I just bought, today, a 2004 FX4 with a 4.0 V6.
I kid you not, on the way home I got the CEL light and the engine has no power. It runs ok, it just has no power.
In neutral, I step on the gas and the engine will accelerate kinda normally to 3000 rpm. Then it stops there, it kinda licks back, lurching from 2950 to 3100...back and forth. In drive it seems to take a while to get up to 70, and I have to step on the gas a bit far to get it to accelerate. It also doesnt seem to want to shift down. I have to stand on the pedal for it to shift down.
The code is P0401 for EGR.
Can the EGR cause this? I can believe that it causes a code, but hesitation? Could an EGR problem cause this engine anomoly?

A little history...I had a 94 XLT. Black, XLT, 3.0L with a 5 speed manual. Extended cab. i loved that truck. I had to give her up when I finally grew up and got married..blah blah. I've now had 4 BMWs, I still got my 01' 330Ci and wifeys X3 - so I have a lot of experience working on cars because there isn't a Bimmer that doesnt break. But this issue with the engine drag and the EGR code is unusual.
Can anyone offer any past experience?

well if there is a problem with the egr system it will affect the engine because the computer gets alot of the data it uses to set the air fuel ratio for the engine from the sensors in the exhaust and intake so first thing i would do would just be to clean the sensors in the egr and the MAF

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1990 Ranger Extended Cab
2.9L V6 5 Speed Transmission
Planning to put a 347 and a T-5 in it eventually

egr can definitely affect performance. i'd pull it and clean it.

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91 ranger std cab 2wd 2.3L (my latest project)
build thread: http://www.fordrangerforum.com/proje...carnation.html
Afterhours Clan

Fix the egr problem. The truck has a rev. limiter to keep you from blowing the engine in neutral or park. Those are normal rpms. As for the lack of go power, and shift response. Those should have been noticed When you test drove it. Live and learn.

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2003 Ranger FX4 level II. 3" BL, 33x12.50 GT Radial Mud Claws, Custom front and rear bumpers with winch hookups, custom flatbed, with hi-lift, and full size spare mount, 12,000 lb winch mounted under bed, Electric fan, and of course a flowmaster.

When looking at the engine, I noticed that the EGR DFP sensor sit on the left side of the engine and not on the rear like the book says. It had a port completely burnt off! I have never seen anything like that before. So I replaced it and it still drives a little weak. Its like I cant really tell if thats normal or not.
As for knowing it when I drove it, its pretty hard to remember what a truck drives like when I've been driving a sporty 2-seater or a light rice-rocket for 15 years.
I think I'll run it by Ford and ask them for a diagnosis. Maybe theres nothing wrong at all.