My catalytic converter plugged up and truck stalled but I had to drive it half a mile or so to get to work off a busy street. I was thinking this can't be good for the engine.
Figured out what it was, drilled a 1" hole in the cat pipe ahead of cat and was able to drive it home. Now running with a stutter at same rpm when shifting gears.
Got cat replaced thanks Rockauto. Timing belt had jumped maybe 2 teeth, got mixed up with the timing marks. Reinstalled correctly eventually with info from here. Replaced twice before after breakage.
Runs with stutter especially in 5th, doesn't like 5th gear. reduced power.
#2 Sparkplug wire was arcing to block. Replaced exhaust side wires and plugs Motorcraft. plugs ok , wires pretty overdue
Codes
P0401 EGR
P0102 IAC Cycling too much
P0351 , 352 ignition coils
P1443 evap emission
P0 ??? MAF low output

Cleaned egr some improvement, tried blanking it off no improvement
Cleaned IAC seems ok idles faster when elect connector plugged in
Cleaned throttle body, inside was black
Cleaned MAF looked clean before cleaning. Haven't unplugged it and tried driving yet
Evap code not supposed to affect seriously
Is it possible I smoked the MAF badly driving with it plugged bad enough that it wouldn't stay running at idle ?

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Forgot to say unplugged exhaust side coil, still runs the same.
Looked in the dark no arcing.
Floored won't go over 50 in 4th
Haven't checked fuel
Something happened with cat plugged and trying to drive so trying to focus on that and related stuff

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Snowbert

1996 XLT Ranger 2.3l Stock 200000 miles?
A/C Still works !

You better check and see if something came out of the old cat and plugged the exhaust pipe or muffler.

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barneycat11 2006 FX4

Already tried loosening bolts between cat and muffler, joint opened up and got noisy but ran the same. One of the first things I tried.

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Snowbert

1996 XLT Ranger 2.3l Stock 200000 miles?
A/C Still works !

I'm going to look at the exhaust again tonight, this thing is not going to beat me , I've just about checked everything twice so far except this.

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Snowbert

1996 XLT Ranger 2.3l Stock 200000 miles?
A/C Still works !

Four thoughts on this. I would replace plugs if not close to new. Air filter same idea. Third do a compression test on motor. Slight possibility of cracked head or valve. You did create enough back pressure to jump timing chain. If all of this ok I wonder if you damaged the timing chain as in stretched it enough to make it useless.

Ok working on it. Fuel squirt out of schrader. Ok unplug the maf. Starting ok. Driving no stutter shudder. Doesn't want to go much over 50. WOT about 53 mph no bucking. Pried open joint of muffler to cat pipe and stuck a punch in to hold it apart. Have to unblock egr waiting for it to cool

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Snowbert

1996 XLT Ranger 2.3l Stock 200000 miles?
A/C Still works !

Ok well it looks like muffler was partly plugged drove okay except for noise of course punch fell out so going to drop a bolt in the muffler to cat joint to keep it open engine even sound ls better under hood. Plugged Maf back in idle better. I guess Rockauto for a muffler. Put egr back normal too

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Snowbert

1996 XLT Ranger 2.3l Stock 200000 miles?
A/C Still works !

Well no such luck barely idles battery meter dropping too low. Unplug maf again and idles better but still running rough. I guess the only thing left is the coils

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Snowbert

1996 XLT Ranger 2.3l Stock 200000 miles?
A/C Still works !

Talking to myself I guess

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Snowbert

1996 XLT Ranger 2.3l Stock 200000 miles?
A/C Still works !

Well, just to follow up in case anyone has these problems. I'm disappointed that so few people commented.

It was the ignition coil, I swapped in the intake side coil for the exhaust side one and drove with just that one with the new wires and plugs. Solves the stutter popping etc. The other coil sometimes misfired so bad the voltage gauge dropped and it wouldn't idle.

Note : both coils ohms were correct and almost exactly the same reading. But the wire arcing to block probably damaged the insulation.

The only issue now is lack of power at Wot so I am going to check fuel pressure etc and possibly replace fuel filter if indicated.

I've noticed reading these forums that people seldom follow up and post the solution.

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Snowbert

1996 XLT Ranger 2.3l Stock 200000 miles?
A/C Still works !