Ford RangerMore than two decades ago, the Ford Ranger debuted as an answer to various compact pickup trucks being made available by Japanese automakers. The Ranger was cleanly styled and offered with a choice of a 6-foot or 7-foot bed. Ford boasted that the Ranger had more interior room than the best-selling imports and that 4-by-8-foot construction material could be carried in the bed.
1) At about 1900 RPM, it has developed a grinding vibration.
2) At a stop light, under load, foot on the brake...it vibrates the cab to death.
Took it back to the dealership; & of course they tell me that all Rangers shake the cab at a stop light...why...the Ford reps tell them that all the time. Now, just before I got to the service dept. I had a driving situation whereby I accelerated from about 1500 RPM right by 1900 to 2400 RPM; & it transitioned really smoothly...no grinding at 1900. Then, at the dealership, taking a ride w/ the manager, it drove normal (miraculously).
He tells me..."it's a truck".
Now, those two vibrations are back, worse than ever. The idle also swells at warmup; & I hear a slight engine tap.
I'm not a vehicle hypocondriac...I just want a smooth running truck...
...so...
1) If I drop the oil at 2100 miles, where I am now; & replace it w/ non synthetic blend...a straight 5w20 Quaker State...will that help? (I've heard things about the timing varying w/ the oil pressure).
2) Is this normal?
3) What should I do, exactly? Should I just freakin' drive it & forget it, or should I be worried?
1) At about 1900 RPM, it has developed a grinding vibration.
2) At a stop light, under load, foot on the brake...it vibrates the cab to death.
Took it back to the dealership; & of course they tell me that all Rangers shake the cab at a stop light...why...the Ford reps tell them that all the time. Now, just before I got to the service dept. I had a driving situation whereby I accelerated from about 1500 RPM right by 1900 to 2400 RPM; & it transitioned really smoothly...no grinding at 1900. Then, at the dealership, taking a ride w/ the manager, it drove normal (miraculously).
He tells me..."it's a truck".
Now, those two vibrations are back, worse than ever. The idle also swells at warmup; & I hear a slight engine tap.
I'm not a vehicle hypocondriac...I just want a smooth running truck...
...so...
1) If I drop the oil at 2100 miles, where I am now; & replace it w/ non synthetic blend...a straight 5w20 Quaker State...will that help? (I've heard things about the timing varying w/ the oil pressure).
2) Is this normal?
3) What should I do, exactly? Should I just freakin' drive it & forget it, or should I be worried?
Thanks...& thanks for allowing me into the forum.
mark4man
Surprised you didn't get that" I've got one just like it & it does the same thing, just the nature of the beast", from the service manager. Can't remember how many times I've gotten that. Amazing how many times the service manager has exactly the same vehicle I have!!
OK go test drive another Ranger and find out if they all do that.
Drive up in a different car so it looks just like you are test driving it cause you may buy one, dont let them know you are comparing them to what you own.
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Mark V
Look for me on the PS3 network, I am usually playing Uncharted 2 demo right now. My PS3 name is delorean6683
(forgot to come back...sorry...have been really busy).
I did the secondary dealership thing...I took it to Medford Ford, where the service mgr. used to be mgr. where I bought it; & didn't like the direction that particular dealership was going.
I always trusted this mgr.; & he had his best "noise" meister ride w/ me. He told me it's normal...that it occurs because the 4 cylinders are in line w/ the drive train...like a straight 6 only a straight 4. He said the V6's (w/ 3 cylinders on each side) balance the vibration more equally. He said to do exactly what Mark V said...but he told me he is 100% certain that they ALL ride like this; & that every one I drive will exibit the same vibrations.
He also said...despite this anomally...if I take care of it...it will run forever.
...If I drop the oil at 2100 miles, where I am now; & replace it w/ non synthetic blend...a straight 5w20 Quaker State...will that help? (I've heard things about the timing varying w/ the oil pressure).
WOW ! That is the strangest (and silliest) thing about engines I have heard in a long time !
My recommendations for oil and oil changes is to follow the book ! 5W20 every 7500 miles (unless you drive a lot of dirt roads or a lot of short trips and a lot of stop and go). Anyone who tells you different has more money than you do.
I stick with any brand name oil. The full synthetics and semi-synthetics will get you a bit better mileage, but probably not enough to pay for themselves.
I have a 2008 Ranger XLT 3.0 that is doing something similar. It seems that mine is tied to the Air Conditioner. When my RPMS are between 1000-1300 I get this "harmonic vibration" in the steering and brake petal. This happens when the truck is moving or sitting still. The AC just needs to be on. I have been told this is a normal characteristic. I told them it wasn't and still nothing has been done. They tell me that a Ford Engineer needs to look at this to better identifiy the source of the vibration. So I am waiting for the dealership to call me to let me know when this "wonderful" engineer is suppose to show up. By the way, I have heard this noise in 2 other Rangers that i have sit in at various dealerships.
This may be the last Ford Ranger I own.(this is my 3rd and my first new one). I am now hearing that the new Rangers aren't as good as the older ones. I wished I had heard this before I bought this in March.
I guess my question to you is do you hear this noise when the AC is on and off or just on?
Maybe the Model A 4cyl. engines used to vibrate, but they solved that problem 60 yrs. ago. I've had 5 four cyl. vehicles & NO vibrations from any of them. If you say that the others you saw do the same thing then they have the same problem. If you took it to the Medford Ford in NJ, you are fairly close to Echelon Ford. They have a good service manager there. ( unless that's where you bought it)...
Use 5w-30 Full synthetic every 7,500 miles Always remember the filter too. That truck shouldn't be shaking too much, the cylinders do not move in uniform... they move in pairs and the cylinders should never throw the engine out of balance. I would say have another dealer look at it, I'm thinking torque convertor but who knows...
Does it shake in park? If it does, there probably is something wrong with the motor itself. Try another ranger and see, I doubt they all shake, I've been in a 4 banger ranger before, they're decently smooth.
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UPDATE on the van: The O2 sensors was causing some misreadings in the computer, and the van's timing is almost perfect... thought it still retards too much when coming off a light. I have three codes: P0171 P0000 ....still running lean, my mechanic is looking into the intake, exhaust, and the fuel system.... again. Stalling went from 70% to 90% fixed. Please Repond in this thread: http://www.ford-forums.com/ford-wind...talling-3.html
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1994 Ford Taurus LX 3.0L 156,000 miles
1998 Ford Windstar GL 3.8L 264,000 miles
2005 Toyota Prius Package 6 1.5L 158,000 miles
2006 Toyota Sienna LE 3.3L 45,000 miles
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Last edited by Flyingjackal456; 09-04-2008 at 06:26 PM..
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New Ranger...Vibration Galore !!! 
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