Kinda disappointed, I bought a 2.9L 1988 Ranger 2wd Automatic almost a week ago and have only had it on the road for one of those a days. Just looking for any help on my current issue as i am kinda stuck.

When the latest issue started the truck seemed to be capping me around 2k-2.5k rpms making anything north of level ground incredibly difficult. I replaced the map sensor yesterday and the tps sensor/plug today and still no luck. She starts right up since i replaced the Battery, Starter solenoid, and Starter. After the tps install the truck started capping me around 1.5k-2k rpm before I had to pull over. By the time the cars behind me had passed I slowly started giving it gas again and it bogged down and shut off entirely. Just looking for someone who might have had a similar experience and discovered a solution. Next things on my list to do is test the alternator, fuel pressure and exhaust air pressure. The issue seems to come and go which is also strange. Any experienced help would be much appreciated as it will just have to sit in my driveway until i can get it figured out. Thanks!

 

Try getting the OBD 1 codes. theres a few ways to check for them. search internet or look on YouTube for ranger OBD 1 codes.

 

Will it still give me codes if im not throwing an engine light?

 

I believe it will if there are some. also I had an older ranger with OBD1 and I couldn't get codes and it didnt run well. turned out to be the ECU. but start and try to get codes.

 

10-4 i'll give it a shot

 

Used a paper clip as an arch as i don't have any wire handy at the moment at an attempt to get any sort of code and Im coming back with nothing. Not a CE light or an "okay" code.

 

I forgot how that way works? the wire. where do you see the code ? when you turn the key on is there a CEL on the dash? under the hood by the fuse relay box there is a cable with a cover on it its another way to check but you need a test light. you should be able to find info on that on YouTube or a pic somewhere to see what it look like. thats where I tested and discovered I couldn't get any. codes.

 

from what i've found there are 2 plugs you arch together using a wire or paper clip. after you do that turn the key to the on position and the check engine light should blink once or twice to start and then you count each blink to form numbers and then codes. I just can't get my check engine light to come on at all.

 

so when you turn the on. theres no CEL right? this is not testing for codes

 

correct, no CEL. I do believe it's supposed to flash even if you aren't throwing any codes to give you a code that translates to everything being okay

 

I believe you are right. could be a bulb thats why I tried to test on the cable under the hood by the relay box with a test light. if I got codes there then I knew the bulb was bad no codes then someone here said to look at the ECU. have you check your fuel milage? that was the post I made. bad fuel mileage and no codes.

 

What do you mean by check my fuel mileage? And i might try a test light tomorrow, i have one at work. Next step after that if i can't get anything still is to check my fuel pressure and then take it to someone with a computer to tell me what's going on.

 

how long have you had this issue? day week month? if a month have you noticed that fuel milage is bad? It does start and run but just not good? right? whats capping?

 

Had the truck a week. Wouldn't start the morning after i bought it as the starter solenoid had gone bad. replaced battery, starter and starter solenoid and that issue was gone. The current issue started the day i was able to get it to crank. maybe 4 days ago. didn't have the issue at all on the hour and 45min drive from picking the truck up. in the last 4 days all i've done is a bunch of research and replaced the map and tps sensor. haven't noticed anything with fuel mileage as i've only driven it a few times since i finally got it running again.

 

something is restricting my rpm's keeping me from exceeding 2.5k rpm's in most cases. yesterday it seemed to restrict me to just under 2k rpm's. and a few days ago it was 3k rpm's. it's not gradually getting worse but it's very inconsistent, most of the time giving me an issue but occasionally not being a problem at all.

 

ok its running but wont go over 3k rpm. I would to the test light tomorrow see if you can get something. if nothing it sure could be the ECU but the only other thing I could think would be the fuel filter restricting gas. I pulled my ECU and took the cover off and you could see the 2 capacitor ? that were bad they were leaking .

 

i'll try the rest light tomorrow and try to rig something up for a fuel pressure test and hit this thread back

 

for fuel test im not sure what to look for. im surprised no one else has jumped in here to help

 

yeah was hoping for a more exciting outcome but i do appreciate your attention and ideas

 

maybe start a new post. Can't Get Codes OBD1 ?