I have a 2004 ranger edge with 4.0 and automatic tranny. It's just started missing and bucking badly when driving at speeds of at least 40 mph when going to passing gear. I'm planning on running some seafoam injector cleaner and changing the fuel filter. Just bought the truck lately with 114,000 miles on it. Thought I would change tranny fluid and filter as well. Any ideas as to what could be causing this? And if I'm doing a fluid change on the tranny, are there any parts or sensors that shoulc be changed while the pan is off?

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

i've been reading a lot about this bucking issue lately.

try cleaning out the mass air flow sensor by the air filter on the intake tube. Do a search on MAF sensor and you'll see what i mean. that may help the issue.

 

Thanks. I'll give it a try and let you know what happens.

 

Coil Pack

Wayne

 

Ok. I'll look into this. By the way, why am I not getting any checking engine lights? Should I run the codes anyway?

 

I have seen it a million times where a coil pack is bad and no CEL!

Wayne

 

My thoughts in order of probabilty: fuel filter, plug wires, maf sensor, plugs, coil. At 114,000 I'd do the fuel and air filter, plug wires and plugs for sure. I like Techron as a injection cleaner and it won't hurt to do it. Get the big bottle. Maf cleaner spray is cheap and easy to do. You need double platinum plugs or better with the 4.0. If you do a trans flush you should still drop the pan and clean it and replace the filter also. I'm using Valvoline Maxlife trans fluid and it's a full syn. fluid at a good price. Pan drop will need 4 qts to refill. The coil could be an issue and I'd buy either the Acel or Summit racing one as their the same animial.

 

Thanks, Any advice on changing plugs. Looks like the 2 on the passenger side rear of the motor are going to be real tight.

 

Any way to test a coil pack to see if it's bad?

 

You can do the driver's side from the top but you'll have to pull out the plastic inner wheel well on the pass. side to get to the back plugs. I pull the wheel liners out of both side for ease. Change your wires at the same time. I'm using JBA Powercable wires (JBA-W0675) from Summit Racing and they do very well. For plugs try the Autolite XP5144. Not cheap but worth it. They will last for at least 80,000++ miles.

 

Just to correct what I said previous, Jegs has the Accel coil and a Jegs clone coil and NOT Summit Racing. Sorry for the mis-info.

 

Thanks everyone for all the info. Going to get to work on changing some of this stuff when I get the funds. Shame that with the cost of living you have to save money to do a tune up!!!...I'll post it on here when I get my truck fixed.

 

Ok. Changed the plugs and wires and it fixed the problem. Runs like a charm and can actually tell the difference in the gas mileage. Had a hard time getting to the plugs on the passenger side, even after taking the rubber flap off the fender well. Thanks for the advice.