Hi all

Paying $2500 for a new to me 2002 Ranger XT 4x2 with the Duratec 2.3L and 5 speed manual on Monday morning. Checked it out today, figure it’s a good deal. Nothing obviously wrong with it except for a cracked windshield.

Not too sure what I’m getting myself into. I’ve always driven small, sporty Japanese cars. Just sold my last car so I could buy my wife a 2019 Honda CRV since she’s due in a couple of weeks with a baby girl and I wanted to put them in something safe. I also took up woodworking a few months ago and decided it was a good time to get a cheap truck to move big sheets of plywood and long lumber.

Hopefully it stays cheap! The Mazda made Duratec 2.3l and Mazda made transmission seem to be known as pretty reliable, so I’m hoping to get 60,000 miles out of this truck while we pay off the new CRV.

Whats everyones experience here with this engine/tranny? What am I in for?

I’ll be fixing anything that goes wrong with it, like I have before with all my cars, so I’m sure I’ll be back with questions! Always good to get to know a new car community.

 

Welcome to the forum

Yes the Rangers tend to be reliable vehicles, should have no problems

These are just "heads ups"
The 2002 Ranger was first full year for the 2.3l DOHC Duratec engine in any RWD vehicle, mid-2001 is when Ford started using them in Rangers replacing the 2.3l/2.5l Lima engines used since 1983(first Ranger year)
So if you Google: 2.3l Ranger there will be some conflicting info, as there were 2 different 2.3l engines used, 1983 to 1997 2.3l SOHC Lima engine, and 2001.5-2011 Mazda 2.3l DOHC, duratec engine

The Ranger used the 2.3l with IMRC(intake manifold runner control) and a heated thermostat from 2001 to 2003, these were bad ideas, and did cause issues, so heads up on those
Vacuum hoses cracked on IMRC
Heated thermostat is expensive to replace

Read here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_...VE,L3-NS,L3-DE)

Since the 2.3l engine was designed for FWD cars the cooling system has a hose in the back of the head which is easy to access when engine is mounted sideways, but in a Ranger is very hard to access, so if transmission is every out, say to replace the clutch, change that coolant fitting and hose as preventative maintenance.

PCV valve is also hard to access and should be changed ever 2 years, best way to get to it is thru the drivers side wheel well.


You have the M5OD-R1 manual trans and it uses ATF, yes, automatic transmission fluid in a manual trans, and yes, very reliable
There is a clutch fluid reservoir in the engine bay, keep it topped up, its a pain to get air out of the clutch system on the Rangers


Just for general info a Bluetooth OBD reader is a good tool to get, under $40, works on ANY VEHICLE sold in the US or Canada since 1996, its the Law, so would work on the new Honda or the old Ranger
APPS are free or $5, get an extension cable, $4, with it, as some OBD plug-ins can be tight squeezes

 

Everyone here says the 2.3 is a solid motor and not much goes wrong with manual transmissions.

Even though you are in Cali, check the rear leaf spring mounts and shackles as they rust to peices. Not a deal breaker, just takes a weekend with a jack, grinder, hammer, and some wrenches to replace.

 

That’s great information, thank you both.

Picking up the truck in the morning 😎