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  #1  
Old 12-28-2012, 10:43 AM
rangersrock rangersrock is offline
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Default 1993 2.3L rough idle at stoplight problem

Well, I just spent $160 to have the sparkplugs and sparkplug wires changed and the mechanic was as disappointed as I was. It STILL idles rough when either put in gear or sitting at a light. I actually have to put it in neutral because of the rough idle and vibration. It never stalls, but run rough and seems to just vibrate bad. The mechanic tried cleaning the IAC I believe it was, and still no change. I just now unplugged it (I think it was the correct plug) and it made no difference in the engine idle speed. Could that be the problem? I need a new one? What does the IAC look like in a 93 Ranger? Want to make sure I am talking about the right part. It is fine under neutral, but when put in gear, does a "uh -uh- uh" type idle. Seems to vibrate the whole truck. Going from drive to reverse seems to be the worse for the "almost stall" but never does. Have a very slight leak of transmission fluid too, not sure if that matters or not.
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  #2  
Old 12-28-2012, 11:07 AM
Bob C. of Indiana Bob C. of Indiana is offline
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Default Re: 1993 2.3L rough idle at stoplight problem

Quote:
Originally Posted by rangersrock View Post
Well, I just spent $160 to have the sparkplugs and sparkplug wires changed and the mechanic was as disappointed as I was. It STILL idles rough when either put in gear or sitting at a light. I actually have to put it in neutral because of the rough idle and vibration. It never stalls, but run rough and seems to just vibrate bad. The mechanic tried cleaning the IAC I believe it was, and still no change. I just now unplugged it (I think it was the correct plug) and it made no difference in the engine idle speed. Could that be the problem? I need a new one? What does the IAC look like in a 93 Ranger? Want to make sure I am talking about the right part. It is fine under neutral, but when put in gear, does a "uh -uh- uh" type idle. Seems to vibrate the whole truck. Going from drive to reverse seems to be the worse for the "almost stall" but never does. Have a very slight leak of transmission fluid too, not sure if that matters or not.
First off how many miles is on your engine? Did you check or change the fuel filter lately? Does it have a EGR valve on the intake manifold and did the mechanic check that? Soon as you give it gas it smooths out right?There is a few things for you to Google...Good luck, hope you get it running smooth..
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  #3  
Old 12-29-2012, 07:29 AM
Blank_doubt Blank_doubt is offline
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Default Re: 1993 2.3L rough idle at stoplight problem

Greetings rangersrock,

How long have you owned the Truck?
WHAT MILEAGE??
Timing could be off.

Did the mechanic "read" the Engine?
--plug in a OBD II Code reader??--

ALL Plug wires in correct firing order?

Need more input.
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  #4  
Old 12-29-2012, 10:50 AM
rangersrock rangersrock is offline
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Default Re: 1993 2.3L rough idle at stoplight problem

Thank you gents for offering your help on this. It's really getting frustrating, especially for a non-mechanical person such as myself, so please "bare with me" if I don't know the answer to something.

First off how many miles is on your engine? Did you check or change the fuel filter lately? Does it have a EGR valve on the intake manifold and did the mechanic check that? Soon as you give it gas it smooths out right?There is a few things for you to Google...Good luck, hope you get it running smooth..


The Ranger has 126,000 miles on it and I am the orginal owner so I can at least tell you what has and has not been done to it. I've had it since 1993, bought brand new back then. No, I have not had the fuel filter changed. It takes off and cruises fine now that the plugs and wires have been changed, wouldn't a clogged fuel filter prevent it from doing that? Please note, any questions I ask back, if they sound ****y or smart donkey, I am NOT being that way, just genuinely curious. I am certainly no mechanic, that's what I am doing here, asking the experts! :-) Now, back to me trying to answer your gents questions.... Not sure if it has an EGR valve. I will be printing out these conversations for the mechanic to look at. Yes, as soon as I give it gas or take off from a light, it is fine. Only when I am sitting at a light with my foot on the brake does it idle rough and I say, "vibrates." Maybe it is vibrating from the rough idle? Again, it has a "uh... uh.... uh..." kind of sound to the rough idle, if that makes sense. You put it in neutral and its fine, I did notice just a slight shake every once and a while, very slight while it was running in neatral. This was when I was actually watching the motor run, while at the mechanics shop. It was almost not noticeable though. One other thing that just came to mind, I have been out to Arizona (from Florida) and it had a real tough time climbing hills once inside Arizona. I literally had to keep it almost floored to even maintain 50mph. This was several years ago. Now this was with the bad plugs and original plug wires that were recently changed, so, I don't know NOW how it would react climbing the mountains.


Greetings rangersrock,

How long have you owned the Truck?
WHAT MILEAGE??
Timing could be off.

Did the mechanic "read" the Engine?
--plug in a OBD II Code reader??--

ALL Plug wires in correct firing order?

Need more input.


The mechanic did not "read" the engine, he said no CEL is on, so no need to do that. Let me know if he should. All wires must be in order because it "purrs like a kitten" while cruising down the road. Timing is mentioned here, the mechanic did not think it was a timing issue. He said "if the timing was off, you would really notice notice it".

I did pull the plug in the IAC I think it is? And noticed no difference in engine idle. The mechanic sprayed two or three different sprays in what I think is the IAC (it was on the back side of the aluminum thing on top the engine. But again. when I unplugged it, it made no difference. I could take a photo of what he cleaned and what I unplugged if that will help. Not sure if I can post photos yet on the forum.

I know the serpantine belt has been replaced several years ago and the timing belt was replaced several years ago too. The mechanic said the next thing should be the serpantine belt should be replaced, he showed me where it is missing some "teeth". It was squealing pretty bad several months ago and I kept spraying belt dressing on it and now it's not making much noise. The starter was replaced several years ago and the battery too. Other then the recent plugs and wire change, thats all I can think of thats been changed.

Last edited by rangersrock; 12-29-2012 at 11:13 AM.
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  #5  
Old 12-30-2012, 12:53 AM
1994ranger1994 1994ranger1994 is offline
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Default Re: 1993 2.3L rough idle at stoplight problem

i wourd say check the codes. for sure. you should change fuel filter and seafoam engine and clean iac(make sure thats what he did) and check air filter and clean the maf sensor. good luck. and you do have an egr it is on the rear of the engine on the corner of the intake manifold. all cars in the us have had em since 1974.

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  #6  
Old 01-01-2013, 07:44 AM
Blank_doubt Blank_doubt is offline
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Default Re: 1993 2.3L rough idle at stoplight problem

In Ford REPAIR Manuals it states "No need to change Fuel Filter during the normal service life", as well "no need to change transmission fluid (straight drive) for the normal service life".
What is normal is never defined.
Fuel and Air Filters are cheap.
Rule of thumb is change filters once a year, more often in dirty environs.

Not all Codes produce warning Lights.
Plug in Reader and pull ANY Codes.

The EGR is usually under or near the Aluminum Thingy (INTAKE Manifold) and piped into Exhaust at or behind Exhaust Manifold (to which the Exhaust Pipe is connected).
There's also a O2 Sensor somewhere before the Catalytic Converter.
Has/Have the 1 (or 2) O2 Sensor(s) EVER been changed??

Belt "Dressing" is A WASTE OF MONEY and usually "dresses" every part of the Engine Bay.
Belts are INEXPENSIVE.
Not always is a squealing noise indicating a Belt, sometimes it's Bearings.

!!SREEHC
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  #7  
Old 01-01-2013, 09:56 AM
rangersrock rangersrock is offline
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Default Re: 1993 2.3L rough idle at stoplight problem

To my knowledge, I dont think the fuel filter has EVER been changed. I know I changed the air filter over a year ago. Truck has been out to AZ from FL twice, still using the same air filter. The EGR must have been what he cleaned and put back on. It is attached to the top back of the aluminum pipes that are on top of engine (where a carberator would normally go). As far as the O2 sensor, not sure if I ever had that replaced. Would that cause the rough idle while sitting a light? I did put a bottle of this in the gas tank. Hasn't really helped with the rough idle though.
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  #8  
Old 01-01-2013, 10:22 AM
colonel D colonel D is offline
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Default Re: 1993 2.3L rough idle at stoplight problem

You could try cleaning the EGR valve and check for a leak vacuum lines loose. Did the truck do this before the plug change? Could be a bad plug what type of plugs?Also clean the throttle body with throttle body cleaner and check PVC valve. Just some ideas, Good luck
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  #9  
Old 01-01-2013, 04:29 PM
RangerRitual RangerRitual is offline
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Default

I am also in Arizona and I have a'94 ford ranger 2.3L 5 speed manual. I experience a rough idle as well when I've idling for over 45 seconds. Occasionally run into low power off the start. I figured it could be the fuel pump but could also just be a faulty ,dirty or bad fuel filter. Have yet to change the fuel filter but its always better to start with a cheaper repair. It couldn't be as big of an issue as you think. Other then that, truck runs like she's brand new. 93k original miles on it. If you have any advise or responses' please contact me
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  #10  
Old 01-02-2013, 12:36 PM
rangersrock rangersrock is offline
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Default Re: 1993 2.3L rough idle at stoplight problem

Would the fuel filter cause rough idling, even though it purrs like a kitten going down the street. On a side note, I DO notice an odor of gas around the fuel filling area. Not sure if thats related.

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Quote:
Originally Posted by colonel D View Post
You could try cleaning the EGR valve and check for a leak vacuum lines loose. Did the truck do this before the plug change? Could be a bad plug what type of plugs?Also clean the throttle body with throttle body cleaner and check PVC valve. Just some ideas, Good luck
Yes, it did this before the plug change. That's why the plugs were changed, the mechanic thought for sure that would clear up the rough idle, seeing the plugs and wires were the original since I bought it back in '93! I know they should have been changed sooner. He did show me "white markings" on the original wires, he said thats where it was arcing threw the wires.
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  #11  
Old 01-02-2013, 01:29 PM
modelageek modelageek is offline
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Did you clean the MAF, TB, check the intake tube for blockage and change the air filter....I also would change the fuel filter asap. You need to do TuneUp so you have a baseline.

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  #12  
Old 01-02-2013, 04:05 PM
mxpxpunkrock1987 mxpxpunkrock1987 is offline
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Default Re: 1993 2.3L rough idle at stoplight problem

check all your vacumm lines
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