Hello All, new to the forum.

I'm hoping to get a bit of advice from folks with considerable experience with the 2001 Ranger 3.0 V6. Mine has now got 172,000 miles on it and is beginning to show her age: Lots a little things are beginning to go wrong. And, while this truck has been quite reliable-- all in all-- over the last decade, I have recently experienced a number of things (mostly coolant system related) that have left me stranded roadside.

This is my work vehicle. And if I can't get to the job, I can't bill the hours. So, I'm feeling the need to be a bit more proactive in in the maintenance department.

So the question is what is likely to go bad next on this particular truck-- especially that type of malfunction that's going to leave me waiting for the tow truck.

In the last 6 months I have replaced the alternator, the battery, a number of coolant hoses, the water pump, and the radiator.

What next ....?

(If this there is a good thread on this subject, that I have missed in my forum search, please point me that way.... sorry if I pose a question that has been answered many times!)

--B

 

It's nearly a 200k vehicle. It's a work truck. It likely does't get babied. I think perhaps it may be time to look into something newer with lower miles and thus more reliable.


But to stay along the lines of your question, cam synchro is a COMMON problem with the 3.0 and could potentially lead to a massive engine failure. So get that taken care of whether it needs it or not. If you've not needed to replace/rebuild the transmission, that may be the last straw on the truck. So keep that in mind. Axles are pretty long lasting. The 3.0 is near a bulletproof motor if cared for properly. Those are all areas to get ya started in what may be next.

Hopefully my post helped you.

 

Thanks Shane, good avice ... I'll put the a cam synchro on the "do soon" list.

Even better advice, perhaps. (More than one person has told me this lately.) It is a little hard for me to get my head around spending more for a 5 year old truck with 90 K miles on it than I paid for the ranger new in 2001 ;-)