Hey Guys, New the this site, And Found a bunch of great info for my new Ranger i bought last month. One Problem is still getting to me and i have been searching for the last week with no real direction to go.

My 3.0 V6 Sputters, Bucks/hiccups, when Cruising at around 40-45 mph. Right Before it switches in into a higher gear. Happens each time right before the higher gear kicks in through out all speeds as well. I feels like the engine stops receiving fuel for a split secound, when you just hold the gas pedal at a constant light pressure. I Thought it was just me being picky until my wife even said "What's with the truck sputtering like that?"

Under Full Acceleration there is no sputtering or hesitation at all, feels good very smooth. Also Idle is consistent and smooth.

I Recently Replace the Cam Sync and Cam Sensor, Plugs and Wires, Air Filter, Did a Seafoam Treatment through the brake booster line and fuel tank.

Any ideas on what could be causing the problem?

Thanks!

 

Welcome to the forums

Did you disconnect the battery when you replaced the cam sensor?

If not disconnect the battery for an hour then hook it up so the computer can reset itself and to see if that helps its recommended to disconnect the battery when you change out sensors like that

 

Did you use the alignment tool for the cam sync? You may want to pick up a coil and see if it helps, if not take it back.

 

Cool Thanks Guys for the quick reply. I will Working all it again this weekend. Ill let ya all know what i find out.

As Far as the Cam yes it was dropped in perfectly. Actually I took it to my mechanic and made him do it like 3 times.

 

Hey dovegabanna keep me posted on your results. I'm in the same boat with a ford factory rebuild with about 30,000 mi on it. No lights come on which all function. I also noticed that it tends to happen in the same basic rpm range of about 2500 which is a basic straight away or small incline.

 

Reporting Back....
Well After Cleaning the MAF, IAC, changing the fuel Filter and replacing the brand new spark plugs with newer spark plugs....

The problem is still there.

Wondering if it might be a injector? Or a Vacuum Line. And suggesting on best way to check?

 

could be a nearly plugged up fuel filter

the engine compooter is probably trying to compensate for low fuel pressure

 

Well this weekend I have been really trying to pin point the problem. Torque converter chatter sounds errr feels more like the issue. Did a bunch of research on that and i believe this is the problem with my truck.
Not Sure on how long ago Transmission has been serviced. Bought from a dealership last month. Truck only has 80,000 miles on it
I pulled the Auto Tranny Fluid Dip Stick and the fluid was clear and redish. Is there a lube that fixes the Chatter or any way to be sure of this? Do i need to bring it to the shop for a transmission job?

 

We'll After 3 weeks of tearing through the engine bay and transmission, replacing every sensor, spark plug, air filter, hoses Fuel Filter, cleaning everything MAF, IAC, throttle body, Transmission service, flush with new additives for TC Shudder and everything i can remember i did to fix this problem guess what......

It was a F****** Vacuum Line. Could not for the life of me believe it. I was getting ready to test the fuel system and pull that all apart when i noticed on the underside of the intake tube there was a big open hole. I looked around from this angle that is almost impossible to see at the found a disconnected vacuum line. WOW! plug it back in and did a test drive. Truck is back to normal! Finally!

Everybody Thank you for helping me to figure out this problem. I was almost at the point of getting rid of it because of the annoyance of this. Well i guess at the end of all this and a upside. I know that engine and transmission like the back of my hand and the truck received one hell of a tune up and engine service!

 

Wow...That's how that **** goes sometimes. lol Glad you fixed it and gave the ranger some love in the process.

 

Well not to re open this "case" but apparently this problem is back... Sort Of.

The light sputtering happens now only at 45 mph right before the overdrive gear kicks in. Meaning if i hold the accelerator lightly at this speed ( in gear 3 i am assuming) the sputter happens but soon as it shifts up to 4 or overdrive the sputter is gone.
Question.
1. This is a automatic Transmission. Is the OD suppose to kick in only after 45mph. Becuase i do a lot of crusing around 40 to 44 due to the streets in our town and i can hear the rpm reving pretty high.

2. I have done pretty much everything to the truck to diagnose this problem except for new injectors, new coil pack, and maybe a couple of sensors like the egr valve.

Am i missing something here?