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  #1  
Old 10-27-2010, 11:54 AM
67hardtop 67hardtop is offline
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Default Engine sputtering.

Hello to everyone. Sorry if this is long.

This is my first post, but I've been monitoring similar threads for the past week or so. Recently I've got my ranger up and going after about sitting for 2.5 years. The transmission went bad and it took awhile to pay for all the parts and since my labor is cheap and I work full time, I was slow in rebuilding the tranny. Anyway, the ranger is having some issues. When I start it after sitting a night, it starts fine but then sputters and dies unless I give it some gas. After giving it a little gas it warms up fine. When I drive it, say around 30MPH and in 3rd or 4th gear the engine sputters like it is missing and lunges. It will do it in most gears, but seems worse in a higher gear at a low speed. Cruising at 60mph in 5 gear is not that noticable. I'm stumped!

I have replaced the fuel regulator (it was sucking fuel into the vacuum line) and having trouble starting after running for awhile, I also replaced the fuel filter, spark plugs, distributor cap, wires, and air cleaner. I also cleaned the throttle body, idle air controller and flushed the cooling system (Winter tuneup). I just rented a fuel pressure gauge from Autozone and was planning to test the pump this weekend. Somebody mentioned that there is a check valve on the pump assembly in the tank that can go bad. Would this check valve cause the problems listed above?

Any suggestions? Is there anyway to test the throttle position sensor?
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1989 Ranger STX SuperCab 4x4, 2.9L, FM146 Transmission, Automatic Lockouts, Cat back Dynomax exhaust
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  #2  
Old 10-27-2010, 12:33 PM
Psychopete Psychopete is offline
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Default Re: Engine sputtering.

Think you're on the right track with checking the fuel pressure. Always good to know that it's right. Have you pulled codes?

Yes, TPS is testable:

http://www.fordfuelinjection.com/?p=30

Lots of good info that site that may be of some use in your diagnostics.
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  #3  
Old 10-27-2010, 01:43 PM
67hardtop 67hardtop is offline
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Default Re: Engine sputtering.

Sorry, I forgot to let everyone know that the check engine light is not on and has never been on yet.
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1989 Ranger STX SuperCab 4x4, 2.9L, FM146 Transmission, Automatic Lockouts, Cat back Dynomax exhaust
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  #4  
Old 10-28-2010, 05:09 AM
Psychopete Psychopete is offline
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Default Re: Engine sputtering.

Does it illunuminate before you start the truck? Went to pull codes on my Tempo and the check engine light was burnt out..
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  #5  
Old 10-28-2010, 07:46 AM
67hardtop 67hardtop is offline
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Default Re: Engine sputtering.

I thought the same thing, but I checked and it does light up before starting. I'm going to try and test the fuel pressure tonight. It figures this would be the coldest night so far. Oh well 40's is better then below 0!
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  #6  
Old 10-29-2010, 12:13 PM
67hardtop 67hardtop is offline
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Default Re: Engine sputtering.

Well I tested the fuel pump and everything tested out good. I noticed the engine backfiring when reving up to around 3000rpm. So I started to pull plug wires while the engine was running. When I pulled the #5 cylinder plug wire the engine sound and idle did not change. So I tested the wire (Good), tested the spark at the distributor (Good), tested the plug (Good), tested the compression on the cylinder (Good).

I then ran the engine without the plug wire attached to the plug and noticed that the engine didn't backfire at the same rpm range the it did with the wire attached. So from all of the that, I gather that the injector is not working or is totally clogged. I'm getting power to the injector.

Well time to change out the injectors and do some general engine cleanup like new valve cover gaskets. Well I should at least get rid of the oil leak!

Thanks everyone.
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  #7  
Old 10-29-2010, 10:24 PM
red_rider red_rider is offline
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Default Re: Engine sputtering.

Wow that must've been a pain to do all that troubleshooting. Hopefully its just the injector or something simple.
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