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12-05-2010, 01:47 PM
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Learning to use the forums
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Join Date: Dec 2010
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I need advice. Truck is something of a beater.
I've got a 2000 ford ranger, extended cab, rear wheel drive, auto transmission. I bought this truck when my last car died in 2005 and I've had to replace the engine in it once already.
Truck has over 100,000 miles on it, I think this engine is about to go too. It's doing the same shit as the last one. I can't keep oil in it. I never find any leaks and I never smell oil burning, but I have to put oil in it just about every tank of gas, and the check engine light is on half the time. Now the truck is paid off, and that's probably the only reason I haven't just gotten something else. It needs a front end alignment, the tires are shot to hell, needs new brakes and rotors, and like I said before, I think the engine (which has been in it only a year or so) is about to go.
Is it reasonable to try and keep this thing up and start customizing/modding it or am I better off starting all over with a newer vehicle with fewer problems? I've always been a motorcycle guy, so working on larger vehicles is new to me. Ideally, I'd like this pickup to be manual and with 4wd, but I have the feeling it just doesn't make any sense to try a conversion.
Anyone have any thoughts?
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12-05-2010, 01:55 PM
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slut life
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Re: I need advice. Truck is something of a beater.
damn, sounds like you beat it up pretty good, first off, deal with the check engine light most auto stores have an engine diagnostic scanning tool you can rent for free. then deal with the oil issue, you might not be smelling it but if its not leaking, i would think its gotta be burning it, see what you can find. and the other stuff is small. stock tires wont run you too much, look for them used and brakes can be done for about 100. if you buy another used car you will run into the same thing, you just have to keep up on maintenance or it will bite you in the ass. what motor is in it?
__________________
99 extended cab, 4.0, auto, 33s, 4x4 lifted with some stuff done
98 2wd 2.5, 5 speed, dropped with some stuff done
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12-05-2010, 01:56 PM
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FRF Journeyman
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Re: I need advice. Truck is something of a beater.
I would try to find out what's actually wrong with the engine first. If there is a problem with the block or something else where you would have to replace the engine you might be better off just trying to find the 4x4 manual you would be happy with. However, if the engine can be fixed I would definitely do that instead of buying a new one. It really just depends on what is exactly wrong and then comparing the amount of work and cost relative to what you want.
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12-05-2010, 02:02 PM
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Learning to use the forums
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Re: I need advice. Truck is something of a beater.
Additionally, it's been in 2 fender benders since I've owned it. Body is in good shape overall, but the history pretty much guarantees no trade in value whatsoever.
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I really don't have a clue with the engine. All I know is it's the second one with this problem. And it makes rattling noises in a certain rev range.
I priced new tires the other day and for the shittiest replace-in-a-year off-brand tires it was going to cost over 300 bucks. Brake and rotor job is gonna cost over 300. And if the engine goes again, I feel like I'm just pouring money into a hole. The last engine + installation rand me 1200 bucks, and the resale value of the truck was probably only 1500 or so.
If it weren't for things like rain, snow, and ice, I'd just stick with my motorcycle.
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12-05-2010, 02:06 PM
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FRF Journeyman
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Re: I need advice. Truck is something of a beater.
What engine do you have in it and was it a new engine or a used one with a lot of miles already? Also, either you really have bad luck with engines or you might have something wrong with your truck that is causing your engines to fail. When was the last time you did a tune up and checked everything out?
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12-05-2010, 02:19 PM
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Learning to use the forums
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Re: I need advice. Truck is something of a beater.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MooDib
What engine do you have in it and was it a new engine or a used one with a lot of miles already? Also, either you really have bad luck with engines or you might have something wrong with your truck that is causing your engines to fail. When was the last time you did a tune up and checked everything out?
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Engine is the 3.0 liter v6 flex-fuel model, and it was used with 80k miles on it. It's had the same issues with oil since it was installed. I'd have taken it back to the mechanic to have a look, but they're 4 and a half hours away from where I live now. Haven't had the money for a tune-up since dropping this motor in, so it's been over a year.
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12-05-2010, 02:26 PM
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Re: I need advice. Truck is something of a beater.
If it has been doing that since the day of install you probably bought an engine that was already bad. If you have the time and want to take the effort I would try figuring out where all the oil is going and if it is burning try to figure out how it's getting into the cylinder. Hopefully you will be able to figure it out and it might just be a simple fix.
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12-05-2010, 02:35 PM
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Learning to use the forums
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Re: I need advice. Truck is something of a beater.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MooDib
If it has been doing that since the day of install you probably bought an engine that was already bad. If you have the time and want to take the effort I would try figuring out where all the oil is going and if it is burning try to figure out how it's getting into the cylinder. Hopefully you will be able to figure it out and it might just be a simple fix.
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I doubt anything about it will be simple. My rent agreement at the house here stipulates that I'm not allowed to work on vehicles on the property, and like I said before, I've only ever really worked on bikes. I'm just to the point where I'm tempted to go get another used vehicle for a couple grand instead of sinking 600-800 dollars in brakes, rotors, and tires with the very real possibility of the engine shitting the bed in the near future.
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12-05-2010, 02:37 PM
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FRF Journeyman
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Re: I need advice. Truck is something of a beater.
Yeah, if you can't do any work on it you might be better off seeing what you can find.
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12-05-2010, 02:39 PM
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slut life
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Join Date: Oct 2010
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Re: I need advice. Truck is something of a beater.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MooDib
Yeah, if you can't do any work on it you might be better off seeing what you can find.
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X2, and be sure to do plenty of research on the vehicle your looking at.
__________________
99 extended cab, 4.0, auto, 33s, 4x4 lifted with some stuff done
98 2wd 2.5, 5 speed, dropped with some stuff done
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