200835 Miles.

When you punch, stopped or rolling on the highway it will hesitate and sputter. Just put a new FPR in it. Fresh fuel. Think my Fuel Filter is clogged up? Anyone got a link to a location or a DIY? I want to get this done before we got up to the Dunes in two weeks. Isnt the filter on a frame rail somewhere?


Thanks a TON!

 

the fuel filter is right next to the frame, on the drivers side

(me and my dad tried to replace it after i bought it, but some high pressure gasoline and stubborn clips convinced us otherwise)

 

yeah, right under the rear of the driver side door, the fuel filter runs along the frame and is not to hard of a DIY project...i had this same problem on my 3.0 after i ran it real low on gas and the filter sucked up some dirt and grime

 

The clips on a '93 are different (and easier to disconnect) than the clips on your '00.

You'll want to pull the fuel pump relay (or trip the inertia switch) when changing a fuel filter in order to release the fuel pressure.

 

my ranger does the exact same thing the fuel filter was clogged solid but still does it, told either needs new plugs and/ or a coil

 

I've seen that type of problem when a MAF went bad. Try disconnecting it and then go for a drive. It'll throw a CEL but it's a free way to rule it out.

Rich

 

thinking of getting a maf anyways...thinking of either porting a stock maf or getting a jet maf if the gains are worth it...from the sounds of it i think its the coil... even if good sounds like the stock coil loses power as rpm increase.. def want the screamin demon coil though

 

I'll try that but I've already got a CEL. They scanner wont hook up either for some reason. I fixed it with some electrical tape so its gone now.

 

I had the same problem. I pretty much went through all the steps recommended on this site, and FINALLY, it's running strong now. What I did in order:
1. Changed fuel filter
2. Changed IAC
3. Cleaned MAF sensor
4. Changed PVC, changed Spark Plugs and Spark Plug Wires
5. Cleaned throttle body and "Seafoamed" it

After I did each one, the symptoms improved, but soon came back. I'm hoping after this last thing, the positive changes will stay. So far on day two after last intervention, and truck running very strong. If this fails, I may look into changing the fuel pump. Hope I don't have to do that.

 

coil pack........?

 

I would agree with the coilpack suggestion, however mine did something similar when the fuel pump was on the way out. I had to do a pressure check to figure it out.

 

I may do that before the fuel pump replacement if what I've done already doesn't stick. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

this happens on my gf's neon every time i fill up w/ arco gas

 

Ok, so, the problem returned (hesitating, sputtering). So I did a search and read about the 97's having a crappy paper gasket between the lower intake manifold and the fuel rail (I have a '98 4.0L OHV) which caused air leaks and made the truck have symptoms similar to this. So, I printed out the "how to" and changed this gasket along with the three gaskets between the upper intake and the fuel rail. While I was in there I also cleaned up the upper intake, the throttle body and the fuel rail. It pretty much took me all day (especially trying to pry the upper intake from that damned EGR tube). Took for a test drive and had no sputtering/ hesitation. I'll post several days from now to see if this comes back. So, I did all of the above in my quote along with the gaskets. I really do hope this sticks. I did not do the coil pack thing because mine looked good. But, if this comes back, I guess the next step would be the coil pack, then the stupid fuel pump.

 

Well the hesitation came back, and with a vengence. I couldn't even drive the truck anymore because it would die on me at stops. So I replaced the DPFE thinking it was an egr problem. Well this didn't work. So I went back to square one and sprayed the crap out of the intake manifold and the the vacuum lines with throttle body cleaner to try and find leaks. NOTHING. Then, while spraying a vacuum line near the egr valve, some of the spray made contact with the egr hoses (that run from the DPFE to the exhaust manifold). When the spray hit it, the engine rev'ed up. I sprayed it again to make sure it wasn't a fluke, and sure enough the engine rev'ed up again. I yanked those hoses off and could not find one crack, hole, slit, whatever. They looked brand new. But I also read about a guy having a pin sized hole in his PCV hose that caused this same problem. I went ahead and bought new ones at the dealer. I installed them and finally, the truck is running well.

Some helpful advice, don't bother trying to find these hoses anywhere else but the dealer. These hoses have to withstand high temperatures, and the autopart store guys were trying to sell me vacuum hoses for windshield wiper applications saying it would work. The two hoses (at least on my 98 ranger 4x4) were even a different size from each other. One was 4mm and the other 5.6mm. Just go to the dealer and pay the twenty bucks for the two hoses.

 

After all this, have you tried using carb/fuel injector cleaner? It could be as simple as that...your injectors could still be clogged despite running cleaner gas through...I have had this problem on mine (the sputter on my 1997)...I changed the fuel filter too, but it turns out I jsut needed to throw a couple of the bottles in for a fix.

*shrug* It's about $5 for 2 bottles....give it a shot!

 

Seafoamed it and cleaned the throttle body already, did this first before all the other complicated stuff. I'm just happy the truck is running well now.

 

So this is the metal EGR pipe that was bad?

Rich

 

No, it was the two hoses that come off of the EGR pressure sensor and connects to the exhaust manifold. They are silicone hoses.

 

I had this problem after my motor was replaced and it turned out to be the sensor right before the vapor canistor, forget what it was called.

 

wheres the dpfe or egr valve located on an 01 4.0 sohc

 

DPFE:

EGR valve:

This is what they look like for the 1998 Ford Ranger 4.0 OHV

 

another view

If you look at the DPFE, you could probably find it on the black and white drawing, attached to the upper intake manifold with two hoses coming out of the bottom of it.

 

Thanks!

Rich