Misfiring engine?

Tiny
BRUCE60
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 FORD RANGER
  • 2.3L
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 153,000 MILES
I have changed plugs, plug wires, filters, fuses, everything under the sun, but it still sounds like it's only running on three cylinders! Any ideas? Thank's.
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Thursday, March 21st, 2019 AT 8:58 AM

43 Replies

Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,897 POSTS
Hello,

This sounds like this could be a vacuum leak. A vacuum leak is called in the industry as letting unmetered air into the engine. This is defined as any air entering the intake tract after the Mass Air Flow(MAF) sensor and before the combustion chamber is unmetered air. This means air that the Power-train Control Module(PCM) has not accounted for and therefore is making your engine run lean. This will cause idle and driveability concerns. I have included a few links for you to go to down below.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-an-engine-vacuum-gauge
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-misfires-or-runs-rough
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-vibration-at-idle

I have also included a factory basic troubleshooting chart for you in the diagrams down below. Please go through these guides and the chart and get back to us with what you find out.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros
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Thursday, March 21st, 2019 AT 6:09 PM
Tiny
VDUBB
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1997 FORD RANGER
Engine Performance problem
1997 Ford Ranger 6 cyl Four Wheel Drive Automatic alot miles

I have had a problem with this vehicle for a while and i'm hoping I can finally resolve the problem. It started as a misfire so I figure since I had over 200000 miles it was time now just a note I bought with this many miles anyway to tune her up so I did and nothing changed the scanner kept telling me #2and #4 misfire so I said to myself its probably the coil pack, nope its not that then a friend suggests fuel injectors I had to have two of them replaced and still skips the engine has only about 55000 miles on it and it was a rebuilt so I thought compression nope not that either it has 150lbs across the board then I was told it could be a fuel pressure regulator guess what nope ! So I did a fuel pressure check and it has at start up around twenty pounds and at idle it has about 35 ish can this be my problem? O by the way I also replaced the intake gasket because two people had suggested at one time this is what they encountered. So I say HELP !
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 11:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
LEGITIMATE007
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,121 POSTS
Your knock sensor could be shot, thus retarding the timing(causing the misfire). Check it out and get back to me, also check the plug wires, or did u do that already
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 11:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
LEGITIMATE007
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,121 POSTS
One more thing, I would also check the throttle position sensor just for good measure, if none of these are the problem, you may need a new computer
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 11:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
NEIL M
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1997 FORD RANGER
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 140,000 MILES
My Ranger every time that I crank it goes through a really rough spell, After I crank it seems to run ok for a minute. After that it runs so bad that you would think it jumped time. I can turn the key off and on without letting it die and it clears up for a minute and then starts back missing. If I keep it running by patting the gas in about 30 seconds it clears up and runs great until the next time I recrank and it starts all over again. I have no clue. Please help.
Thanks,
Neil M
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 11:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
DREW19
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Start with spark plugs.
Replace them and inspect the old ones to see if they have any cracks or missing parts on them. Continue with replacing them. If same problem re-occurs, it could be that either the piston or piston wall may be cracked, and may need a new engine.
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 11:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BILL SHERMAN
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1997 FORD RANGER
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 165,000 MILES
After completing a valve job I have noticed a pause or blip while idiling. This can also be seen if one puts a timing llight on any sparkplug wire and watch the light. This seems like a spasmatic missfire. Has anyone a idea of cause?
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 11:20 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 107,922 POSTS
If it didn't do this before, it must be the result of the work. Are the crank and cam sensors in good condition? Also, has the check engine light come on?

Let me know.

Joe
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 11:20 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BILL SHERMAN
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
No check engine light, cam sensor wasn't disturbed during previous repair, crank sensor seems good gap has been varried with no change.
Seems to me that if one of the sensors was bad the miss would happen within each revolution of the engine. Also if it were the coil that cylinder would have a continous miss. This miss happens once every few seconds which would be several revolutions of the engine. It also doesn't seem to be at any time other than idle.
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 11:20 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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The only thing I can think of is a bad or damaged wire. Since it isn't consistant and only at an idle, I wonder if there is a wire that is broken or nearly broken.
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 11:20 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JIM RUSAK
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 1997 FORD RANGER
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 129,200 MILES
Bought this truck used about 2 years ago. Changed plugs and plug wires do to an engine miss and all was good. Year later miss came back, engine code " mis fire no 4 cylinder". Changed plug, miss corrected. Year later same thing. Had to replace only No 4 plug to correct engine miss.
Any idea what could be causing this. Plug looks good when I pull it. Doesn't look fouled.
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 11:20 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 107,922 POSTS
IT could be caused by a weak coil or injector.
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 11:20 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JJMCINTOSH
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1997 FORD RANGER
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 111,000 MILES
I have a 2.3 5 speed ranger. My engine light came on, it said cylinder 1 misfire. I checked my spark plugs, got a spark, checked my wires, got a spark. Checked the coils, number 4 worked fine, but number 1 did not. However, on an ohm check, both coils got a good readout. If a coil gets a good readout, but is not firing, what could the problem be?
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 11:20 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Check and test the crankshaft position sensor.
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 11:20 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JJMCINTOSH
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Would the crank position sensor effect just one coil, even though 1 and 4 are supposed to fire together?
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 11:20 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
You need to check it the CPS tells the computer the position of the pistons and engine speed then in turn fire the coil/s. Also check the ICM come back with some results.
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 11:20 AM (Merged)
Tiny
01BULLITT
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • FORD RANGER
My Truck is a 1996 2.3 I4 Ford Ranger. The problem I am currently having is that the truck misses and feels like it is bogging out after about 3rpms. It started by doing it occasionally but recently started doing it whenever I drive. It is almost impossible to go over 50mph sometimes. I replaced the fuel pump about 8 months ago and it ran perfect since. As soon as it started acting up I changed the plugs, coils, wires, fuel filter, air filter, cleaned the MAF and throttle body. I cannot figure out what it is for the life of me. Could it be an erg valve stuck? Stopped up cat?
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 11:21 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
The EGR will not do that at that RPM, I'll do an exhaust backpressure check to rule out the Cat.

Could be the TPS not hitting on its sweet spot-check the closed/WOT voltages. Might want to check the MAP/MAF sensor too.

Also won't hurt to recheck the fuel pressure. Could be the regulator not maintaining the pressure.
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 11:21 AM (Merged)
Tiny
GWS
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1996 FORD RANGER
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 145,000 MILES
I have 96 ford ranger v6 4.0. For about a year I have had a head gasket out. I have tried several liquid fixes with no success. About a month ago my truck became gutless and started to misfire. Shortly after my cousin and I just finished up the head job. The truck was sitting for a while I have tried driving it, and it shakes and misfires just like before and is shooting fuel out of the tail pipe. I have checked all the hoses, the spark wires are only about a year old, and everything appears to be fine. Could the bad head gasket and the fact that I put those additives in my radiator have caused my Thermal Valve Vaccum/EGRvalve, PVC, or O2 sensors to go out(I replaced my O2 sensors 6 months ago)?
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 11:21 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Engine running rich can be caused by the following:

1. Excessive fuel pressure can be cause by restricted fuel return line
2. Defective Oxygen Sensors.
3. Leaking injectors and fuel pressure regulator.
4. Coolant temperature sensor out of calibration.
5. Restricted air intake system.
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 11:21 AM (Merged)

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