Hello, I've been reading the forums for quite awhile now trying to track down several problems with this vehicle.

2002 Ranger 4x4 XLT 4-door 4.0L SOHC manual 5-speed transmission with roughly 220,000 miles. I bought it about 6 months ago and it ran fine. After about 3-4 months, I began to lose power and encountered several other problems. I've replaced a ton of parts:

• Brake drums, calipers, rotors, hardware, pads
• Wheels, lug nuts and tires
• Motorcraft wires and spark plugs
• Motorcraft ignition coil pack (was getting P0352 - new coil pack fixed this)
• MAF Sensor (early 2025)
• Motorcraft Vapor Canister Purge Valve
• Motorcraft EGR Valve
• Motorcraft Fuel Filter
• Dorman Vapor Canister (it wasn't filling the tank properly, I had to go extremely slow, it's fine now)
• Valve cover gaskets
• Vapor Canister Vent Valve (Standard Motor Products)
• Motorcraft TPS
• Simmons Autosportz Metal thermostat housing (bypass hose busted wide open, figured I might as well replace the worn plastic housing)
• Intake manifold gaskets
• Thermostat
• Motorcraft IAC (it now idles fine)
• Walker Catalytic converters (Federal not California, since I live in Alaska)
• Bosch O2 sensors, both upstream and downstream
• New PCM (with 3 new keys)
• DPFE (just today).

There are probably a few smaller pieces I've tried here and there. It's all helping the truck run better at idle; however, I have no power. I can't even burn the wheels on loose gravel. I can accelerate by almost redlining the RPMs; however, I cannot maintain speed correctly.

I'm about ready to part this thing out. I do not have a CEL or any other codes. Any help or direction would be wonderful. If I need to provide any more information, please let me know.

 

Are you saying it's undrivable?
Have you dosed it with injector cleaner?

Huge vacuum leak?
Is the PCV valve hose connected?
Also, the big "L" shaped pipe (which brings the fumes to the intake) is hard plastic which does break.

 

Which Catalytic Converter did you change, the Y pipe or the rear?

Cause it sounds like you have a plugged exhaust.

 

I'm able to drive it, but it's rough just because I have to downshift on a slight incline or a long stretch of straight road. 5th gear is unusable and 4th almost is, which means I mostly use 3rd gear to reach 60-65 mph.

I haven't tried injector cleaner yet, I will pick some up this morning and try it on the way to work. I didn't find a vacuum leak when I had the intake manifold off; however, it sure acts like there is one somewhere (or, that's my guess).
The PCV is new, as well. The problem persisted through that change. It's connected and installed. Is the 'L'-shaped pipe connected to the PCV?

I changed both sets, the Y-pipe and rear. I was hoping that it was going to be the fix when I replaced both pair, but the problem still exists.

 

" Is the 'L'-shaped pipe connected to the PCV?

Yes it is connected to the PCV. There's a short rubber elbow on the PCV valve itself, then one leg of the "L", another short rubber elbow, then the other leg goes forward.
The right side (passenger's side) of the intake is quite cluttered, making it very hard to examine.

Is the intake at the throttle body and inward clear?