So much talk. IMO you deffinately need to check the codes first, that could save you a lot of time and money. Just checked out the oil pan on my 3.0L, which is a 99', but there is no way you are pulling it out unless you raise the engine like mentioned above.
But check those codes first, its a lot easier to fix something when you know what to fix.........

 

Double reply, my bad.

 

Well I talked to a mechanic today, hes going to bring over his computer, but in the meantime he said that it might be a spark plug issue. He told me to pull spark plug number 3 and see what it looks like....so thats going to be my job until I get his computer over here. Since dropping the pan is so much work, I am definitely NOT going to do that.

I agree. No reason to do all that work for nothing when it could be something so small.

Now can anyone direct me to spark plug 3? I know 3 are on top and 3 are on the bottom but Im not sure exactly where to look....

 

I used to have a F-150 and the spark plug tip was burned off in 4 of my cylinders and the metal dripped on my cylinder walls and melted holes in them and made them loose compression. That made it make the knocking noise your describing

 

hmm something to consider.

Im going to check this weekend. I just need some direction to were my spark plugs are related exactly...

 

since you have something else to drive, take your car down to a local auto parts store and buy yourself preferable a Chilton Manual, but if they dont have them get a Haynes Manual for your ranger....it will have everything in it you need to know about doing work to it all the way down to tearing apart the engine....a Chilton is like $30 and a Haynes is like $15....but the Chilton has more details in it and even full electrical layouts....

 

alright. I will do that.

PS- nice signature! lmao!

 

sad thing is I just nocticed that. lol, but it's true.