Hi all,

Swapped my 2003 3.0 4x2 foe a 2007 4.0 4x4. (Happy to answer q's on the comparison, btw). Anyway, here are my project questions:

1. Heavy shift into gear from a stop. Anyone else have this? You can feel the truck slap into 1st gear (in the gas pedal) as you give it gas from a complete stop. I think that's what I'm feeling, at least. Almost like it shifts a half-second late and whaps into gear. Going to bring it to a shop just in case Friday. My hope was that it's just overly thick tranny fluid that needs flushing.

2. Speaker audio cuts out. Twice I have been without sound, today immediately after a rainstorm. Eventually it comes back, today it took about 10 minutes. Last time, it took a couple days (also after heavy rain). Head unit, bad speaker wires, or what? i did have the windshield swapped when I bought it due to a crack. Maybe they didnt seal it correctly? I didn't see any obvious water damage behind the unit when I pulled it out. I also have a new bluetooth adapter in my "aux jack"...maybe that's causing an electrical problem?

3. Gas pedal travel. Seems that compared to the 3.0, normal use of the gas pedal has the thing way closer to the floor than I remember with the 3.0. Nothing else seems off in terms of acceleration, etc. Just seems like the gas pedal literally has less distance to travel.

Thoughts on any of these?

Thanks,
Phil

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2003 XLT 3L V6 Flex Fuel engine. 4x2. Coil Springs. 31x10.5r15 tires on stock 15x7 chrome plated rims. 160,000 miles.

Congrats on your swap! The 4.0 is a great motor and should serve you well. With #1 I can't help you much as I have never really had a ranger with an automatic, (or any vehicle for that matter). With #2, is it a factory head unit or aftermarket. Like any electronics those head units will start to have issues after awhile, that would be my guess. I dont think it would be the speakers since all of them wont work and come back at the same time. With #3 I cant help you that much, is the throttle cable loose? My 4.0 doesn't seem like it goes that close to the floor but maybe that is just me. Sorry I'm not that much help but hopefully someone else chimes in with more knowledge than me. Good Luck!

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11' Ford Ranger Sport 4wd 5 Speed Manual

- Flowmaster 44, Cobra 25 LTD mounted in ceiling, Mustang Dome light mod, Led Bulbs all around, Cargo light connected, Under Hood light mod, Amber Raptor lights installed in the grill, updated headlights with black background, and a few small things here and there. In search of more ideas.

Thanks Danger Ranger!

I had a mechanic drive around the ranger for the hard shift, and he thinks "thats just how these rangers are". My 3.0 was a lot smoother of an engine, but the 4.0 has a little extra power & better truck sound, hah. The 3.0 wasn't terrible, just made it's power higher up in RPMs. The 4.0 drinks about ~4 mpg more, I was expecting that, but it's nice to have the power at lower RPMs. Neither are great going up an incline on the highway, but where the 3.0 wanted to go about 55 mph on a long incline and stay there, the 4.0 wants to go about 66 mph and will still gain speed to 70+ slowly without having to do a major down-shift.

The radio head unit is acting even more strange lately. Get this, it only typically works when the car is in Park or in Neutral (engine running or not). My guess was it a ground problem, but I don't see anything unusual with the ground, so I am thinking it's time to get a new head unit. What I really want is a head unit with Apple Car play digital screen (for GPS and Spotify use only). I am not willing to sacrifice a volume knob, or course (digital screens are terrible in cars except for CarPlay GPS, if you ask me). Of course I am a cheap bastard and dont want to drop more than 200$.

As for the throttle, I think it's just how it is. Seems to work fine.

Thanks!
Phil

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2003 XLT 3L V6 Flex Fuel engine. 4x2. Coil Springs. 31x10.5r15 tires on stock 15x7 chrome plated rims. 160,000 miles.

Hey Phil,

Sorry for the long time for a response, I just got back to college so ive been pretty busy. The 4.0 definitely seems to have a little more power than the 3.0. We used to have a 2001 3.0 5 speed and now the one in my signature. When we had the 3.0 you would have to shift into 4th gear to make it up several of the hills, with the 4.0 its pretty rare to have to do that. if I want to pass anyone going uphill I still have to shift down.

That radio issue sure sounds strange, ive never heard of anything like that haha. hopefully your truck isn't haunted lol. Its not cheap to upgrade radios but I think it is worth it. I got a double din with apple car play and navigation. I've really enjoyed it and got my money's worth out of it, Plus it makes the truck a little more modern. I think I paid $400 for my headunit a few years ago, im also as cheap as they get but I thought it was a good investment, especially if im gona keep the truck for awhile. I do miss the actual buttons of the old radio as the screen gets annoying but it is what it is.

-Good Luck!
Jesse

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11' Ford Ranger Sport 4wd 5 Speed Manual

- Flowmaster 44, Cobra 25 LTD mounted in ceiling, Mustang Dome light mod, Led Bulbs all around, Cargo light connected, Under Hood light mod, Amber Raptor lights installed in the grill, updated headlights with black background, and a few small things here and there. In search of more ideas.

Thanks for the info Jesse!

Couple follow up questions for you. What head unit did you get? I am considering the same features, but am stubborn in that I do still want to have a volume knob (instead of having a touch screen for that). Was it difficult fitting the double din unit? How much trimming did you have to do for that?

Also- strange question- you feel any kick in the gas pedal at all when accelerating from a stop? Mine is an automatic and I can feel it slap into first gear. I doubt a tranny fluid flush has ever happened on this thing at 180k miles....so maybe that's my prob.

Thanks!
Phil

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2003 XLT 3L V6 Flex Fuel engine. 4x2. Coil Springs. 31x10.5r15 tires on stock 15x7 chrome plated rims. 160,000 miles.

Phil,

The radio I have is a kenwood dnx 987 or soemething like that. Next time I get in my truck ill give you the exact model. I believe it was discontinued, but im sure you can find a newer kenwood dnx model of some sort that is basically the same thing. Ive really enjoyed my radio especially the navigation instead of trying to use a gps or a phone. I actually just took the radio to geek squad and had them install it, just since I paid all the money for it, I wanted it done right. First truck I ever didnt install the radio myself. But they did have to get a dremmel and do some trimming to get it to fit, it looks really good thought, I cant see anywhere that they trimmed.

Ive never felt a kick in the gas pedal when accelerating, I hear a little clunk in mine from time to time, but thats the transmission engaging I assume. Mines got 116k on it, better than my other truck with 317k haha. A tranny flush would probably help, I need to do mine. I had one done on my other truck and it made a world of difference when shifting.

Sorry i'm not that much help,

Jesse

__________________
11' Ford Ranger Sport 4wd 5 Speed Manual

- Flowmaster 44, Cobra 25 LTD mounted in ceiling, Mustang Dome light mod, Led Bulbs all around, Cargo light connected, Under Hood light mod, Amber Raptor lights installed in the grill, updated headlights with black background, and a few small things here and there. In search of more ideas.