When I try to accelerate the engine starts to sputter and it becomes undrivable. I bought a voltage tester and placed the leads on the TPS while the engine idled and the voltage jumped up and down instead of maintaining a steady voltage. Just for kicks I disconnected the TPS wire while the truck was idling and nothing happened. No improvement or worsening. I also disconnected the IAC and the only noticeable difference was a decrease in the idle. Typically the engine should die with both disconnected right?????

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Trying to hunt down the reason why it is running so poorly. The IAC is only a year old and it corrected previous running issues. This new issue came about when a retarded mechanic did what he called a vaccum water test to see if I had a vaccum leak. In a nutshell he took a water hose and ran water over the typical vaccum lines and guess what the engine died. Ever since then I have not been able to get it running correctly.

I have changed the oil more than once with no signs of water in the oil as well as replaced the head gasket. There was water in the piston head pits but not much and I think that was just from removing the head.

Any ideas as to what could have occurred?????

Any suggestions on how to find the rough running engine issue when the check engine light is not lighting up. It does light up when the key is in the on position in the ignition so I know it works, but nothing is coming on despite how crappy it is running.

What year of truck? Motor size?

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1987 ford ranger sxt 2.9 v6
Ain't nuttin but a ford thing

Opps sorry. 1997 2.3L ( 8 plugs )

With my tps unhooked my truck will die, but it only bogs down with the iacv disconnected.

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With my tps unhooked my truck will die, but it only bogs down with the iacv disconnected. I've heard of using water around hose connectors and fixings but never letting it suck into the intake looking for vacuum leaks, I have however heard of people running a very little amount of water at a time to clean carbon and crud out via vacuum lines.

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Sorry misunderstood your post about water, try taking brake cleaner or something similar and start the truck and spray hoses and gaskets around your upper and lower intake as well as all hose connectors and listen for an RPM change, if you find one, its a vacuum leak and could/would cause hesitation. It sounds like you have quite a big leak if it sucked in enough water to kill the motor.

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1987 ford ranger sxt 2.9 v6
Ain't nuttin but a ford thing

change the fuel filter.......if that does not take care of it do a series of fuel pressure tests

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2004 Ext Cab, 4WD, 4.0, Auto, 154k. (4.0 engine is out of a 2009 Ranger w/96k) ( as of 7/1/2017)

2004 Ranger, Ext Cab, 2WD, 3.0, 5 speed , 4WABS, crank windows, no cruise, Edge 116k.(6/5,2014) (SOLD).
1999 Ford Ranger, Reg Cab, 2.5, 5 speed, 2WD, no AC, 150k (SOLD).

yeah, it's a routine thing for me to spray ether or starting fluid around vacuum lines. Just like sirfunkeybut said, you'll hear the engine rev a little.
Same with the fuel filter; I have to change mine often cause of the crappy gas around here. My truck just dies when accelerating with a 2-year-old stopped up fuel filter.

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1999 xlt 2.5l 5-speed Supercab 159k
83 diesel 2.2l na
06 F250 6.0l psd
{click for lol}

Thanks guys I am going to give the starting fluid trick tomorrow.

after you look for vacuum leaks change the fuel filter and then do fuel pressure tests.........if you had a vacuum leak that caused that kind of power loss you would throw a code 99% 0f the time. You have no codes.................when the fuel pressure is low most of the time you don't throw a code.....

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I just noticed the water issue..........your mechanic is a moron.never go there again.......I am not sure what your issue is.....could the guy have gotten water in your coilpack?

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2004 Ext Cab, 4WD, 4.0, Auto, 154k. (4.0 engine is out of a 2009 Ranger w/96k) ( as of 7/1/2017)

2004 Ranger, Ext Cab, 2WD, 3.0, 5 speed , 4WABS, crank windows, no cruise, Edge 116k.(6/5,2014) (SOLD).
1999 Ford Ranger, Reg Cab, 2.5, 5 speed, 2WD, no AC, 150k (SOLD).

Sounds like a plan. And no I will never ever ever ever ever ever ever go back to that douche.

One other quick question. How can you tell if the EGR has failed?? I disconnected the vac line that goes to it and again there was no change in the performance.

1)create a signature with details of your truck

2)go get yourself what ever obd scanner you can afford. if you have an android device you can by a Bluetooth device for $15 online and then download Torque..........you need to try and catch a pending code.......make sure your CEL works KOEO

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2004 Ext Cab, 4WD, 4.0, Auto, 154k. (4.0 engine is out of a 2009 Ranger w/96k) ( as of 7/1/2017)

2004 Ranger, Ext Cab, 2WD, 3.0, 5 speed , 4WABS, crank windows, no cruise, Edge 116k.(6/5,2014) (SOLD).
1999 Ford Ranger, Reg Cab, 2.5, 5 speed, 2WD, no AC, 150k (SOLD).