1995 Commuter
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From: Birmingham, Al
1995 Commuter
Hello,
Just picked up a 1995 2.3 ranger. Don’t know much about the vehicle, it has new wires and plugs few other misc things. It was a work truck and commuter for an older gentleman. Truck runs and sounds solid, no apparent leaks. But has a few things that I’ll touch on as I learn more about it. I gave $800 for the truck and will be using it to drive back and forth 80 miles a day all highway miles. 258k Miles. Interior looks as you would expect but surprisingly better then I expected given the price. I enjoy learning about my vehicles and always join a forum when I purchase a different one.
My other truck is an 06 Dodge 2500 MegaCab with the 5.9. Big difference!
Welcome to the forum
I love RED Rangers :)
1995 was first year Rangers got the new EEC-V OBD2 computers.
1993-1997 are called 2nd generation Rangers
1998-2012 are 3rd generation
Most parts are interchangeable between 2nd and 3rd gen Rangers, but key word is MOST
You have a 2.3l SOHC Lima engine, also called the Pinto engine since it was first used in 1974 Ford Pinto, it was used until 1997 and then same engine was stroked to 2.5l and used in 1998-2001 Rangers
In mid-2001 Rangers got the 2.3l DOHC Duratec engines, Mazda L engine, no relation at all to the 2.3l Lima
So when doing Google searches, you can get some misinformation when just using "2.3l Ranger"
2.3l Lima has a timing belt, and it needs to be changed every 100k miles or so
If timing belt breaks it will NOT cause any engine damage, but engine would of course stop running, lol
You will have a dual spark plug setup, 2 spark plugs per cylinder, and two coil packs
In 1995 and up Rangers the Computer(PCM) runs the spark and fuel systems, 1994 and earlier PCM only ran fuel system
Each spark plug fires at each TDC(top dead center) for its cylinder, no alternating, its called a Waste Spark system, when spark plugs fire on exhaust stroke as well as compression stroke
You can test spark plugs and coil packs by unplugging the 3 wire connector on one coil pack and then starting the engine
Engine will run at slight lower RPM but should run smooth, no misfires, if its misfiring then a spark plug on that coil may be going bad
Repeat for the other coil pack
Better not to unplug and plug in coil packs with engine running, you can but its hard on the coils.
Dual spark plugs were done for better performance, this system was first used in 1989 Rangers, newer technology now uses swirl technology or 4 valves per cylinder to get better performance
You will have either an M5OD-R1 manual transmission or a 4R44E Automatic
I love RED Rangers :)
1995 was first year Rangers got the new EEC-V OBD2 computers.
1993-1997 are called 2nd generation Rangers
1998-2012 are 3rd generation
Most parts are interchangeable between 2nd and 3rd gen Rangers, but key word is MOST
You have a 2.3l SOHC Lima engine, also called the Pinto engine since it was first used in 1974 Ford Pinto, it was used until 1997 and then same engine was stroked to 2.5l and used in 1998-2001 Rangers
In mid-2001 Rangers got the 2.3l DOHC Duratec engines, Mazda L engine, no relation at all to the 2.3l Lima
So when doing Google searches, you can get some misinformation when just using "2.3l Ranger"
2.3l Lima has a timing belt, and it needs to be changed every 100k miles or so
If timing belt breaks it will NOT cause any engine damage, but engine would of course stop running, lol
You will have a dual spark plug setup, 2 spark plugs per cylinder, and two coil packs
In 1995 and up Rangers the Computer(PCM) runs the spark and fuel systems, 1994 and earlier PCM only ran fuel system
Each spark plug fires at each TDC(top dead center) for its cylinder, no alternating, its called a Waste Spark system, when spark plugs fire on exhaust stroke as well as compression stroke
You can test spark plugs and coil packs by unplugging the 3 wire connector on one coil pack and then starting the engine
Engine will run at slight lower RPM but should run smooth, no misfires, if its misfiring then a spark plug on that coil may be going bad
Repeat for the other coil pack
Better not to unplug and plug in coil packs with engine running, you can but its hard on the coils.
Dual spark plugs were done for better performance, this system was first used in 1989 Rangers, newer technology now uses swirl technology or 4 valves per cylinder to get better performance
You will have either an M5OD-R1 manual transmission or a 4R44E Automatic
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