Chuck "Classic Ford" JR.
New Member
- Joined
- Jan 16, 2014
- Messages
- 85
- Reaction score
- 4
- Points
- 0
- Location
- Columbus, GA
- Vehicle Year
- 1986
- Make / Model
- Ford
- Engine Size
- 2.9L V6
- Transmission
- Automatic
Ever since I bought my baby Rusty back in September 2013, I've done everything I can to improve it both cosmetically and mechanically. I've completely redone the interior, I did the K&N air filter swap found in the Tech Articles under "Engine Tech", I've tried my best to keep it up on oil changes and keep all the fluids topped off, and I try to keep it clean as best I can. But it has one problem that no matter what I've tried, I simply cannot seem to shake.
Especially when I first start it up on any given day, regardless of the temperature and how long I allow the motor to warm up, the engine "bogs down" for about a half second when I press the accelerator pedal, then begins to accelerate like normal. I do not have the slightest clue as to what could be causing this problem. My old 2.9 runs about as well as I'd expect a 30 year old engine to run. Here are the only things I know:
-Engine has brand new plugs, wires, and air filter.
-It has a slight oil leak out the driver side valve cover gasket, I have a new set but I've just not gotten around to putting it on.
-My fuel pump shutoff switch or "inertia switch" is somewhat overly sensitive, for example I once slammed on the brakes while pulling a prank on my friend and the truck came to an immediate stop and triggered the switch. However I'm told that this was a common problem on early Rangers.
-Sometimes my fuel pump is a little quieter than normal when I first cut the key on, but other than the skip the truck runs and drives just fine without any issues.
-Zero to 60 is around 10-15 seconds, I've never ACTUALLY timed it but I tried it once just for fun on a straight stretch of road out in the county, I'm not sure what the "norm" is for a 2.9L automatic Ranger, but that just seems a tad slow to me.
-I usually start off driving in D, then shift into OD at about 45 or when I get up to highway speeds. I've been told that driving in OD all the time will mess things up.
-I don't "race" my truck, I've only shown off in it once or twice in the parking lot around my school shop, and the skip existed long before I tried anything funny with it.
The only thing I can possibly think of is perhaps the fuel pump is not as strong as it should be, but I don't want to rule anything else out. Has anyone else ever had or seen this problem, and if so what did you do to get rid of it? I'm going to school to be a Ford tech so I know a wee bit about engine performance, but at this level I'd probably rank myself as "Glorified Part Swapper" lol. Any help is much appreciated!!!
Especially when I first start it up on any given day, regardless of the temperature and how long I allow the motor to warm up, the engine "bogs down" for about a half second when I press the accelerator pedal, then begins to accelerate like normal. I do not have the slightest clue as to what could be causing this problem. My old 2.9 runs about as well as I'd expect a 30 year old engine to run. Here are the only things I know:
-Engine has brand new plugs, wires, and air filter.
-It has a slight oil leak out the driver side valve cover gasket, I have a new set but I've just not gotten around to putting it on.
-My fuel pump shutoff switch or "inertia switch" is somewhat overly sensitive, for example I once slammed on the brakes while pulling a prank on my friend and the truck came to an immediate stop and triggered the switch. However I'm told that this was a common problem on early Rangers.
-Sometimes my fuel pump is a little quieter than normal when I first cut the key on, but other than the skip the truck runs and drives just fine without any issues.
-Zero to 60 is around 10-15 seconds, I've never ACTUALLY timed it but I tried it once just for fun on a straight stretch of road out in the county, I'm not sure what the "norm" is for a 2.9L automatic Ranger, but that just seems a tad slow to me.
-I usually start off driving in D, then shift into OD at about 45 or when I get up to highway speeds. I've been told that driving in OD all the time will mess things up.
-I don't "race" my truck, I've only shown off in it once or twice in the parking lot around my school shop, and the skip existed long before I tried anything funny with it.
The only thing I can possibly think of is perhaps the fuel pump is not as strong as it should be, but I don't want to rule anything else out. Has anyone else ever had or seen this problem, and if so what did you do to get rid of it? I'm going to school to be a Ford tech so I know a wee bit about engine performance, but at this level I'd probably rank myself as "Glorified Part Swapper" lol. Any help is much appreciated!!!