93 Ranger 4.0 "skip" HEELLLLPPPPP!!!!!!!!

[leftlane36]

My dad has a 93 ranger 4x4 auto, every now and then when you start it up it skips so bad that you cant hardly even get it out of the yard. But you can go days at a time and it runs like a brand new truck. I have done a full tune up plugs, wires, oil, filters(air & fuel). It still does the same thing. This morning it was so bad that he could not even pull his boat with it, but yesterday he drove it most of the day with temps in the 103-108 degree range and not one problem. This is driving me nuts any HELP would be greatly Thanked. It has around 125,000 on the clock.

 

[Tbars4]

..Not totally sure what "skips" is..

..Grab a paperclip and check the codes even if you don't have a CEL on..A little more description would help but I'm assuming it's a 4.0L since he is pulling a boat with it..

 

[leftlane36]

Tbars it is like it is missing on every other cylinder when it is acting up. How do I pull the codes from it, I have never done it myself this way.It is a 4.0 auto 4x4

 

[Tbars4]

..These will get you started to check for codes..
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=255962

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=147734

..Have you tried swapping in another coil pack?..It sounds to me like you may have a spark wire grounding out or not a good ground on the coil pack but just guessing for now..

..The more information you can supply like when it happens will speed up the results and will allow others to chime in with better ideas on what to look for..

 

[leftlane36]

I will check the plug wires tomorrow along with the codes. Thanks Tbar

 

[Tbars4]

..If it is a bad wire (not sure of anything yet), they can sometimes be hard to find as you may see a tiny black spot (burn), the spark could be jumping out of the boots to a ground, or it may be an internal break somewhere..

..Sometimes just playing with the wires while it is running may reproduce the symptom..Just don't get "bit" doing this..:

..With electrical problems, once you reproduce the problem you pretty much know what needs to be fixed..

 

[leftlane36]

If I could get to hang on to it for a few days my self I could figure it out easier but I only know about it when he calls me and says it is doing it again, those are his exact words, then I ask which one and what. Dad does not belond under the hood of anything. I will let you know what I find out

 

[leftlane36]

New plugs Wires and coil pack. It still has a miss in it. I cleaned the MAF, IAC and TPS while I was at it just cause I figured they had never been done. Dad informed me that when he bought the truck it didnt have an air filter in it, which was the reason for the pine needles stuck in the screen on the MAF, so who knows how long that went on. His Check engine light is blown I guess so I didnt get to do that, tried to tell him it would not take long to replace the bulb, but he didnt want to worry about that. He is taking it to a shop to let someone else work on it. I will try to post on the findings

 

[Tbars4]

..Looking forward to the updates and what it cost..

 

[leftlane36]

Problem solved. It ended up being #1 injector. I dont know what it cost him but it runs great now. After alll I did to it I figured it had to be something on the fuel side of it but he wanted to just take it to a shop to have them to fix it. His truck, his $$$$ who am I to argue, next time he needs service on one of them my garage will be open. Thanks Tbar for the links to try to get the codes. I will keep them handy for the '94 2x4 3.0 auto ranger that had 245,000 miles on it and never touched the engine except for a starter at 156,000 and water pump at 121,000. I can not complain about the 3.0

 

[Tbars4]

..Glad to hear the issue was resolved..:biggthump

..And, I don't envy your position as I have been there many times myself..