I've had this 2003 Ranger for about a month and I love it. However, there are a couple of problems the previous owner didn't check out. Let's see if you all can figure this out... When in the first two gears at low RPM, it bucks a little but that may be my crappy shifting after a long days work. But when you get into 3rd through 5th, it feels like it bogs down and has a small hesitation that is irritating as crap. I don't know if it's the manifold on my side and I just hear everything different, or if I'm possibly not getting enough fuel to the engine. Don't know if the fuel filter's ever been changed. Oh, it hesitates when I give it more gas pedal than when I'm just lightly on the pedal. It has new plugs, and wires look new. Sometimes it bogs down more when I give it more gas than a light acceleration. Funny thing is, I get 27 in city and 27 on highway, so I don't exactly have much to complain about... Anyway, any suggestions will be helpful.Thanks

 

It could be the fuel filter, but it could also be that the intake tube is off somewhere or have a small crack or hole in it.... It also could have something in the maf, or i could just be that its a 4cyl... haha j/k check out those couple of things first

 

How many miles? The fuel filter should not affect performance yet on a 2003 unless you have very high miles or it has seen some pretty poor fuel. I would check it for any error codes. a-lot of local parts retailers will do this for free.