Odd stuttering

4.0RangerXLT · #1 07-27-2012, 02:43 PM

Alright guys, I've been having this weird issue these past mornings and I'm wondering if my troubleshoot is right. This only happens in the early morning. When I start the truck, it will stutter. There's no better way for me to describe this.

You know that sound when taking off with a manual vehicle and not giving it enough gas. It will kind of stutter a bit before stalling? That's what it sounds like. I can drive it down my street like that and it will stop after a little while. I know I should not drive it when it does it, but I didn't have a choice this morning since I was running late for work.

My theory is that I'm getting moisture either on a a spark plug and it's shorting out, or maybe one of my plug cables is faulty and it's not firing well. When I'm finished work 9 hours after driving there, the truck runs perfectly fine. It gets cold at night so I think there's some condensation forming under to hood.

About to go outside now to check the plug wires. I would just love some advice on other alternative problems, though.

19Delta · #2 07-27-2012, 02:46 PM

IDK my ranger was driven all winter in -30 weather not including wind chill, I drive 85 miles round trip and haven't had that issue. So unless there is something else at play I don't think condensation is your issue.

goosehunta · #3 07-27-2012, 02:53 PM

Have you scanned for codes? Sounds like misfire. Mine done that and ended up being a cracked head.

DarkEdge02 · #4 07-27-2012, 02:55 PM

Check your coil for cracks.

4.0RangerXLT · #5 07-27-2012, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 19Delta

IDK my ranger was driven all winter in -30 weather not including wind chill, I drive 85 miles round trip and haven't had that issue. So unless there is something else at play I don't think condensation is your issue.

My Ranger sees tough winters here too. I didn't have this problem, it just started recently.

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It only does this in the morning though, which is a bit perplexing. I think if it's a cracked head or whatever else, it would always do this, not just early in the morning.

94mtx · #6 07-27-2012, 06:56 PM

Have you tried cleaning your IAC and MAF?

4.0RangerXLT · #7 07-27-2012, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 94mtx

Have you tried cleaning your IAC and MAF?

I haven't done anything yet. I'm going to get up especially early tomorrow and start her up. If she's still having trouble I'm going to clean out the spark plugs/wires. I'll check those too.

Steve1980 · #8 07-27-2012, 07:40 PM

I'm having the exact same problem right now, I've changed the plugs and wires, and I changed the fuel filter last night but it just keeps happening. When I mentioned it to a couple guys at work they both said it sounded like it was something with the ignition either the coil pack, or control module were the two things they mentioned. I'm probably going to pick up a new ignition coil in the morning and change it out. If that isn't it I'm taking it into ford and hopefully they know what it is. I can replace part after part and not solve the problem or buck up and pay them and get them to run some diagnostics

4.0RangerXLT · #9 07-27-2012, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve1980

I'm having the exact same problem right now, I've changed the plugs and wires, and I changed the fuel filter last night but it just keeps happening. When I mentioned it to a couple guys at work they both said it sounded like it was something with the ignition either the coil pack, or control module were the two things they mentioned. I'm probably going to pick up a new ignition coil in the morning and change it out. If that isn't it I'm taking it into ford and hopefully they know what it is. I can replace part after part and not solve the problem or buck up and pay them and get them to run some diagnostics

Does it happen all the time for just once in a while, like mine?

4.0RangerXLT · #10 07-28-2012, 04:23 AM

So I started her up this morning and the stuttering happened again. I shut it off and cleaned out the ignition coil and made sure the MAF was plugged in all the way. When I started it baack up, the problem stopped.

I'm not sure if just turning it off solved my problem, I'll see for sure tomorrow morning.

Steve1980 · #11 07-28-2012, 08:27 AM

Yeah same thing happens with mine. If I shut off the engine when it does it and then start it back up with out doing anything to the engine it fires right up

94mtx · #12 07-28-2012, 10:22 AM

I said clean the MAF and IAC, not just make sure they are plugged in... There is a specific cleaning spray made for the MAF sensor and you use carb cleaner on the IAC. Remove them both, clean them, wait for them to dry, re-install them, and see if your problem returns.

4.0RangerXLT · #13 07-29-2012, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 94mtx

I said clean the MAF and IAC, not just make sure they are plugged in... There is a specific cleaning spray made for the MAF sensor and you use carb cleaner on the IAC. Remove them both, clean them, wait for them to dry, re-install them, and see if your problem returns.

I should have specified, I changed my air filter a few weeks ago so I clean the MAF at that time. Just made sure i plugged it back in right.

Truck's been running great since I cleaned out the coil.

94mtx · #14 07-29-2012, 07:01 PM

Good lol. Sorry I was a bit short with you before lol.

Sent from my rooted gingerbread Droid using the FRF App

Jaevee · #15 08-27-2013, 11:24 AM

I'm having a similar issue. What do you mean you cleaned out the coil?

I swapped plugs, wires, air filter, fuel filter, and a new (not oem) coil and it all helped some, but now is going back to stuttering. Changing my fuel filter helped the most. The old one was full of crap. I'm thinking the new one may be getting clogged too, but if I can clean the coil somehow it would be much easier than changing the fuel filter with those stupid clips.