lstevens76
New Member
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2015
- Messages
- 12
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
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- Vehicle Year
- 1987
- Make / Model
- Ford
- Transmission
- Automatic
Ok, it seems no one takes care of my Grandfather's truck when he loans it out. It has some problems and it's parked for the most part now while I try to trace them down.
The truck is a '87 Ranger 2.9L V6 4x4 Extended cab, Automatic, AC, with either 129k or 229k on it (not sure which).
Recently it got back from being loaned out at 5k overdue for an oil change. We got it in and had the oil changed, coolant flushed, and the ATF changed w/ filter.
But the problems are still present and here they are:
1.) When under a load you get a "putter" or "tap" sound out of the exhaust. It sounded really bad (like a pinging from the rear end or something like that) before we replaced the muffler. Replacing the muffler changed the volume and tone of the sound. This tells me it's definitely in the engine and we are hearing it through the exhaust. The only way to get it to occur is either load up the back w/ some weight or flat out stomp it from a stop or turn the ac on and do a semi-fast take off. Basically only when the engine is under load.
2.) It's gotten more gutless than it used to be. It's got less power than my '96 Subaru OBS w/ a 2.2L 4 Cylinder (literally) and both vehicles are within 200lbs of each other. The 2.9L V6 is supposed to have a little more horsepower and quite a bit more torque than that 2.2L 4 cylinder. The subaru is all wheel drive, so that should not be part of the problem.
3.) The idle is high. It sits close to 1k regularly, and over 1k w/ the AC on.
4.) Idle Fluctuations, but they are small ones. Say 800 to 900, or 1k to 1.1k, etc... Usually in neutral (not as much when in gear). Upon starting it (warm or cold) the idle will do some heavy fluctuations for the first few seconds of running before settling down.
So, where do I start looking? Ideas?
The truck is a '87 Ranger 2.9L V6 4x4 Extended cab, Automatic, AC, with either 129k or 229k on it (not sure which).
Recently it got back from being loaned out at 5k overdue for an oil change. We got it in and had the oil changed, coolant flushed, and the ATF changed w/ filter.
But the problems are still present and here they are:
1.) When under a load you get a "putter" or "tap" sound out of the exhaust. It sounded really bad (like a pinging from the rear end or something like that) before we replaced the muffler. Replacing the muffler changed the volume and tone of the sound. This tells me it's definitely in the engine and we are hearing it through the exhaust. The only way to get it to occur is either load up the back w/ some weight or flat out stomp it from a stop or turn the ac on and do a semi-fast take off. Basically only when the engine is under load.
2.) It's gotten more gutless than it used to be. It's got less power than my '96 Subaru OBS w/ a 2.2L 4 Cylinder (literally) and both vehicles are within 200lbs of each other. The 2.9L V6 is supposed to have a little more horsepower and quite a bit more torque than that 2.2L 4 cylinder. The subaru is all wheel drive, so that should not be part of the problem.
3.) The idle is high. It sits close to 1k regularly, and over 1k w/ the AC on.
4.) Idle Fluctuations, but they are small ones. Say 800 to 900, or 1k to 1.1k, etc... Usually in neutral (not as much when in gear). Upon starting it (warm or cold) the idle will do some heavy fluctuations for the first few seconds of running before settling down.
So, where do I start looking? Ideas?