Drivetrain Tech General discussion of drivetrain for the Ford Ranger.

jerking / lunging at constant speeds or slight acceleration/decelaration

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Old Jan 21, 2011
  #26  
powerranger262's Avatar
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From: Hartford, WI
Originally Posted by ponyolson
ford makes a kit that is like a band aid. it is in the slip joint in the drive shaft going to the rear diff. i had the same problem and i put the kit in. now it doesnt do it anymore.
Let's hear more about this, neve heard of anything like it.
 
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Old Jan 22, 2011
  #27  
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From: Murfreesboro, TN
LOST THE TRANSMISSION THIS MORNING ON THE WAY TO WORK, SINRONISORS ARE GONE... was doing 80mph on interstate, started decelerating... wouldn't come out of 5th gear. Finally got her out, coasted to an exit, got stopped and turned truck off. Got her into first, started and drover about .5 miles for her to start grinding. Shut it down again. Then said F*** it and DROVE TO NEAREST PARKING LOT.

Boyfriend drove it back to our place. PARKED UNTIL I FIND A TRANS. Nearest ones that are used are looking like $600 or more with low miles.

REALLY STARTING TO DISLIKE MY FORD....

EVERYONE CHECK YOUR TRANSMISSIONS IF YOU HAVE A MANUAL......
 
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Old Jan 22, 2011
  #28  
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MAKE SURE IF YOUR HAVING PROBLEMS GETTING INTO 1ST and 3RD and you just changed your trans fluid, check the level and what fluid you used. Only suppost to use Mercon regular, not anything else. If you did use Mercon 5, don't go back to reg mercon. Mine fried bc of trans fluid i think.
 
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Old Jan 22, 2011
  #29  
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From: Hartford, WI
Just found this on the other forum. Clean up this ground really good(located on the rad. support in front of the battery). Didn't do it myself yet, but it's another easy thing to try.

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Old Jan 22, 2011
  #30  
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The slip dif in the rear drive shaft did mess up in mine a while back. The cap that keeps the grease from going further into the driveshaft broke off. I regreased at 100,000 miles. Maybe once i pull everything this Thursday and Friday i will take a look at the driveshaft also.
 
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Old Jan 22, 2011
  #31  
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My 05 with automatic does this as well. It's not a good feeling. Drove 2 hundred miles today with cruise on most of the time and dont recall it happening at all,P.S. was about 2 degrees to 17 degrees today. Will look at the rear drive shaft (interesting Ford does not recognize this and fix correctly)
 
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Old Jan 25, 2011
  #32  
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Went back online to nhtsa.gov to purchase the tab information on the pcm problem and miss buck jerk while driving... they wanted $45 per hour to research then .10 cents per copy and they had to mail to you! What a rip off! Going to see a friend of mine and get the breakdown on it... will update once I get info.

Will be starting new thread about transmission will post link on here once I get it started
 
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Old Jan 25, 2011
  #33  
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Went back online to nhtsa.gov to purchase the tab information on the pcm problem and miss buck jerk while driving... they wanted $45 per hour to research then .10 cents per copy and they had to mail to you! What a rip off! Going to see a friend of mine and get the breakdown on it... will update once I get info.

Will be starting new thread about transmission will post link on here once I get it started
 
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Old Jun 9, 2011
  #34  
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Anyone been able to figure anything out with this? I've got a 2004 FX4 II w/ auto 4.10 gears that does this as well. Seems to only happen when its in 4th gear around 2000rpm (~40mph). Cruise on or off doesn't matter.
 
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Old Jun 11, 2011
  #35  
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I'm about to figure it out this week when it gets traded in. Mine did get better when I switched my plugs back to motorcraft from the autolites. Now I want to redo the plug wires also.
 
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Old Jun 12, 2011
  #36  
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You guys are starting to scare me. I have an 02 FX4, 5-speed, 88K and HAVE NOT had this problem, YET.

I hope and pray that I never do but if it ever arises I hope there is a fix for it.
 
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Old Jun 12, 2011
  #37  
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Originally Posted by Decaff2007
You guys are starting to scare me. I have an 02 FX4, 5-speed, 88K and HAVE NOT had this problem, YET.

I hope and pray that I never do but if it ever arises I hope there is a fix for it.
As far as I can tell it's more annoying than scary. Mine's not bad at all, just a little hiccup once and a while around 2000RPM in 4th gear (around 40mph). I'll go weeks without noticing it.

Maybe I'll give the ignition stuff a try. That sounds like the most likely cause. New coil, wires, and plugs....
 
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Old Jun 12, 2011
  #38  
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Wirelessly posted

I just had ranger come into work with this issue. I did the pcm update and re synced the ckp and the cam. Fixed this one
 
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Old Jun 12, 2011
  #39  
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And for the brakes locking up apply some silicone rtv behind the backing plate. Behind the wheel cyl. Adjuster hole and Nd place u think moister will get in.
 
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Old Jun 15, 2011
  #40  
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I have a late '99 with the EXACT SAME PROBLEM ... interested in finding out what the issue is ... this thread has been "cold" since January ... anyone find anything?
 
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Old Jan 3, 2014
  #41  
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From: Setauket ny
Truck bucks when it snows

Hey I have been trying to figure this thing out for a while I've replaced the plugs and wires cause it was also doing it when it would rain and that has since stopped but now it does it only when it snows anyone have any exp. with this
 
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Old Jan 3, 2014
  #42  
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I am currently experiencing something very similar. No idea what it is
 
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Old Feb 16, 2016
  #43  
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From: Raymond,Ms
Jerking/bucking

I have a 1994 Ford ranger that I bought two weeks ago . The intake gaskets had a leak where the oil pan had gas in it . I fixed that problem . Now I got a problem with it jerking and bucking it's unbearable . So I have replaced the plugs and wires, coil pack, fuel pump,fuel filter,crankshaft position sensor. But I still have a problem. When you let it sit for a few hrs it runs fine and after awhile it starts jerking and bucking as it isn't getting g fuel or spark IDK what it is . It's a five speed with a 4.0L what else could it be
 
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Old Jul 14, 2016
  #44  
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From: Texas
I have a 98 4.0 Ranger with this exact same problem. Bucking at highway speeds. Everything is fine in the lower gears and she purrs like a kitten except for this. I am not a mechanic, but did try swapping the air filter with a motorcraft with no luck. i dont have the cash or time to try all these smaller potential fixes that appear to have mixed results on multiple forums... I have found that Ford Service Bulletin #05-22-12 calls for replacement of the Camshaft Synchronizer Assembly for this exact problem. http://repairpal.com/engine-buckmisf...ay-speeds-934# I will be taking this into my mechanic for diagnosis and pointing him to what ive found about the synchronizer assembly. It looks like the engine must be taken apart for this fix and that is way beyond me.
 

Last edited by Starstruck Wanderer; Jul 14, 2016 at 10:45 AM.
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Old Mar 7, 2017
  #45  
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From: Calumet, Michigan
jerking / lunging at constant speeds or slight acceleration/decelaration

I had the same problem. It would start to buck at 40mph when there were snowflakes in the air and would be fine in normal conditions.
After replacing the plugs,wires, and trany filter stilll no luck.
So instead of listening to the mechanics who I asked could it be an air problem i threw the last hail mary.....I changed the air filter...problem solved. It didn't look very dirty,but I guess when you add snowflakes in the mix it was just enough to give the hesitaton...spent 800 bucks just to find out it was a $5 air filter
 
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Old Aug 6, 2020
  #46  
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From: Tupelo Ms
Jumping

Originally Posted by mad87
I know I don't post much but this is Very Very stressful and frustrating. First of all let me tell you what I have. I have a 2002 ford ranger edge, 4.0 5 speed manual transmission.I had a new clutch kit and slave cylinder put in at 115k miles. Replaced the plugs with motorcraft coppers at 94k miles and put motorcraft platinums in at 125k miles. No oversized tires nothing special done to the truck to mess with the drive train.

About 6 months ago my truck started to have a slight jerk / lunge at random times. I have since replaced the coil pack thinking it might have been that. It almost feels like a dead miss in the ENTIRE motor, for a mili-second, then everything is fine. The more I drive the worse it gets. Some days it hardly ever happens. It more often happens when it is very cold outside, wether it is warmed up or still cold. It lunges/jerks while driving at a constant speed or slightly accelarating or decelerating. It has gotten so bad that it will about slam me into the steering wheel.

There's another problem. About the same time I had my #17 fuse blow, no cig lighter and no obd2 scanner along with no check engine light. I replaced the fuse, to have it blow again about 2 months later. 6 weeks ago it blew again. I have been working extremely crazy schedules and haven't had time to put a fuse in. 2 weeks ago I tried to put a fuse in to have it blow up my hand. I know I have a short in the dash somewhere... But could that short be causing the miss?

I researched technical service bullitens and found one that talked about jerking/lunging but of course as others have run into this same problem of having to pay to read the complete TSB.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. It has begun to worry me to the point I am afraid to drive it. I am really saddened at all the tsbs on the ranger I found online.

Thanks a bunch!!!
I had the same problem.. My ranger would jerk in the morning but rarely later on
.I live in the southeast...Very humid... During the night it would build up condensation on coil packs and wires..I sprayed silicon spray on coils and wires. Solved problem...
 
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Old Feb 26, 2025
  #47  
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From: KS
I've searched several hrs the past several days, it's all based on how u word it

I have been having this same problem only as I read these answers I kept thinking how has this not been a recall or how has ford not caught on yet. However all the same problems and did all the same fixes as every one else only my jerking or lunging has not only gotten worse, but it's gotten violent, as one guy said almost throwing u into the steering wheel... my dog rides with me all the time and she even got thrown into the dash... that's f***** up... I've got a 96 Ford ranger with a 94 2.3l 5 speed in it, just a work truck and after I changed the fuel pump not even 2 months ago it got alot better for all of about a week or two, then got bad again?? Now it's not just in 4th or 5th gear but it's doing it in every gear and won't get up past 55 mph and sometimes not even that fast... I've noticed on a dirt road I travel alot that it never seems to do it on that dirt road and I'm honestly surprised considering I'm a southern redneck that likes to have fun on them back roads, I can easily get it up to 60-70 mph on dirt roads with out a single hiccup.. but hit the paved roads again and it's right back to it every time??? One guy said he was starting another thread for the transmissions and was wondering if u posted that link u talked about or if any one found the answer?? I'm not.gonna lie I'm not much of a Ford person but I've had two Ford Rangers and now and the first one I literally tried to blow the motor while having fun in the back field, and to my surprise after having all the wiring ripped out from under it and had it teetering on a ledge, I couldn't blow it, that's when I first started liking these little trucks, but now I'm second guessing it. Yall figure anything out yet? I'd greatly appreciate it.
 
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Old Nov 8, 2025
  #48  
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8 second ride....

Who needs the PBR when you've got my '98 5 speed?
Cruise control paddle had broken away from steering wheel so ordered replacement set off Amazon. Followed forum member's diligent tutorial and got the paddles replaced. Had to pull positive battery wire to disengage airbag, but otherwise, did nothing under the hood.
Fired it up to test drive around the 'hood and noticed acceleration was boggy and shifting was off somehow, not as clean as I'm accustomed to, hmmm. Got out on the road and holy buckaroo was I in for it! Lurching happens in 2nd around 1800-2k rpm primarily, and if I set cruise control, nowhere near as smooth as the old paddles. Will also shudder in other gears, and sometimes when accelerating I'll lose power and it feels like I'm bogging down. All warmer weather I might add.
Caveat: bought it used and got first oil change recently. CE light has been on since purchase...tech offered to check my codes, says it's the Mass Air Flow sensor. Prior owner put a conical wet filter in, so he suggested replacing with a dry filter and spraying MAF sensor with cleaner. That's my first step to alleviate this weekend, and will update if that eliminates the problem. (I promise I won't leave all y'all future forum searchers hangin'!)
 
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Old Nov 16, 2025
  #49  
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Update:

After learning that I had a reusable, serviceable wet filter, I went to Advanced Auto Parts to buy the K&N cleaning and oil kit I'd seen guys use on YT. The counter tech knew his stuff, and after taking a look at my aftermarket under hood setup, suggested that I do a very thorough cleaning of the entire air intake apparatus before reinstalling the cleaned wet filter. Told him I already had MAF sensor cleaner, so figured I was ready to go. Fast math told me that a new conical wet filter would run me about 45 bucks versus the cleaning kit at 22. Bought the new filter instead.
​​​​Today I pulled the wet filter, aluminum intake tube, and 90° rubber hose from the primary intake/manifold. The MAF sensor inserted through a gasket in the intake tube, easy to remove. With everything dismantled, I used Degreaser to clean all interior surfaces (which were filthy!). Followed instructions on the can and sprayed the cleaner onto the sensor, which resulted in a shiny looking object versus the crud covered conundrum that I pulled out moments earlier. Reassembled everything, tightened all my hose clamps, topped off my fluids and took it for a test drive. No more check engine light, no more chugging or jerking, I feel like a million bucks lol! Plan to fuel up tomorrow to see if this effort results in better fuel economy. At a minimum, I have my sanity back with a smooth running and shifting ride. Cleaning or replacing the MAF sensor gets my vote for those experiencing rough idle/shift/power!
Many thanks to prior forum members for sharing their knowledge and experience(s) in troubleshooting!
 
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