First off let me say thanks to all the people that contribute to this forum after reading this form for the past several weeks I have found a lot of useful information here is a little about my story I purchased a 2000 Ford Ranger XLT with the 3.0 fuel flex system since purchasing this vehicle sight unseen on a government auction my bad upon getting this vehicle home I have put in a new battery new spark plugs new plug wires changed oil took truck for a test drive the engine idles around 1000 rpm and while driving the engine light came on and the ABS light I also cannot get the truck to shift into 4 wheel drive and I cannot get the truck into overdrive I have since purchased a code reader I get the ABS code and Po176 I have sense tore out the driver's seat and check the plug underneath the truck cleaned all contacts and reassembled I have also purchased a flex fuel sensor and still the p.o 176 code keeps coming up and also the ABS code I have checked almost all electrical connections would it be possible that the PCM is bad or is there a way to check it

 

Check here for testing P0176: 2000 Ford Ranger: a code P0176 and it runs rough.I..Fuel Sensor

Do the brake lights work?
If not fuse is blown and ABS light will be on.

Also is speedometer working?
2000 should have the rear axle speed sensor that connects to ABS module, ABS module then passes that signal to the speedometer, PCM, and cruise module

ABS module is not part of the PCM so bad computer wouldn't explain both issues.

 

Thank you for responding, Yes break lights work and the speedometer works also

 

I just checked the three wires going to the FF sensor. The black wire has ground and the other two wires both have 12 volts.

 

FF sensor wires
Black = Ground
Light Blue/Orange = 12volt from Fuse 13, 15amp
Dark green/light green = pin34 on PCM, signal wire to computer

If you have a scanner, then with engine running you should be able to select FF sensor and with regular gas FF sensor should be showing 40-60Hz.

Engine should idle at 1,000-1,200rpms when cold
It should drop down to 800 with automatic, 700 with manual when warmed up.
After it is warmed up and idle is still high, unplug IAC(idle air control) valve, idle should drop to 500 or engine may even stall, either is good it means no vacuum leak, but also means computer is running idle high for some reason.

If idle stays high then you have a vacuum leak.


What isn't working on the 4x4 part.
No dash lights
no sound from transfer case shift motor
No front wheel engagement

2000 was the last year of the PVH(pulse vacuum hub) 4WD system, but not all 2000's had this, Ford was phasing it out, for good reason.