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  #1  
Old 08-12-2017, 08:06 PM
LimaRanger LimaRanger is offline
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Default 2.3 low power

Hi everyone so I have a 96 2.3 5 speed and it seems sluggish and low on power.
truck idles good but when you go to take off out of first it kinda bogs down or hesitates, then goes and it doesn't matter how much gas or clutch you give it but once you get moving it's seems fine
It won't go over 70 mph in 5th foot to floor
I've changed plugs, wires, ECT sensor, down stream o2 sensor, tps sensor, fuel filter and I'm at a loss
There are no codes at all and I have no idea why it hesitates surely ford didnt intend for this truck to be so sluggish any help is greatly appreciated.

-john

Last edited by LimaRanger; 08-13-2017 at 10:12 AM.
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  #2  
Old 08-12-2017, 08:56 PM
cowboybilly9mile cowboybilly9mile is offline
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Default Re: 2.3 low power

Wut? Lost ya after about the twelth word.
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  #3  
Old 08-13-2017, 05:30 AM
tomw0 tomw0 is offline
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Default Re: 2.3 low power

cowboy, wading into the word salad is too difficle for me. Too much effort to decode and decipher and attribute a meaning.
Only thing I got was it doesn't run well above low speeds.
tom
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  #4  
Old 08-13-2017, 10:17 AM
LimaRanger LimaRanger is offline
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Default Re: 2.3 low power

There is the salad prepared better for you sir or no?

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Previous owner said there is a crack in the filler neck to the gas tank would that cause and issue with the way it runs?
I've checks the timing belt and it's in time so I don't know what else to try
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  #5  
Old 08-13-2017, 11:46 AM
EaOutlaw1969 EaOutlaw1969 is offline
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Default Re: 2.3 low power

Do you have a stock truck with stock tires?

What diagnostic work was done that led to all these parts getting changed out?
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  #6  
Old 08-13-2017, 02:33 PM
LimaRanger LimaRanger is offline
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Default Re: 2.3 low power

Yes it's completely stock
When I got the truck it was way worse the timing belt was way off and was timed to the divits on the gears instead of the triangles
So I fixed that and was getting miss fires codes so I decided to change the plugs which they were pretty old and rounded
Then changed the wires for good measure since they looked like the original wires
Cleared all the codes and all that seemed to help but still felt low on power
When I had my code reader hooked up I was looking at the live data and noticed the ECT sensor had sporadic readings
Anywhere from -40 to 50 degrees so that didn't seem right changed it and it helped but not much
I checked for vacuum leaks and had some dealing with the vac ball for the a.c. controls
Ran some new lines and that seemed to help a bit idk maybe just the placebo effect
I haven't tested fuel pressure because the Schrader valve on the rail has messed up threads and i dont know where to get a replacement or how to replace it
So I decided to change the fuel filter for good measure since it looked original
Haven't tested compression because if it was low it wouldn't start or idle good would it? Anyway what do you think?

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As for the o2 sensor i got a code for it one day and looked under the truck and what do you know the wires were ripped out of it maybe it got caught on the drive shaft no clue so that's why it was replaced
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  #7  
Old 08-13-2017, 03:47 PM
EaOutlaw1969 EaOutlaw1969 is offline
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Default Re: 2.3 low power

I suspect the timing belt may not be installed correctly.

A quick compression test would eliminate the engine as the problem before further work was done.
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  #8  
Old 08-13-2017, 03:57 PM
LimaRanger LimaRanger is offline
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Default Re: 2.3 low power

Ok I'll double check the timing belt this next week
And the compression test can I use the plugs on the exhaust side or does it have to be on the intake side or does it not matter the exhaust side is just easier it seems
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  #9  
Old 08-14-2017, 01:53 AM
EaOutlaw1969 EaOutlaw1969 is offline
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Default Re: 2.3 low power

Quote:
Originally Posted by LimaRanger View Post
Ok I'll double check the timing belt this next week
And the compression test can I use the plugs on the exhaust side or does it have to be on the intake side or does it not matter the exhaust side is just easier it seems
exhaust side is fine just make sure to disable the ignition system and fuel pump while doing the compression test
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  #10  
Old 08-14-2017, 05:34 AM
tomw0 tomw0 is offline
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Default Re: 2.3 low power

Many times a bit of dirt or ??? on the wires in the MAF will cause hesitation and stumble when you want to accelerate.
You can clean the wires, but you have to be very careful as they are very fragile. If you take the MAF apart, you should be able to see the two wires with 'lumps' or enlarged(looks like very small resistors) areas. Look for dust/dirt/etc, and very carefully use cleaning fluid or very very carefully a Q-tip. Re-assemble. The one thing many note when the MAF is dirty is the engine will fall on its face when you step on the gas, and then recover(mostly).
tom
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  #11  
Old 08-14-2017, 05:55 AM
modelageek modelageek is offline
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Default Re: 2.3 low power

Any chance you change the temp sensor for the gauge instead of the ECT sensor for the PCM? What temp is the engine running at when warmed up?
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  #12  
Old 08-14-2017, 08:35 AM
LimaRanger LimaRanger is offline
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Default Re: 2.3 low power

Im pretty sure I replace the right sensor because the scanner said ECT 190 and climbed steadily till warmed up

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And I will check the maf maybe a leaf or a bug is on the wires
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  #13  
Old 08-15-2017, 01:46 PM
LimaRanger LimaRanger is offline
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Default Re: 2.3 low power

Well after wasting 1 1/2 hours tearing it down to check the timing it was in time triangle to triangle and diamond to diamond
As for the MAF it seemed really clean actually looks fairly new
I also noticed something after I got it all put back together
I was revving the motor to about 2k and holding it there and just listening and I noticed the manifold started glowing red!
Running rich? Clogged cat? Bad upstream o2? Bad FPR? what do you all think?
As for which ECT I replaced, it was the one on the front of the motor coming out of the water neck the one with two wires.
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  #14  
Old 08-16-2017, 03:25 AM
EaOutlaw1969 EaOutlaw1969 is offline
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Default Re: 2.3 low power

Which part of do a compression test did you not understand?

A compression test would have taken at most 10 minutes at 0 cost.

Why in the hell would you take the engine apart to inspect the timing belt when a compression test would have told you if the belt was installed properly or not?

Now after wasting all this time and everyone's time you still need to do a compression test, then you need to connect a vacuum gauge to check for clogged exhaust.

Glowing red manifold with low power indicates a clogged exhaust system most likely clogged cats.

Even if you find the clogged cats you need to find out why it clogged.

Sorry to sound so harsh, but you must gather basic data from your truck to know what is wrong.

The problem you are having should only take one maybe two hours of diagnostic work to figure out and possibly even less time to repair.

Yet this thread has dragged on for way too long because you refuse to do basic diagnostic testing.
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Last edited by EaOutlaw1969; 08-16-2017 at 04:12 AM.
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  #15  
Old 08-16-2017, 04:58 AM
LimaRanger LimaRanger is offline
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Default Re: 2.3 low power

Wow this is the second or third thread where I have seen you talking to new comers harshly
I've never worked on vehicles before and yet you talk to me like I should know everything there is about diagnostics when you someone here said to check the belt and see if it was installed correctly so I did yet I am scalded for doing so? Makes sense. Seem like you have a "know it all" complex you need to figure out
Compression test will be done and no further advice needed from you sir thanks
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