I have a 2000 Ranger 4X4 3.0 Flex Fuel. It seems fine on secondary streets (under 45 mph) but when on highway it has sluggish acceleration. It is a 5sd, 1st,2nd, and 3rd seems fine but when I shift into 4th is when it does not want to accelerate. It takes some time to reach 60 mph unless really winding it up in 3rd. 5th gears is sluggish as well. Any hill brings speed down quite easy and there are several hills around home. I have tried plugs, plug wires, air filter and plan on replacing fuel filter this weekend. I hope that solves the problem but if not what would you suggest my next step to be? Thanks in advance for the help.

 

its normal lol

 

Two great big factors that you did not mention:

What size are your tires? (Stock was 245-75-16, I run 235-75-15)

What is your axle(s) gear ratio? You can find that on the door jamb sticker.

97 = 4.10 open
F7 = 4.10 limited slip < most desirable

96 = 3.73 open
F6 = 3.73 limited slip


Here's a good guideline: Gear Ratio Guide For Larger Tires


In my case, I recognized that the tall OEM tires were heavy and taller than I needed. I made the tire size smaller and it runs great with usable power in every gear and plenty of pep in the mountains, although i still have to downshift to 4th for most grades or I drop speed. It's not unusual to hit 70 in third gear climbing mountains, but 4th is usually enough most of the time. I don't even bother with 5th gear around town, unless I'm over 55-60 mph.

My guess is that you have 3.73 gears. The cheapest cure will be shorter tires. 29" works great with my 4.10 gears. If you have 3.73 gears, you might go to a 28" tire, like a 235-65-16. There is a good selection in that size.

The downside is that your speedometer will be off.

To give you some perspective, if I am driving around in hilly terrain (SW Pa mountains where my mother lives), I don't typically get into 4th gear unless I'm over 40mph. I keep the tachometer around 3000 if I am climbing any type of hill, switching to the gear that keeps my rpms in that area. Any lower and it won't accelerate well uphill, just the nature of a rev-loving small V-6 pulling a relatively heavy 4wd truck.

 

I have 235-65-15 tires and it has 3:73 limited slip gears. I normaly shift into 4th about 40 mph as well but it may take another 1/2 mile or better to get to 60mph. My Dad has a B3000 just like my Ranger and it does not fall flat Like the Ranger. One other thing I have noticed different from his to mine is that mine idles just above 1000rpm's and his is just under 1000rpm's. Maybe it is fine and the problem is with me but this is the second one I have had and I don't remembeer the other one acting this way. Thanks for all the information. Good to have a place like this.