Hello everyone. I just inherited my dads 97 ranger 2.3L 2wd with engine problems. P1443, P0301, P0302, P0303, P0171. I want to start diagnosing but I'm having a little trouble deciding where to start. Pulled the codes, have the info on each. Rough Idle/dies frequently when cold and after hard acceleration and then coming to a stop. I know before he gave it to me he took it in and had the plugs and wires replaced and the tech said that it might need new lifter springs. I'm thinking of buying a kit to rebuild the head I just need to find a place I can rent the spring compressor tool. Any suggestions would be great
-Preston

 

Welcome to R-F. You can get a spring compressor at autozone loan a tool. As for the codes, I would pull the spark plugs and check them, and wires. then while you have the plugs out you might as well check the compression since it is misfiring on 1-3. You could have a head gasket that is burned between those cylinders.