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06-17-2019, 04:47 PM
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2.3 rough idle ; too much tech !
I'm a newbie owner of '94 2.3 5spd w/ 150,900 mi. and a consistently rough idle.
I'm also an old school kind of cat who is most content with pre '72 American vehicles ...... I have never owned computerized transport of any kind ...... but I thought I would give some better fuel economy a try.
This little truck has a rough idle whether cold or hot , and is severe enough to make the shifter arm shake a bit , but it seems to perform relatively well at higher engine speeds like freeway driving.
I've searched some of the threads on this site but haven't found a description of my particular problem. So , I'm looking for some advice on where to start troubleshooting this little dude beginning with the simplest ( I like the simplest first tactic don't ya know ) and most direct component.
thanks in advance for any help
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06-17-2019, 06:28 PM
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Re: 2.3 rough idle ; too much tech !
What's the service history? When was its last major tuneup. Is there a check engine light and have you checked the obd1 system for DTC's?
Clean the IAC valve, clean the egr valve, clean the throttle body, clean the maf sensor, and at 100k it should have had new plugs, wires, fuel filter, pcv valve, air filter ect.
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06-18-2019, 05:56 AM
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Ford Ranger Driver
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Re: 2.3 rough idle ; too much tech !
Before replacing all that listed above, why not do a compression test? Alternatively, do a spark test where you disconnect one plug wire at a time, noting whether that affects the idle roughness or not.
It could be something as simple as a bad plug wire, or a vacuum leak.
If the engine idle doesn't change when you remove one wire, that cylinder is on vacay.
If all the spark plugs & wires check out, as in they all are working, you can spray fuel(brake cleaner, WD40, or a propane tank with a length of tubing bleeding propane) or wave a line around the intake with the engine at idle. If you find a spot where the fuel makes it smooth out, that's likely the place extra air is entering. The 'fuel' gets sucked into the leak, and temporarily makes the fuel:air mixture good enough to fire cleanly.
I mention the plugs / wires first, as they are easy, cheap, and quick to test. And, are a likely cause. You can also check for a 'light show' under hood with the engine idling after dark-thiry, open the hood. If the plug wires are marginal or failing, you may see small arcing as some of the voltage leaks out the wires to ground. If you do get a light show, replace the plug wires. Don't go cheap, as even the 'lifetime' sets seem to deteriorate even though they look perfectly fine.
tom
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06-18-2019, 02:24 PM
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Re: 2.3 rough idle ; too much tech !
.... Lots of advice , thanx.
Tom , you reminded me of some things I should have already tried but haven't yet carried out being as how I have only owned the little p.u. for 5 days.
We did do a vacuum check at one of the ports on the platform near the intake manifold and it looked normal , but I will go through your list of suggestions anyway.
The plug wires are new motorcraft ; replaced recently due to some critter infestation while the thing was parked for an extended period. I just hope that the little bas*&^^#%% s didn't ' irrigate ' some of that high tech circuitry ! But I would guess that if that were the case it wouldn't run well at any speed . We pulled some of the plugs - platinum autolites - that were easy to get to ( boy , two of the plugs on the driver side look like a real hassel to r&r as they are hidden by the intake ) and found one that was slightly discolored and didn't seem to be firing as rapidly as the others. These were supposed to have been replaced recently as well but I haven't verified that yet. Have you , or anyone you know had problems with autolite PPs ?
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06-18-2019, 11:41 PM
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Re: 2.3 rough idle ; too much tech !
Autolites are the oem plugs. (Motorcrafts are rebranded autolites).
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06-19-2019, 06:05 AM
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Ford Ranger Driver
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Re: 2.3 rough idle ; too much tech !
I have not heard anything about the plugs. The main source of ignition is the set on the passenger side, as the driver side plugs were originally for emissions control. Later models are reported to use them more often.
Given the storage time, I would still do the plug pull, one at a time, and once I found a cylinder that was semi- or non-contributing, I would put the plug back, and flip over to the injector connection, pulling them one at a time, or just confirming that pulling that injector offline made no difference.
The injectors have tiny screens in the form of a sock stuffed in where you can see them if you pull the fuel rail, or pull the injectors from the rail. You can see if there's stuff plugging the injector. If you get that far.
tom
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07-18-2019, 04:21 AM
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2.3 rough idle ; too much tech !
I feel your pain. I get rough idle when the A/C is on. I did New motorcraft plugs, wires, and coils. Cleaned the throttle body, did a induction clean, BG K44 set up, new fuel filter WIX, new fuel pump. I’m stump on mine. 95 Ranger 2.3 5spd
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07-18-2019, 05:54 AM
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Ford Ranger Driver
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Re: 2.3 rough idle ; too much tech !
I think there may be a few plug wire diagrams floating around. I'd check that the wires are in the proper sockets.
I have not heard a word about the IAC or whatever the new name is. If it is not bumping the idle appropriately, you can get a bit of rough idle. Cleaning sometimes works, long term in some cases, and not at all in others. You could try unplugging the IAC with the engine warmed, and at idle. It should slow way down, perhaps even shake and stall. Restoring the connection should restore the idle. You could also force a 're-learn' of idle settings that the computer uses to inform the IAC.
tom
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07-23-2019, 04:47 PM
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Re: 2.3 rough idle ; too much tech !
here's an UPDATE ..... still chasing that ' bumpy ' idle :
As a result of a timing check yesterday , I found that there is an intermittent misfire / slow frequency fire on#1 , and same on #2 but less
severe than #1. #3 and #4 seem to be just fine.
I have already checked / changed plugs and wires with no improvement. There is no , and has been no check engine light warning . " W. T. F. ? "
Is this likely a problem in the coil , or could some other component upstream of the coil be causing this condition ? .... and why no check engine light ? ( c.e.l. is working )
Just to add some further mind warp ; the problem goes away at any r.p.m. above slow idle and there is good acceleration and freeway jam capabilities . { ? }
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07-23-2019, 06:15 PM
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One day at a time
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Join Date: Apr 2011
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Re: 2.3 rough idle ; too much tech !
Look into the possibility of a lazy injector or two. It could be causing the low/stumble at idle if they are slow to open at such a wide PWM.
__________________
2001.5 2.3 213xxx and counting
M501-HD L154 Manual
Don't bother looking for 1st gear synchros, I bought the last one
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07-23-2019, 07:33 PM
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Re: 2.3 rough idle ; too much tech !
If it was an injector at fault , why would the timing light show a misfire at the plug ie; wouldn't the plug fire even if there were no fuel in the chamber ?
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07-25-2019, 04:35 PM
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One day at a time
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Join Date: Apr 2011
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Re: 2.3 rough idle ; too much tech !
Quote:
Originally Posted by coaster
If it was an injector at fault , why would the timing light show a misfire at the plug ie; wouldn't the plug fire even if there were no fuel in the chamber ?
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True. It seems to be functioning backwards from convention, getting better as speed increases. Usually bad coils degrade in performance as speed increases. If you have narrowed it down to two cylinders, my thoughts would also lead to the coil pack
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2001.5 2.3 213xxx and counting
M501-HD L154 Manual
Don't bother looking for 1st gear synchros, I bought the last one
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08-01-2019, 07:03 PM
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Re: 2.3 rough idle ; too much tech !
latest info : checking the resistance on coil pack primary , I am getting a reading of 1.7 - 1.8 ohms on the 200 scale , and tech lit says it's supposed to be in the .5 range.
does this mean that the coil is not serviceable or could this reading be influenced by some other ignition component ?
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08-04-2019, 09:43 PM
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Learning to use the forums
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Re: 2.3 rough idle ; too much tech !
Similar problem with my 89 Ranger 2.3 with 135kmiles. With engine off I unplugged the MAP and turned key on off on off. problem went away when PCU reverted to default data. Wondering now if I should install a new Motorcraft MAP.
Last edited by mwfoley; 08-05-2019 at 08:09 PM.
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