someone so much trouble huh .

I didn't even have to spend money. Both things were free. Still have a high idle though. Thats next.

Allen

Did the IAC show up yet?

Yep. I put it on and it didn't change anything. Actually it idles higher with the new one. I am wondering if someone had tried turning the idle adjustment screw an it won't return to a slow idle. I need to see if it is hitting the stop when up to temp.

They may be something else not quite right. At least now when I go to start it after its warm it fires right up and doesn't puff a smoke cloud of smoke.

Keep fidling with it and you'll get it right. Sounds like it's almost there now. I wonder what else effects the idle system?