Engine light going on and off. Exhaust smells like its running rich on passenger side. Tried meap and 02 sensors. Anyone have any other ideas?

Check the IAC valve (idle air control) they are known for it.

Rebuilt 97 rebel 2.3l 2wd

Will do. Thank you.

Your welcome, hope it helps u. I'm not a mechanic by trade but I'm a huge ranger fan owned for 9 years, do all my own work and have rebuilt mine from the ground up I also have 2 cousins that each own 1 as well. I'll upload some pics tomorrow, I just registered on here

Rebuilt 97 rebel 2.3l 2wd

I just registered also. I have 2 rangers, 93 & 94. 93 2.3 has over 300, 000 miles and going strong. The 4.0 is driving me crazy! It seems to have 1 problem after another the last few months. Cant give up now, lol

Yea they are great trucks easy to work on and parts are fairly cheap. 20 years old and still great trucks
Mine has 320 000kms and runs like new engine has no noises and I like to raze it up often, easily hitting 5k rpm (if u run more than 5k rpm u risk jumping timing) . I was going to do a 5.0l swap and decided to turbo for equivalent power. I'm looking on swapping to 19lb fuel injectors from a 5.0l over the stock 14lb ones this year and next spring I plan to put a 10-14 psi Turbo on it . If your looking for a easy and cheap performance boost for your 2.3l highly recommend blocking your EGR valve off with just a block off plate and putting a cold air intake on its an easy 15-20 HP gain for 35 bucks man. Just use black PVC pipe and buy a cone filter for 30 bucks. The egr valve puts exhaust back through your intake which isn't good you'll because 1; the computer calculates fuel and air before the exhaust is mixed in therefore not the proper air to fuel mixture and 2nd: if you pull your upper intake off I bet your exhaust pipe is cleaner lol all that gunk will restrict airflow. I didn't clean mine yet just prevented more from building up.

Rebuilt 97 rebel 2.3l 2wd

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Also my cousin has a 4.0 and he put a super chip programmer in and it works awesome!

Rebuilt 97 rebel 2.3l 2wd

Thats a couple of great ideas. There might b a few extra horses left in the old girl after all, lol. Thanks man, i will get on the egr valve soon!

Your most welcome bro. And if your interested in more upgrades check out the 4 cyl section i just spent an hour typing out all the 2.3l performance upgrades, not all but most bank for ur buck its on another guys post but I think u can search my posts.

Rebuilt 97 rebel 2.3l 2wd

1 more thing I forgot to mention it a couple hours work but she I change my plugs in the 2.3 I take the upper intake off so its easy to get at, not scared of breaking a plug or wires not going on all the way. If u have a slight tick at idle it could be caused by not getting fire on number 4, I had that problem fixed the plugs and wires and it purrs like a kitten now minis the exhaust I have on it
The intake gasket kit is $36 Canadian

Rebuilt 97 rebel 2.3l 2wd

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When* not she lol typing on my android haha

Rebuilt 97 rebel 2.3l 2wd

I tuned mine up about a month ago. I used the same trick on the plugs. Lol. I will check out the 4 cylinder section. Thanls a million! Hope i can return the favor. My son just started driving so he keeps my busy with minor repairs. I cant complain, it does have 300 k on it.

No worries man happy to help bro. I love rangers man glad to help a fellow driver out if I can.

Theres a little story behind my truck it was my fathers, he passed away in 05 I was 17 at the time and inherited it. So with the sentimental value, I began to learn things as I repaired it at first as time went by I got into it more studied what I wanted to do and decided to do a rebuild in the spring of 08. I'm aways looking at what I would to do or change and study it. I have parts from different years to spice it up a little while maintaining close to stock looks, only parts that aren't original gear out of a ranger is the front signals and tail lights. I'm planning another rebuild when the inspection runs up in 2 years.

Anyways that's the story behind mine, glad to help if I can man.

Rebuilt 97 rebel 2.3l 2wd

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Rebuilt 97 rebel 2.3l 2wd

I believe I would have done the same thing if I was in your situation. I do enjoy teaching my son how to work on the truck. like any other new teenage driver they think they have to be on the road 24 hours a day, lol. If the rain holds off today I'm going to try your EGR valve trick. I will let you know how it turns out. Thanks again.

Your welcome, after you do it remember to disconnect the negative battery for 5 mins reconnect it start and run at idle for 5 mins turn it off to reset the computer, after u drive 15 miles your computer will adjust itself as needed for properly resetting the computer. You may know that just thought i would post of because a lot of people don't do it properly and this may help someone else if they are having a slight sputter at the start of throttling in.

Rebuilt 97 rebel 2.3l 2wd

I did not know that. Thank u again. I guess I do not understand about the fresh air flow after you disconnect the EGR valve? I am looking at it now and i am lost....

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I am also on my android, lol