Well sometimes down low my ranger likes to skip and not run great. The truck shakes a little but it will never stall. I was thinking coils, anyone else have a different suggestion ? Plugs and wires are recent. Truck has 175k on it.

 

How long since a timing belt swap ?

 

my truck was doing the same thing... i replaced the plugs and wires and it stopped idling rough but mine only idled rough after it rained and my truck was cool... it started to do it again about 5 months later and it turned out to be a bad coil pack... i replaced that and the plugs and wires that were attached to it and it hasnt idled rough since.

 

timing belts new. I just did that a couple hundred miles ago. Any brands you suggest for coil packs ?

 

I'd suggest testing the coil packs before throwing money away. Try cleaning your MAF and IAC. Could be as simple as a 4 dollar can of cleaner and a gasket

 

whats an easy way to test them ?

 

take them to autozone. or if you have a book it's explained in detail how to do it yourself with a multimeter.

 

I don't know if it matters but I took the truck through emissions today and it passed with extremely flying colors.

 

that's good, but did you ever resolve your original problems?

 

I cleaned the MAF and IAC. Truck runs alot better. Not perfect but good enough.

 

where can you find the instructions on how to test the coil packs? i recently got a p0351 code-- Ignition Coil #1 Primary Circuit - Peak primary circuit current not achieved with maximum dwell time.

can you point me in the direction of the instructions to test the coil packs. i already have a DMM and i work with DC electronics every day!

and what kind of cleaner to clean the MAF and IAC with? will some tuner/electronic wash do the trick?

 

the parts stores carry QD brand in a spray can. Red can with white on it. Two types, but both will work. One is a MAF sensor cleaner, the other is an electronics cleaner.

 

Have you tried cleaning the throttle body? There are a few coating-friendly cleaners. A few I use are Deep Creep (with small toothbrush, engine not running until TB is clean...and then spray rest in while engine running), 3M TB cleaner (engine running) and also Amsoil intake cleaner (engine running)

 

http://www.autozone.com/shopping/rep...00c1528018eb41 you can try there, my hayes manual has all the test information in it.for the MAF there is a cleaner at most of my local stores it says "MAF cleaner" on the can. For the IAC use throttle body cleaner, making sure it is safe for o2 sensors and cats. most are and will state so clearly on the can.

 

Cleaning the intake components the simplest way to start and its free. Throttle body, IAC, MAF, filter, etc. A bottle of cleaner in the gas tank or a seafoam treatment is a good idea too and will cost all of $5.

If that still doesn't work, start looking at plugs and wires.