Engine sputtering. Need help.
 

This is on my buddies truck not mine.

1999 Ranger 4.0 auto 4x4 203,000 miles

Okay it has some sputtering issues, it sort of chugs. The engine light is on and the code says misfire in all odd cylinders. When you first start it, it runs and idles fine, and shakes a bit. Once your going its fine, around 40 right when it upshifts, it starts to sputter/chug. Its like your hitting little 1ft snow drifts, every 1 second or so, its that violent, its almost like a pulse. When you get on it the chug goes away. It does it again whenever it upshits. It ONLY does it when its below about 2000 rpm, any higher it runs fine. I did a test on it, I powerstood it a little, just before the tires started to spin, and it was super spuddery, you could hear it in the exhaust.
He just put these parts into it trying to fix it: Plugs, Wires, Fuel filter, Air filter, Coil pack, Changed oil, cleaned MAF and IAC.

So do you guys think the engine code is on to something? Is there anything we could check to narrow down the problem? What do you guys think?

Thanks a lot for any help!

Re: Engine sputtering. Need help.
 

did ya clean the throttle body?

Re: Engine sputtering. Need help.
 

Just the mass air flow sensor, and the idle air controller. Should we go more in depth then that?

Re: Engine sputtering. Need help.
 

Bumpity bump. Any more ideas?

Re: Engine sputtering. Need help.
 

Bump, Anyone?

Re: Engine sputtering. Need help.
 

could it be the coil pack? it seems odd that its on all the odd cylinders. at least to me

Re: Engine sputtering. Need help.
 

Oh sorry forgot to update. Now its just on cylinder 3, and its got a new coil pack.

Re: Engine sputtering. Need help.
 

I would say check the coil pack. Make sure eveything is connected and tight. You can also check the ignition module and/or crank position sensor. With all this new computerized crap it is harder to tell.

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Guess I wasn't fast enough. With it only being cylinder 3 I would say check the plug wire and the plug. May be fouled or not connecting properly.

Re: Engine sputtering. Need help.
 

Its got new plugs and wires too.

Re: Engine sputtering. Need help.
 

Was it running ruff before you guys replaced all this stuff or after. Sorry guess I'm just not understanding the original post.

Was there any water or coolant in the oil when it was changed. The head gasket may be blown at that one cylinder. Also check to see if the exhaust has a sweet smell to it. That can also mean a damaged gasket.

Sorry for all of the check this check that just trying to think of all the least expensive and simplist to fix options.

Re: Engine sputtering. Need help.
 

It was running like that before and after. So we dumped a bunch of money into it and it still runs the same. We didnt see any coolant anywhere, Ill check the exhaust tonight.

Re: Engine sputtering. Need help.
 

Are the wires in the right firing order?

Re: Engine sputtering. Need help.
 

How about a vacum hose leak. I had that problem and it drove me crazy for a week. My truck would start fine but just chug at idle.
Just saying.