I just bought 2001 ranger with 3.0 and auto trans. But laty it has bin pinging wen i am going up hils, and when i am driving on flat ground if i pump the gas pedle i can make it ping. I have also put 91 gas in it but it dident really help any. Anether problem i am having is i keep getting a check engine light and i get the same code each time, the code is (PO402 and the little booklet i have says it means- Exhaust Gas Recirculation Flow Excessive) So i am not sure if this has any thing to do with it pinging. I also checked the EGR by sucking on it and it killed the engine so i think that it is working. I also changed the EGR solenoid but that still did not help, the check engine light still came back. Well thanks for the help

JAMES

 

Most 3.0L's have a tendency toward detonation. Low EGR flow can make the pinging worse because the PCM adds more spark advance when EGR is commanded.

The part that is almost always at fault is the DPFE sensor. It sends the PCM a voltage that is supposed to represent the actual EGR flowrate. Based on the trouble code you have, it looks like the DPFE is overreporting the flowrate, so the PCM is backing down the EGR solenoid duty cycle while adding spark and the pinging results. Bad DPFE's are a common problem but the Kavlico's used in 2001~2002 were the worst.

Your original 2001 DPFE should look something like this:



The replacement may look the same or it might be larger.

 

ive had the same code for a while and just havent replaced mine yet but mines the DPFE sensor also....

 

cool i will look under the hood of my truck today and try to find it. thanks

 

WELL i found the DPFE sensor. I called auto zone and they had no idea what i was talking about, so i called car quest and they said they have two difrent kinds so they have to see the truck to tell witch one it is. I am going to bring the truck down there today and order the part. They siad it cost between 40 and 60 dollers. There is no way of testing that sensor is there????

 

Since it is an EGR monitoring sensor, some aftermarket auto parts stores have it incorrectly catalogued as an "EGR Position Sensor". You can probably remove it in the parking lot without tools and take it inside if necessary. It just mounts directly on the rubber hoses and has one electrical connector.

You could also go to a Ford dealer instead and order it by year and engine. I think the DPFE is priced about the same there. Since the original sensors fail regularly, there's even a chance that the dealer may have one in stock.

There's no practical way to test it. I can almost guarantee you that it is bad, though.

 

I just wanted to say thanks to all the guys who helped me out. I replaced The DPFE sensor and it fixed it NO MORE PINGING THANKS GUYS

 

Good work! I'm glad you got it fixed.

 

Good too hear, i got the same code so now i know 100% that its more then likely what mine is...