I have a 1990 Ranger with 2.3l 4cyl, automatic transmission.
I used to only use it occasionally, trips to the home center, ect.
For the past 2 months my daughter has been using it for work and school.
This week it will only run sometimes, hit or miss, bogs down with no power.
On my test drive I could only get to 15mph. Parked it will rev slowly to 4k, but if you try to go WOT it will jump to 2k then bog down and level out at 1k. When I ran a test, the only codes it gave were for power steering pump pressure switch.
Any one else ever have a problem like this?
Possible solutions?
Any help please, I need to get her back on the road!

Phillip

 

I'd start with the simple things.. how long since you changed the fuel filter? When was the last tune up?

 

About 20k ago. Did fuel filter, plugs and wires.
Thought about the filter, might change it anyways.

 

clean all air sensors. maybe they are dirty and therefore you get the bog of too much fuel because of misreadings? idk...a guess (Idle Air Control, Mass Air Flow yada)

 

OK will try that tomorrow.
One other thing, if you "goose it" is "pops" on decel, like it is real lean, not real loud but noticeable.

 

most likely a clogges cat, or even a clogged air filter, you should probably clean out the intake maniforld and throttle body, since you scanned it and nothing else came up thats all i can think of, and since your truck is only a year older than mine i'm guessing it doesn't have an o2 sensor on the cat? Well if it backfires then the mafs may be bad / dirty or the tps could be going bad, even tough it didn't throw a code for either of those things

 

After you change the fuel filter, you might want to check the timing belt. It could be that it has jumped a tooth or two(although if driven long enough it will show more codes) Which could cause backfiring. Also check for the stopped up cat. or air filter & also check the fuel pump for volume & pressure. It has to have both to operate correctly. Probably just a simple problem, but you just have to go through & check everything out.(just some thoughts) It probably has one stupid problem that will make you pull your hair out. Good luck.

 

Also check this site: http://www.aa1car.com/trouble-codes/page3.htm

 

Cat is only 30k or so old.
It does have an O2 sensor, changed that out several years ago.
Please note that this is not a constant problem, it comes and goes.
Today it is running fine (now that I have a fuel pressure gauge).
To me it feels like fuel starvation, I just wish the problem would stay so I could nail it down.
Back to work....

 

Did you go to the site I listed? Maybe It'll help you troubleshoot your problems. Save this site to your favs. for future references.

 

Neat website, to bad my 1990 does not have OBDII.
As for the OBDI I do have, it is not giving any engine codes. That would be too easy.

 

Problem has come back, my daughter parked it at work and said it was dead.
She also had problems starting it.
I put the fuel pressure gauge on and it read 0, turned the key on, still 0.
Cycled the key on-off and pressure returned and it fired right up.
Needle was at E so I went and put gas in it (reminds me, she never did pay me back!).
Played with it this weekend, problem would come and go.
At one point I could not get pressure above 30!
What do you think? Pump? Regulator? Relay?
I hate to think how much fun replacing a pump would be!

Phillip