Hey everyone! I recently bought a 97 ford ranger xlt with a 4.0. Im not sure which 4.0 it has and this is my first ford truck. Before i bought it i drove it quite a bit to make sure everything was okay with it and it seemed fine. The truck had 98,000 miles on it and is nearly new inside and outside (bed had been hardly used). That was roughly two months ago. About a week or two after driving it it started with a hesitation on take off and accelleration. I changed the plugs and wires, didnt seem to get better. I decided maybe its the fuel filter, and what a pita that was to change! Didnt fix the problem. Soon the idle speed actuator started howling, I assumed that had to be the problem since i never heard anything like it lol Changed it and its still hesitating. To make things worse now their is a clunk in the drivetrain! I guess i'll drop the driveshaft (split shaft) and replace all the u-joints and carrier bearing in one to and be done with it (hopefully). A mechanic told me i have the 8.8 rear end and that its the rear end that is bad, i certainly hope not. Two weeks ago the battery went bad, it was old no big deal. Threw a new optima battery in its place. Two days ago the alternator went out so i replaced that. I traded in a 93 chevy s-10 with 200,000 miles on it that needed less work in the year i had it then this truck in two months lol On occassion the truck has stalled (did it today) on take off then it seems to turn over really slow and start back up. Ground strap seemed intact upon inspection, Had the new alternator and battery tested last night and both tested good. Not sure whats going on but im getting annoyed! Any help i would definitely appreciate. I think the next step is to run seafoam through the motor and some electrical cleaner on the maf sensor.

 

No ideas on the hesitation? At least help me identify which 4.0 is in my 97

 

Since it is a '97 4.0, you have a 4.0 OHV (it will say that on the top of the upper intake; the black plastic piece the intake tube goes into).

You should take the ignition coil pack and have it tested. My old '97 had a hesitation in it and it was the new plugs I had just put in. Also check your plugs, even with new plugs they can be bad.

What brand of plugs did you put in it?

 

I'd look for a vacuum leak and check the coil pac.

Some on here have reported problems when using the bosch +2 plugs. Not so sure I buy that one.. but several have seen & reported problems.

Rich

 

The plugs were autolites I believe, i cant really remember now. Idle got smoother after the plug change but didnt fix the hesitation. I've already checked all the vacuum lines, only had to replace one. I will check into the coil pack, cant i test it myself? I've got a hyundai accent i've built for track and can test the coil pack myself on that car. I need this truck to pull that car around

 

Funny, I have a 97 4.0 as well that had hesitation problems a few months ago. I did a full tune up on it and with each part replaced it got better. Check your air filter as well. Also try the seafoam treatment and run a bottle of full injector cleaner through your tank next time you fill up. One other thing to check is the throttle body and that little vacuum hose that runs up underneath, those tend to wear out faster than the rest. Clean the throttle plate as well, they get carbon build up pretty easily. Does the truck have a rough idle or is just hesitant when trying to take off?

 

Actually it was the vacuum line under the throttle body i had to replace. It seems to idle perfect, although it always idles @800 even with the air on (not sure if thats normal my accent was 800 and 1000 w/ the air on). The throttle plate looks clean, I had a look at it. I have one other problem thats rearing its ugly head now, it very well maybe related. When i get gas i fill up and when it clicks off gas starts pouring out from the bottom of the truck!!!! I lose like 1/4 to 1/2 a gallon or something! I have no cel light but maybe the purge box is bad or the valve for it ? The whole time im getting gas it keeps clicking off its hard to get it take the gas unless i squeeze it slowly. I might need to pay off what little i financed and trade this thing in, its getting on my nerves. If only it didnt look so nice

 

You've run into a very common problem with Rangers. The fuel filler neck has a crack in it, usually right above where it attaches to the gas tank. I had that same problem and had to replace it as well. Some people have done cheap repairs with radiator hosing but I don't entirely trust that stuff for running fuel through. Some people have said JB Weld to patch the hole works temporarily. I only found one company that sells replacement filler necks though. http://www.1aauto.com/1A/FuelTankFillerNeck/Ford/Ranger

Just take note that it is for the regular 6 foot bed and not the flareside/styleside bed.

 

The flare/style side are the ones that step in with a step type thing right? Mine looks like any other bed. Wouldnt that cause the hesitation then since the fuel pressure system wouldnt be working properly and i doubt it would purge correctly....

 

Right. They're also known as stepsides. Hence the step in the side of the bed. If yours looks normal ie. no step, then that neck will work. And ya it's possible that you're hesitation is coming from the cracked neck but mine never had any hesitation problems with the cracked neck. Depends how big the crack is I guess.

 

Thanks everyone i really appreciate it. Guess I'll go buy the book to understand exactly how this fuel system works so i know if it could be causing the problem. I'll also have to crawl under it and look and see where its busted.