The "what do you hate about your Ranger today" thread

[Skooks]

My ranger's been nothing but problems the last few weeks. 3 weeks ago I went to replace the front shocks, and found out that the tire shop had cross threaded one of my lugnuts. Went through the whole ordeal of replacing the lug stud, then my brakes started making a loud squealing sound. Took the wheel off again, adjusted the caliper bracket, and the squealing was gone, but the truck started pulling to the right when driving and pulling left when braking. At the same time, the truck started stalling and stumbling when accelerating. Cleaned the MAF sensor, nothing. Tried cleaning the IAC, which just totally destroyed it and I had to get a new one, which didn't fix the issue. Replaced the crank position sensor, which seemed to help for a day, until the stumbling returned. I replaced all the plugs and wires which seems to have solved the stumbling/stalling (knock on wood), but the weird pulling is still here. The fun of DIY car repair.

[Tyler46]

That's really frustrating. I'm having a similar issue. Replaced my blown water pump a few weeks ago, replaced my alternator, battery, tensioner pulley, and belt.

After my last round of wheeling (which I will NOT be doing ever again) I must have messed up something in my rear brakes, probably a leaky wheel cylinder. It's a very slow leak, I've been watching the fluid in my master cylinder and it hasn't changed. It can wait until I can just take it to a shop, I don't feel like doing all that. Haven't lost brake pressure either. Whatever

Somethings up with my power steering, it's very choppy and sometimes it has more "power" than other days. I'm going to bleed the system today and see if that helps. If not I may have to replace the damn pump.... It has fresh ATF.

Seems like a lot of items that have been "failing" on my truck are driven by the serpentine belt. Alternator, water pump and tensioner. Just kinda curious if I may have had a belt that was not made for the truck (too tight) all well, it has a new one now.

I was hoping to have my uniball upper control arms. Which I could have had by now if my truck decided to not be a hooptie.

[GSF1200S]

Originally Posted by Skooks

My ranger's been nothing but problems the last few weeks. 3 weeks ago I went to replace the front shocks, and found out that the tire shop had cross threaded one of my lugnuts. Went through the whole ordeal of replacing the lug stud, then my brakes started making a loud squealing sound. Took the wheel off again, adjusted the caliper bracket, and the squealing was gone, but the truck started pulling to the right when driving and pulling left when braking. At the same time, the truck started stalling and stumbling when accelerating. Cleaned the MAF sensor, nothing. Tried cleaning the IAC, which just totally destroyed it and I had to get a new one, which didn't fix the issue. Replaced the crank position sensor, which seemed to help for a day, until the stumbling returned. I replaced all the plugs and wires which seems to have solved the stumbling/stalling (knock on wood), but the weird pulling is still here. The fun of DIY car repair.

Originally Posted by Tyler46

That's really frustrating. I'm having a similar issue. Replaced my blown water pump a few weeks ago, replaced my alternator, battery, tensioner pulley, and belt.

After my last round of wheeling (which I will NOT be doing ever again) I must have messed up something in my rear brakes, probably a leaky wheel cylinder. It's a very slow leak, I've been watching the fluid in my master cylinder and it hasn't changed. It can wait until I can just take it to a shop, I don't feel like doing all that. Haven't lost brake pressure either. Whatever

Somethings up with my power steering, it's very choppy and sometimes it has more "power" than other days. I'm going to bleed the system today and see if that helps. If not I may have to replace the damn pump.... It has fresh ATF.

Seems like a lot of items that have been "failing" on my truck are driven by the serpentine belt. Alternator, water pump and tensioner. Just kinda curious if I may have had a belt that was not made for the truck (too tight) all well, it has a new one now.

I was hoping to have my uniball upper control arms. Which I could have had by now if my truck decided to not be a hooptie.

I drove a 99 Miata from 45 to 115k and only had to ever replace the alternator (105k) and clutch slave (which is a 20 minute job as its externally mounted on the bellhousing- failed at 85k). It still had the original everything else and I BEAT that car with youthful ricer aggression. Redline at least once a day, uturns often involved me getting sideways, aggressive cornering, drag races with friends, a temporary stint delivering pizzas for a year, getting run into a gaurdrail at 50mph (woman didnt see me- smashed in all of the drivers side of car and took gouges out of the drivers side wheels but didnt even knock it out of alignment), etc etc. That car impressed me for sure.

Ive had to do more work on my Ranger just getting it running perfect at 90k than I had to do to the Miata after 9 years and 70k miles of ownership.

Bottom line is I think Rangers are cheaply built but cheap to fix. The chassis and accessory parts arent greatly durable, but the engine/trans (except the A4LD) will go 300k if you keep throwing parts at it and keep on top of maintenance.

In terms of the belt, if it was too tight youd see bearing issues in your pumps- but they would function normally until the bearings failed.

[Shayzar7]

I've had a similar stint with replacing stuff. Couple weeks ago replaced the alternator, deep belt changed at the same time ( old one still perfect so kept as spare), both front hubs, broken hub locker, hit a deer and everything is fucked up. Still don't even have it scheduled at the shop and it's been almost 2 weeks since the accident and at least a week for the shop to get parts. And they were supposed to be contacting me about various things and haven't been. Needless to say I'm getting frustrated as all hell with having my front end held together with duct tape.

[Skooks]

Originally Posted by GSF1200S

I drove a 99 Miata from 45 to 115k and only had to ever replace the alternator (105k) and clutch slave (which is a 20 minute job as its externally mounted on the bellhousing- failed at 85k). It still had the original everything else and I BEAT that car with youthful ricer aggression. Redline at least once a day, uturns often involved me getting sideways, aggressive cornering, drag races with friends, a temporary stint delivering pizzas for a year, getting run into a gaurdrail at 50mph (woman didnt see me- smashed in all of the drivers side of car and took gouges out of the drivers side wheels but didnt even knock it out of alignment), etc etc. That car impressed me for sure.

Ive had to do more work on my Ranger just getting it running perfect at 90k than I had to do to the Miata after 9 years and 70k miles of ownership.

I'd have to agree. I had to replace just as many parts this month then I ever did the whole time I ever owned my old carburated Jeep Wagoneer.

[Xyzm]

Originally Posted by GSF1200S

I drove a 99 Miata from 45 to 115k and only had to ever replace the alternator (105k) and clutch slave (which is a 20 minute job as its externally mounted on the bellhousing- failed at 85k). It still had the original everything else and I BEAT that car with youthful ricer aggression. Redline at least once a day, uturns often involved me getting sideways, aggressive cornering, drag races with friends, a temporary stint delivering pizzas for a year, getting run into a gaurdrail at 50mph (woman didnt see me- smashed in all of the drivers side of car and took gouges out of the drivers side wheels but didnt even knock it out of alignment), etc etc. That car impressed me for sure.

Ive had to do more work on my Ranger just getting it running perfect at 90k than I had to do to the Miata after 9 years and 70k miles of ownership.

Bottom line is I think Rangers are cheaply built but cheap to fix. The chassis and accessory parts arent greatly durable, but the engine/trans (except the A4LD) will go 300k if you keep throwing parts at it and keep on top of maintenance.

In terms of the belt, if it was too tight youd see bearing issues in your pumps- but they would function normally until the bearings failed.

Nice information, I am about to go through the process of changing my control arms upper and lower completely.

I am hating this noise I hear in the transmission when I go in reverse.

[TBarr]

Death wobble

[irishranger]

Originally Posted by TBarr

Death wobble

You get them big boys on yet?

[Ehranger07]

The fact that they have torsion bars... Coilovers here I come

[GSF1200S]

Originally Posted by Ehranger07

The fact that they have torsion bars... Coilovers here I come

Most people here seem to love the torsion bar suspensions

My dad hated "twin I-beam" Fords with a passion. He would see one in a parking lot and say "theres a tire eater!"

I dont think Id mind tho- id exchange the extra tire wear for the toughness that comes with the territory.

[TBarr]

Originally Posted by irishranger

You get them big boys on yet?

no. Two ended up having damage to the inside of the sidewall and are unusable. So I gotta find some more

[Ehranger07]

Originally Posted by GSF1200S

Most people here seem to love the torsion bar suspensions

My dad hated "twin I-beam" Fords with a passion. He would see one in a parking lot and say "theres a tire eater!"

I dont think Id mind tho- id exchange the extra tire wear for the toughness that comes with the territory.

Oh I'm not planning on beaming this thing...yet haha

[HPDave]

I hate that my ranger isn't 4x4 today (everyday).

But on a serious note, I hate that it hasn't passed smog. Here's to patience and tough hands.

[2000 ranger 4.0]

I hate that my engine blew so now i need to replace it

[02RangerFX4]

Originally Posted by 2000 ranger 4.0

I hate that my engine blew so now i need to replace it

Damn, how'd you do that?