Truck has 86,000 miles, and just started chirping about a week ago. Tried some belt dressing. No dice. Noticed it was coming from the back of the engine. Today while driving on the interstate, I attempted to pass someone and punched it doing 65, truck missed/hesitated/jumped like crazy, and did not want to accelerate. This was happening right at 4000 rpms. I let off of the gas and stopped accelerating, and just maintained speed. I then tried punching it again, mashing on the gas pedal and it did the same thing: shot to 4000 rpms and stuttered like a retard. Oil pressure gauge is fine. I just took it easy and 80 miles later, I was doing 35-40 mph on a side road, punched it, and it does it again. Now from what I've read in other forums this is probably the Camshaft Position Sensor (CMP) and Synchronizer and needs to be replaced. Well that's all fine and dandy, but pay day isn't here yet. I'm worried that if I drive it I run the risk of locking up my engine due to sudden failure of this device, as it controls the oil pump. Anybody have any horror stories of suddenly locking their engines due to this, especially within a week or two of hearing chirping? Is it possible to go from purring kitten to locked engine in a split second if the synchronizer suddenly stops working for whatever reason and my engine can't get oil? This is my only vehicle, and I can't afford to have anything too major happen to it. Any help is greatly appreciated!

__________________
2003 Ford Ranger Edge 3.0L V6

Bump

Simply put, yes. It can and will happen in a split second of failure. Most of the time you don't even have time to pull it over to side of the road and shut it down after the CEL comes on. If you MUST drive it, baby it.

If you replace it yourself, buy the new parts from rockauto.com. Make sure to get the Motorcraft parts. The Dorman is crap and you will be replacing it again in 5k. If you not, best bet is to take it to the dealer. Mine wanted $500 for parts and labor. I elected to do it myself.

__________________
2004 Edge 3.0
Auto 4x2

"You have to remain a bit naive, a bit risky, a bit crazy if you want to experience a real adventure. You have to push the limits."

Ok well I had my synchronizer and camshaft sensor replaced (motorcraft only) and it immediately fixed my problems. No more chirping, no more bucking/missing/hesitating over 3000-4000 rpms. I did not change anything else against the advice of my mechanic, who turned out to be wrong when he said it was impossible for it to be the sync. FYI he wanted me to change the mass air flow sensor, fuel filter, fuel pump, etc etc. Thank you everyone who participates on this forum. Had it not been for you all, I probably would have ended up changing five wrong things trying to figure out the one real problem!

__________________
2003 Ford Ranger Edge 3.0L V6

Im having the same problems with my truck...How much did this part cost?

The synchronizer and the camshaft sensor that sits on top of it is less than $200 for both parts. There is a special tool that costs anywhere between $40-$75 and is used to line up the sync properly. I would definitely read about HOW to install the sync, as there are two different ways. One would be to use the special tool, find top-dead-center (TDC) of cylinder 1 I think, and measure some angles to get it just right. The other way is to remove the sensor, mark where the old sync sits, remove it, and install the new one EXACTLY where the old one sat. Anyways, many people on this site have gone both routes with success. The dealership will probably charge around $550 parts and labor. I personally would have changed my own had my father not gone out of his way to get it fixed for me. Whatever you do, if you do install it yourself, take your time, and install it correctly. Failing to do so can result in engine failure.

__________________
2003 Ford Ranger Edge 3.0L V6

hey man thanks for the info and help!

I got a 99 doing the same thing, I want to replace it but I can't find the synchronizer and the camshaft sensor?? can some one please help!! Thanks

I have a 2003 ford ranger 5 speed auto with the 3.0 when i first crank it up it runs great but when it gets hot it start that skipping at 4000 rpms if i let off of it it will run normal but i punch it its start skipping again but what gets me is that it runs great when i first crank it up even if i puch it.also i have a new distributer and wires and plugs tried seafoam still skipping please help

I too have recently had the dreaded can't get over 3,000 RPM problem. I thought it might have been a fuel filter issue and changed it. But still had the same problem. And then there was that stupid bird chirping under my hood. I said "Oh great!" Now a belt problem too? Well the more I listened the more I noticed it coming from the rear of the engine. Now I bought this 2001 Ranger a couple of years ago and it ran great until now. Duh! Well now it does have 125,514 miles on it. Well I started researching the web with my friend Google, and low and behold this RangerForum group comes up. So I join!
Well don't you know I came across some thread about the chirping camshaft syncronizer. And later found a video with the same noise. So after reading up on all I could about it I ventured out and bought a (Motorcraft) sync and sensor from Ford.
I followed a video on Youtube to change it out. Now with no mechanical experience I marked its position, pulled the other one out and dropped in a magnetic pickup tool to see if there was metal particles in the drain pan. Wala! Yes... a lot. Not good huh!
Ok, not much play in the old one but sure squeaked hand turning it. Now the fun part was trying to put the new one back in the hole and match the markings. Well it wouldn't go in. Found to have a burr in the casting of the two halves when manufactured. Just filed it down, cleaned it and re-oiled it. This time it dropped down. Not where it should but after several attempts it went in and matched the marks transferred from old one. No I didn't use a positioning tool. So after putting all back together I hooked up the battery and started the engine. Let it warm up until gauge showed normal temps. Now comes the revving of the motor. Pushed pedal down slowly to 3000 rpm's. Good, now higher to 4000. Good. Purrrrrrrssssssss like a kitten. Now the road trip! Wow! Power again! Deliberately drove in lower gears to take up high rev's. And it is running perfect again.

Guy's! Guru's and Wana-be's,,, Thank You all!

__________________
David Elzbeck
2001 Ford Ranger XLT 4X4 3.0V6 Non Flex engine Auto Tranny with Heavy Duty Tow Package
Pensacola, Florida

Can't help you much but wanted to let you know my 3 liter was hesitating and bucking a bit at highway speeds. Tried the usual ... new plugs ... wires ... cleaned the MAF and throttle body. Gave up and took it to the Ford dealer yesterday. Turns out it was the cam position sensor. Runs great now. The bill was $340.00.
Good luck,
Greg

__________________
1999 XLT 3 liter ... regular cab ... long bed ... automatic and topper. Custom features include lots of dog hair ... a dog bed ... sticks for the dog ... a water bowl ... various length leashes ... well ... you get the picture.
Just turning 152,000 miles and running great!

Glad the OP got the issue fixed. For all others experiencing similair issues, make no mistake! This will destroy your engine in seconds. Do not wait on this one and go into credit card debt if you have to. You will save your self the entire vehicle by purchasing the part.

The dealer is very expensive, but for all you mechanically hindered individuals, it is WAY cheaper than a new truck!

__________________
2000 Ranger XLT 3.0L V6

Rancho 9000XL's

my 02 3.0 does the same thing, not all the time but on occasions. started three years ago, and got bad three summers ago. only thing ive done that fixed it for a while was getting stuck in a mud hole, even then the problem came back after a year

__________________
2002 Ranger Edge 2wd | 3.0 v6 auto 8.8 4.10 L/S | 32x11.50 Mud Kings | 28% tint | Chevy Shackles | Cranked B T-bars | Westin Bull bar w/ KC longrange| Three-tone airhorns | air box mod | k&n drop-in | foglamp mod | explorer ohc | alpine headunit | 10" mtx thunder 4500/custom box | kenwood amp| 4 wheel disk brakes | line of fire

I have a 2002 Ford Ranger Edge 3.0L V6, with 50,000 miles. My truck was never abused at all. It was always garage kept and barely driven. Around 40,000 miles I noticed and heard the chirping noise coming from the back of the engine. I was concerned but then one day the noise went away. Then traveling to school on interstate accelerating from about 70 mph to 75 mph, as the rpm would jump passed 3000, I would notice my truck would hesitate or misfire like it was starving for fuel. When this happens I would let off the gas pedal and it would drop just below 3000 rpms, everything would return to normal. Other then that everything else works and performs perfectly.