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  #1  
Old 04-07-2022, 08:24 PM
yrenner yrenner is offline
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Default 2006 Ranger XLT - Dreaded Misfire

Hello everyone. I just bought this truck with codes P305 (cylinder 5), P316, and P430. Runs fine except when idling.

Symptoms are rough idle and more recently engine rattle (which I can hear through the tail pipe), and just today started knocking. Today, I drove it home from work about 12 miles, and when I popped the hood the engine compartment seemed unusually hot.

Also, I am aware of TSB 05-26-3 and already began troubleshooting:

1. I installed all new spark plugs.

2. I installed a new coil pack and tried it with new wires, but there was no change, so I put the Motorcraft coil pack back on with the old wires.

3. Compression test:
Cylinder 1: 180 psi
Cylinder 2: 150 psi
Cylinder 3: 150 psi
Cylinder 4: 150 psi
Cylinder 5: 150 psi
Cylinder 6: 170 psi

Since the compression looks okay to me, I'm not sure what to try next. Any suggestions? Fuel injectors maybe?

The P430 Code has me worried it might be a bad cat, but I had cleared the codes and driven it for about a week without the code returning. All I was getting continuously is P305.
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Old 04-09-2022, 12:20 PM
yrenner yrenner is offline
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Default Re: 2006 Ranger XLT - Dreaded Misfire

Quick update. This morning I replaced the plug wires and did a power balance test. Cylinder 5 does not appear to be contributing. I then swapped the coil pack and there was no change. So now I'm thinking I have a fuel delivery issue - bad injector perhaps.

But riddle me this. If the spark plug is good and the wire is good (they are) but cylinder 5 is still not contributing much if anything, wouldn't I have noticed an obvious power deficiency when driving at highway speeds? Something isn't adding up.
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Old 04-13-2022, 08:03 AM
yrenner yrenner is offline
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Default Re: 2006 Ranger XLT - Dreaded Misfire

Update: I installed a new Motorcraft ignition coil. Thought the problem had resolved and seemed like the idle was much less rough than before. Drove to work, parked, and rough idle + misfire returned. Agh!

I suppose fuel injectors are next.
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Old 04-13-2022, 03:11 PM
killersaint89 killersaint89 is offline
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Default Re: 2006 Ranger XLT - Dreaded Misfire

wiggle the wiring on the electrical connections at both the ignition coil and injectors while the truck is running and see if there is a difference from a loose wire before springing for injectors. The fact it ran "less rough" after you touched something makes me think you secured a connection until it vibrated loose again.
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Old 04-15-2022, 02:37 PM
yrenner yrenner is offline
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Default Re: 2006 Ranger XLT - Dreaded Misfire

The wires at the ignition coil are nice and tight (both are new). The connections at the spark plugs seem fine too. The rough idle and misfire only happen after the engine is warm — that's why I thought it felt smoother on my way to work that morning.

I picked up a new fuel injector to replace the #5 and a new fuel filter. The ratcheting/clicking/springing engine sounds have me worried there is a problem with the valve or lifters. Is that possible even though the compression test is good? The Ford TSB seems to suggest not. If the compression is good, it says to "proceed with normal misfire diagnostics per the Powertrain Controls/Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) Manual for the appropriate model year."
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Old 04-15-2022, 07:42 PM
killersaint89 killersaint89 is offline
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Default Re: 2006 Ranger XLT - Dreaded Misfire

quoting the Haynes manual on compression for the 3.0
"lowest reading cylinder must be within 15 psi of highest reading cylinder"

how's your coolant situation?
are you still getting that p0430?
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Old 04-15-2022, 08:04 PM
yrenner yrenner is offline
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Default Re: 2006 Ranger XLT - Dreaded Misfire

The coolant reservoir was very low and still is. Needs to be filled. Are you thinking maybe a coolant leak?

Thanks for that quote. I'm not sure how I got 180 and 150 on all the others, but there was no big difference with cylinder 5 so I figured it was okay. Anyway, I think I need to try again to rule out user error... thinking I might not have cranked long enough. Will report findings tomorrow.
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Old 04-15-2022, 08:24 PM
killersaint89 killersaint89 is offline
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Default Re: 2006 Ranger XLT - Dreaded Misfire

I'm leaning toward a head gasket failure if its eating coolant and misfiring when warm but im just a backyard wrencher with a Haynes manual. take what i say with further research but definitely recheck the compression
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Last edited by killersaint89; 04-15-2022 at 08:52 PM.
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  #9  
Old 04-16-2022, 04:53 PM
yrenner yrenner is offline
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Default Re: 2006 Ranger XLT - Dreaded Misfire

Turns out my fuel injector won't arrive until next Tuesday. I did replace the fuel filter and removed the intake manifold. Cylinder 5 intake was much darker than all the others (side walls black and burned) and when I put my finger down into the hole the walls had a light coating of oil. Not sure if that's normal or not, but anyway, no change as of today with a new fuel filter. I didn't have it in me to redo compression today. Think I'll try again if the new fuel injector doesn't fix it.
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  #10  
Old 04-19-2022, 10:35 AM
killersaint89 killersaint89 is offline
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Default Re: 2006 Ranger XLT - Dreaded Misfire

be sure you put new gaskets on the intake if that's the case, sounds like it might be letting air though which would also cause misfire.
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  #11  
Old 04-23-2022, 05:23 PM
yrenner yrenner is offline
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Default Re: 2006 Ranger XLT - Dreaded Misfire

Quote:
Originally Posted by killersaint89 View Post
I'm leaning toward a head gasket failure if its eating coolant and misfiring when warm but im just a backyard wrencher with a Haynes manual. take what i say with further research but definitely recheck the compression
I fear you're right. I just got done replacing #5 fuel injector, plenum gaskets, and valve cover gaskets with no change. Engine still runs rough, and now there's a new ticking/popping sound after I shut off the engine for like 15 seconds.

Lower intake could be leaking but seems like a total pain for a weekend warrior....
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  #12  
Old 04-29-2022, 08:08 PM
killersaint89 killersaint89 is offline
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Default Re: 2006 Ranger XLT - Dreaded Misfire

have you rechecked compression yet?
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  #13  
Old 05-01-2022, 08:31 PM
yrenner yrenner is offline
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Default Re: 2006 Ranger XLT - Dreaded Misfire

Quote:
Originally Posted by killersaint89 View Post
have you rechecked compression yet?
Yup. I don't know what I did wrong the first time -- maybe didn't have the throttle open but after rechecking I determined that cylinder 5 was in fact too low (150psi) and the others were okay (~ 170-180psi). So I ordered a leak down tester (arrives next Friday) so I can see what's up. If it's the recessed exhaust valve seat, I am not gunna be a happy camper. Unfortunately for me, Ford has discontinued the cylinder heads! I'll need to buy a reman off eBay or I don't know what.
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Old 05-07-2022, 06:00 AM
vwguru714 vwguru714 is offline
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Default Re: 2006 Ranger XLT - Dreaded Misfire

Valve is likely recessed in the head.

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  #15  
Old 05-07-2022, 12:14 PM
yrenner yrenner is offline
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Default Re: 2006 Ranger XLT - Dreaded Misfire

Update: Good news I think (NOT!)

Performed leaked down and it appears the leak is escaping from the #4 spark plug hole. I had both adjacent plugs in when I first did the test and I could hear a leak through the tail pipe, glove expanding fast, so I figured it was the exhaust valve issue. At first I thought I wasn't on the compression stroke so I rechecked and same result. But I could still hear a lot of air quite loudly from the engine area so I removed the #4 and #6 spark plugs. Both were wet - smelled a bit like gasoline.

Continued leak down (re-checked several times) and with the #4 spark plug removed I can hear the air escaping from there pretty loudly and now hardly at all from the tail pipe (the rubber glove isn't expanding either). So what does that mean? Bad head gasket or cracked block?

What I thought was weird was when I checked leak down on #4 cylinder it seemed to be holding pressure fine. If there is a leak at the gasket, wouldn't #4 cylinder leak through #5 and vice versa?

Last edited by yrenner; 05-07-2022 at 02:21 PM.
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