89 ranger,2.3,5spd,got stuck in mud..now have lost power!?? wth!??

foxbody · #1 03-29-2010, 10:42 AM

ok got my ranger stuck in mud Friday. tried over and over,revving the motor and switching from 1st to rev. rocking it back and forth with no success. i got pulled out the next morn. when i went to leave it white smoked real bad for about a mile but then cleared up and hasn't smoke at all since then. now it runs weaker. seems like almost half of what it did have? there is no water in the oil and is clean, so i would guess the head gasket is ok? oh, and there's a squeak/whine under full throttle that sounds like the throw out bearing maybe? ...don't really think it's related??

so what do you guys think?

lost compression in 1 or more cyl?

clogged cats?

bad coil,wires,cap or plugs?

fuel filter/pump?

any body had the same symptoms so maybe i could save some time here?

thx!

Airtruksrus · #2 03-29-2010, 11:22 AM

Have you pulled the plugs to see if there is any uneven burning in one of the cylinders? Possible that any water got into the exhaust? As for the squeaking, almost like the belts are slipping. Never had the throw out bearing go bad, don't know about yours.

foxbody · #3 03-29-2010, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airtruksrus

Have you pulled the plugs to see if there is any uneven burning in one of the cylinders? Possible that any water got into the exhaust? As for the squeaking, almost like the belts are slipping. Never had the throw out bearing go bad, don't know about yours.

haven't pulled plugs yet. dont think any water got into exh., but anythings poss. i guess? dont think belts are squeaking...sounds like T.O. bearing?

unplugged egr today and it seemed to gain a little lost power but dont think quite all of it yet.

Airtruksrus · #4 03-30-2010, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foxbody

haven't pulled plugs yet. dont think any water got into exh., but anythings poss. i guess? dont think belts are squeaking...sounds like T.O. bearing?

unplugged egr today and it seemed to gain a little lost power but dont think quite all of it yet.

Not alot of fun pulling out the T.O. bearing. My 2.3 was just worn out and tried replacing all the sensors out eventually to no avail. The burn pattern on the plugs definitely give an indication if the oil rings on one of the pistons might be going bad, try to check the compression if you have access to the tool. Don't know enough yet to say one of the sensors might be bad, ever tried reading the codes with the test plug? There is a procedure in the haynes manual for this with an extensive list of codes. Good Luck.

That's about as far as i can take you. Eventually got tired of the 2.3 and upgraded.

foxbody · #5 03-30-2010, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airtruksrus

Not alot of fun pulling out the T.O. bearing. My 2.3 was just worn out and tried replacing all the sensors out eventually to no avail. The burn pattern on the plugs definitely give an indication if the oil rings on one of the pistons might be going bad, try to check the compression if you have access to the tool. Don't know enough yet to say one of the sensors might be bad, ever tried reading the codes with the test plug? There is a procedure in the haynes manual for this with an extensive list of codes. Good Luck.

That's about as far as i can take you. Eventually got tired of the 2.3 and upgraded.

yeah think the TOB will be fine for now. def. more worried about the power loss. and i feel ya on the 2.3, i use to have the 2.9 v6 in reg. cab. big diff!! lots more power. of course im a 5.0 mustang guy so all of this stuff is slow to me lol! thx again!