Hello!
I just purchased a used 2009 Ranger from a used car shop.
Automatic transmission, 4x4 with about 116,000 miles on it.
As far as I can tell, everything is stock with this truck.

I'm loving driving this truck, but I take the freeway to work. It is 15 miles of elevation gain with a few medium-sloped hills. I know Rangers are not meant for speed, but I assumed cruising at 70mph wouldn't be an issue, but I can't seem to shift gears to allow the truck past 70mph. My engine begins making a different noise and I feel an odd vibration as I accelerate between 65mph and 70mph, and when it holds at 70. As this happens, the RPM holds at 3000rpm. When I let the rpm go back to about 2500, the speed levels out at 65mph.

I've read a lot about the rangers not being meant for speed, and that some people max out at similar speeds, but something just seems off when I reach those speeds. I'm not looking for speed, I'm just concerned that there might be something wrong with the engine somewhere, since many posts on the speed related threads mention their rangers reaching 97-110mph, which seems more appropriate.

I haven't tried driving with Overdrive turned off. I know that most posts about Overdrive say to only turn it off when towing, but it also sounds like turning it off might be good for my driving circumstances. Is this worth trying? Are there any risks besides fuel efficiency if driving highway speeds with OD turned off?

I'm looking for input, advice, suggestions, or general knowledge to help me understand if I'm discovering an issue, and where to begin diagnosing the issue. I plan on taking it to a ford shop to have them do a full assessment, I just want to go in with the most information I can.

 

Welcome to the forum

ALL Engine computers have REV limiters of around 3,000rpms
This limiter is used if speedometer is under 5MPH or on an automatic if transmission is in Park or Neutral

I assume speedometer works since you can see you are at 65MPH
That leaves the Transmission Range sensor, DTR sensor, its on the drivers side of trans on the shift arm, black plastic sensor with many wires
You need an OBD2 reader to see what the computer "sees", you can see if computer knows its in D and not N

You can also try shifting into 3 or 2 and seeing if RPMs can exceed 3,000, if so but you can't exceed 3,000rpms in D then could be REV limiter

Ford trucks with column shifters were known for getting loose shifters, Google: Ford Ranger loose shifter
Lots of info on that and what to check
If the shift cable is not moving shifter on trans all the way to D, as far as DTR sensor is concerned, then its still in N, so REV limiter is engaged

OD on/off would have no effect on REV limiter


Other "speed/RPM" limiters are dirty fuel filter, and clogged exhaust, these should BOTH cause CEL(check engine light) to come on by setting different Codes

 

Hi and thanks for the reply!

I tested shifting into 2 on my drive to work today. The RPM jumped to 4000 and stayed there. So it did go above 3000rpm, but not in the way I had hoped.

Soonest appointment at Ford is 2/11 so I've got some time to keep diagnosing on my end. I'll be sure to ask about the DTR sensor. In the mean time, I watched a video about the loose shifter and that may be the issue - that will be the next thing I look at when I get home tonight.

No check-engine light, so I doubt its a dirty fuel filter or clogged exhaust. But Ford will do a full inspection, and buying used who knows what they'll find!

Thanks again for the suggestions and insight.

 

So not a fuel or exhaust blockage, if you can get to 4,000rpms in 2

That pretty much means computer "thinks" transmission is in Neutral when shifter is in Drive
Next drive shift trans into 1 first, and then it back to D and see how it goes