I had a Ridgeline then traded for an Accord, and now finally have a truck again (172k miles, a couple dents, some mold likely from missing /missing molding ZZP050810--right extended cab window--but no smell really, title is good, and I drove 40 miles home without plates like a champ and only $1500). So, what should I expect?

No history on this or records. All gears are working well. Doesn't seem to be burning oil. The 2.5 L 4cyl 119 hp engine is behaving. I had to downshift to get up hills, but I did get it to 70 mph--it felt more at home following a semi at 65 though.

I am going to look for a slack throttle cable and get a "dry" air filter. I am hopeful that the performance can be improved (though it is mainly going to Home Depot, feed store, and dump, I also want to use it on I-5 as well). I have a 40 mile commute, 25 miles on the freeway I want to take this occasionally and I just wonder if there is an improvement for performance?

Is a cold air intake available/worthwhile? Any tuning products/chips/flashes for the 2.5L 4? I just want to maximize what I have. Anything to do other than an inspection, oil and filter, radiator flush, and transmission/transfer case fluid changes? I have no idea what has or hasn't broken/been replaced.

Sorry for such a vague post. I am excited to be here and hope to do most of the things that this truck needs myself as able since it is not my daily driver. Excited to be here.

 

2000 2.5l SOHC is the last year of the Ford Lima engines in Rangers, used since the first Ranger in 1983.
2.0l, 2.3l, 2.5l are all Lima engines made at Ford's Lima, Ohio engine plant, all used in Rangers over the years.
Very reliable.

Replaced by 2.3l DOHC Duratec engine in 2001.

All fuel injected Rangers came with Cold Air Intake, air is pulled from in front of Rad Support.

Outside of a general tune up, which is pretty much just spark plugs these days, lol, there is not much for bolt on improvements.
Switching to an electric cooling fan for the rad will free up a few ponies and give better MPG as well, so win-win, Ford did this as well, not sure on 2000 through.

2.5l is a higher RPM engine, best torque is at 3,000rpm, so you do need to keep RPMs high to get best power curve.

 

Thanks for the information. I think I am getting the hang of that power curve a bit more after driving it around today. I don't have a manual but I hear some beeping generally when getting up to speed and I suspect it is b/c I am not in the power band--though I thought that was usually when RPMs were too high in other cars and it was time to upshift. It has been a long time since I drove a manual. It was peppy enough today after revving it a bit higher.
Quite happy with my truck. I found some wet insulation behind the passenger jump seat, where the molding is missing around the window and sealed that up.

 

Rangers also have a history of leaking 3rd Brake light on cab, so just a heads up on that when there is moisture in the cab.
So after window is sealed and there is still signs of water getting in that would be the next place to check.

 

Thanks for that warning on the third light..
I think the beeping was some kind of seat belt alarm. After reading a Ranger manual, it seems almost impossible to not set it of if you don't buckle it before starting the truck, which I never do. Maybe I was idling looking at something before driving off. Also, the electrical system connection to the seatbelt sensor/belt minder could be out of wack.
From manual..
Conditions of operation
If...
The driver’s safety belt is not buckled before the ignition switch is turned to the ON position...
Then...
The safety belt warning light illuminates1-2 minutes and the warning chime sounds 4-8 seconds.

Belt minder (if equipped)
The Belt Minder feature is a supplemental warning to the safety belt warning function. This feature provides additional reminders to the driver that the driver’s safety belt is unbuckled by intermittently sounding a chime and illuminating the safety belt warning lamp in the instrument cluster.
If...
The driver’s safety belt is not buckled before the vehicle has reached at least 5 km/h (3 mph) and 1-2 minutes have elapsed since the ignition switch has been turned to ON...
Then...
The Belt Minder feature is activated - the safety belt warning light illuminates and the warning chime sounds for 6 seconds every 30 seconds, repeating for approximately 5 minutes or until safety belt is buckled.