Hey Everyone, Newbie here, I re-posted this thread to make sure it was in the right forum, so I apologize if ur reading this twice! Some stray kittens got in the engine of my 2007 Ranger 3.0L two days ago, got ‘em out but I think they chewed on some hoses/etc....Ran great yesterday AM, then coming home, the A/C died, 10’ later the engine would stall at idle (now only idles @200-400rpm, unless I keep the accelerator down. Looked under the hood last night, saw a couple hoses look like they were chewed on, then I saw the Vac Line Reservoir (the black bulb thingy), has two hoses, one is just hanging in the air, anyone know if it should be connected somewhere???? I’d think so, but someone at NAPA told me it maybe intentionally loose like that, but that seems very unlikely. I can’t get it into a shop for a couple days and am really hoping y’all could tell me if this is the problem. I’ll post some pics below. However the truck had been doing something odd recently: when going up a hill or accelerating, the A/C would shift to the defrost vents only. When decelerating or going down a hill it would open back up. From what I’ve read, that’s usually a vacuum leak. Regardless I’m sure those kittens did some damage, and I gotta figure this out ASAP, it’s my only ride to work. I’d really appreciate any help or advise here, thx so much!!

Top and Mid Pics: This Vac hose was lose, coming from the Vac Reservoir, supposed to be that way??? Bottom Pic: A set of wires looked chew’d up, any idea what they are and if they would cause the problems I’m having????

 

Welcome to the forum

The Black Plastic Ball in the first pic is called the Vacuum reservoir
One of its lines runs to and Thru the firewall and supplies vacuum for the Vents in the cab, i.e. defrost, panel, floor, no vacuum = defrost vent

The other line runs to a Vacuum Source, like the intake manifold, it can be on a "T" vacuum line, or go directly to the intake manifold


Last picture looks like an O2 sensors wiring harness, looks melted but could be chewed, you WILL get a CEL(check engine light) with an O2 sensor code if the wires have been shorted or broken
A new O2 comes with that harness so can be replaced with O2

 

Thx so much for replying, I really appreciate it. Do u have/know of a pic showing where the one vac line connects to the firewall? Is it accessible under the hood or thru the back of the glove box? So, between that hose being unconnected and the O2 sensor bitten into, that would cause the A/C to go to defrost on acceleration/up a hill>then A/C dies>then rough idle b/c of the O2 sensor/poor vacuum pressure? I’m hoping this is the answer to the whole problem, it was running fine before this happened. BTW, would the decreased vacuum pressure/O2 sensor cause the A/C compressor to cut off automatically as a safety feature to prevent it from freezing up? Thx so much for ur help, and any other info greatly appreciated!

 

There are two vacuum lines that go thru firewall at the same place
A Black one is from the vacuum reservoir
A Grey one goes to the heater hose by pass valve in engine bay, it has the 4 heater hoses attached, and a vacuum valve

These can look like wires, small hard plastic vacuum lines
They should go into firewall under Fan/blower housing or next to it between box and inner fender
Yes to can see the dual vacuum line splice from inside the cab, look up under glove box close to edge of the firewall

This is a picture of the Inertia switch on the passenger side inside the cab on the firewall: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pr...DmGD0ugdxKd0Dg

Just above it is the 2 vacuum lines coming in from the engine bay
This may not match 2007 lay out exactly but location of vacuum lines should

 

Thx so much I’ll see if I can get it hooked up later after work, will also get a replacement O2 sensor. Btw is it easy to detach the O2 sensor and replace it? Just unplugs or twists lose? Thx a million, I appreciate it so much!

 

You have to follow the O2 sensors wires up to the Truck wiring harness connector, and unplug it there
Then unscrew the O2 sensor from exhaust pipe and screw the new one in, then plug harness's back together