New member from N. Ca.
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Joined: Jan 2019
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From: Ca
New member from N. Ca.
Have an 08 FX4 extended cab 4.0 manual w/ 41k. miles.
Wondered what the consensus was on the new Rangers was. They finally added a manual parking brake. But not sure about the turbo 4 and 10 spd only option. Price is another factor. Thing that really annoys though is the following: Ford made the new Ranger's oil filter nearly impossible to get at without removing one of the car's wheels. If this seems like kind of a dumb thing to do, keep in mind that the 2.3 liter EcoBoost found in the Ranger is slightly different from the one found in other applications.
In particular, the Ranger's enlarged oil cooler means that there isn't room for the filter to live down by the oil pan anymore, and instead, it was relocated up and into the side of the engine block, protruding at a right angle. Getting it off involves removing the left front wheel and unfastening nine push clips to remove an access panel in the wheel well.
But things don't stop there. To get to the oil drain plug, there is another panel in the vehicle's underbody tray that has four fasteners that need to be removed.
Just wonder what the opinions of others are?
Wondered what the consensus was on the new Rangers was. They finally added a manual parking brake. But not sure about the turbo 4 and 10 spd only option. Price is another factor. Thing that really annoys though is the following: Ford made the new Ranger's oil filter nearly impossible to get at without removing one of the car's wheels. If this seems like kind of a dumb thing to do, keep in mind that the 2.3 liter EcoBoost found in the Ranger is slightly different from the one found in other applications.
In particular, the Ranger's enlarged oil cooler means that there isn't room for the filter to live down by the oil pan anymore, and instead, it was relocated up and into the side of the engine block, protruding at a right angle. Getting it off involves removing the left front wheel and unfastening nine push clips to remove an access panel in the wheel well.
But things don't stop there. To get to the oil drain plug, there is another panel in the vehicle's underbody tray that has four fasteners that need to be removed.
Just wonder what the opinions of others are?
Welcome to the forums
Yes, all that is pretty much the direction most vehicles have been going in since 2000 or so
Here's the howto on changing PCV valve on the 2001 and up Ranger 2.3l DOHC duratec engine: https://www.ranger-forums.com/engine...-valve-116900/
Most vehicles are not DIY friendly anymore, if it ever was even thought about by the engineers, which I doubt, it certainly is not now.
"Back in the day" buying a wobble attachment for your socket set was a "special tool", lol
Now you need special tools to set timing, timing for god's sake
Anyway, it is what it is.
Best bet for DIY is to get a nice older truck pre-1980's something "classic" so it looks good, and just suck up the gasoline, MPG be damned
The Ford F100's were smaller trucks and can look real nice
Yes, all that is pretty much the direction most vehicles have been going in since 2000 or so
Here's the howto on changing PCV valve on the 2001 and up Ranger 2.3l DOHC duratec engine: https://www.ranger-forums.com/engine...-valve-116900/
Most vehicles are not DIY friendly anymore, if it ever was even thought about by the engineers, which I doubt, it certainly is not now.
"Back in the day" buying a wobble attachment for your socket set was a "special tool", lol
Now you need special tools to set timing, timing for god's sake
Anyway, it is what it is.
Best bet for DIY is to get a nice older truck pre-1980's something "classic" so it looks good, and just suck up the gasoline, MPG be damned
The Ford F100's were smaller trucks and can look real nice
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Joined: Jan 2019
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From: Ca
Agreed. Been turned off to new vehicles for quite a while now, endless money pit and frustration dept. at best. Plan on having my '08 for quite a while as the mileage is low and is well kept. Been replacing some components lately as age is the biggest factor to certain items. Using after market where possible.
Everything is too specialized now and w/ the advent of electronics, way over the top. Having to use an OBD reader looking for problems is more for a techie than a mechanic.
Luckily I have a good local mechanic who helps me stay on top of problems.
At least here rust is not a problem even though we're at the ocean, but then vehicles are garaged most of the time.
Biggest regret for me is the unavailability of manual transmissions on 'fun' vehicles, even trucks.
Glad I can remember the 'ol days'
Everything is too specialized now and w/ the advent of electronics, way over the top. Having to use an OBD reader looking for problems is more for a techie than a mechanic.
Luckily I have a good local mechanic who helps me stay on top of problems.
At least here rust is not a problem even though we're at the ocean, but then vehicles are garaged most of the time.
Biggest regret for me is the unavailability of manual transmissions on 'fun' vehicles, even trucks.
Glad I can remember the 'ol days'
Well I like the electronics change over, I remember the "bad ol' days" of carbs and distributors with points
I like it that I can spend the weekends doing what I like instead of tuning up family and friends engines, lol
Thing to remember about electronics is "don't shoot the messenger"
People see a code than mentions O2, MAF or EGR and they replace the sensor, lol
A code usually means sensor is WORKING and reporting a problem
So grain of salt
And NEVER Google a Code number, look the code up on a FULL LIST of OBD codes, like this one: https://therangerstation.com/tech_li...II_codes.shtml
The computer has several codes for EACH system, it chooses one code for a reason, so if you look at ALL the codes it could have used, it can help you pin point why it choose the one it did
A few of the EGR codes here
P0400 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Flow Malfunction
P0401 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Flow Insufficient Detected
P0402 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Flow Excessive Detected
P0403 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Circuit Malfunction
P0404 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Circuit Range/Performance
P0405 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Sensor A Circuit Low
P0406 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Sensor A Circuit High
P0407 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Sensor B Circuit Low
P0408 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Sensor B Circuit High
I still have to change brakes and troubleshot family and friends cars but way way less time spent doing that now-a-days
I like it that I can spend the weekends doing what I like instead of tuning up family and friends engines, lol
Thing to remember about electronics is "don't shoot the messenger"
People see a code than mentions O2, MAF or EGR and they replace the sensor, lol
A code usually means sensor is WORKING and reporting a problem
So grain of salt
And NEVER Google a Code number, look the code up on a FULL LIST of OBD codes, like this one: https://therangerstation.com/tech_li...II_codes.shtml
The computer has several codes for EACH system, it chooses one code for a reason, so if you look at ALL the codes it could have used, it can help you pin point why it choose the one it did
A few of the EGR codes here
P0400 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Flow Malfunction
P0401 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Flow Insufficient Detected
P0402 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Flow Excessive Detected
P0403 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Circuit Malfunction
P0404 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Circuit Range/Performance
P0405 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Sensor A Circuit Low
P0406 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Sensor A Circuit High
P0407 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Sensor B Circuit Low
P0408 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Sensor B Circuit High
I still have to change brakes and troubleshot family and friends cars but way way less time spent doing that now-a-days
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