1998 Ford Ranger Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND THE WATER RESERVOIR WAS ABNORMALLY LOW. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE NUMBER FOUR SPARK PLUG WAS BURNED. THE HATCH HAD CRACKED AND LEAKED WATER TO THE NUMBER FOUR SPARK PLUG. THE FAILURE RECURRED FREQUENTLY AND HAD TO REPLACE THE SPARK PLUG EVERY 3,000 MILES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 146,329.

I STARTED THE TRUCK, ALL GAUGES READ OK, BACKED IT OUT ONTO THE ROAD AND PROCEEDED T DRIVE TO MY DESTINATION. I SHIFTED INTO 3RD AND IT FELT SLUGGISH, (LIKE BRAKE DRAG) I LOOKED DOWN AT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FOR INFORMATION, AND FOUND NO RESPONSE FROM THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE. I PROCEEDED TO PUSH IN THE CLUTCH AND SHUT OFF THE MOTOR, BUT BY THE TIME I PUSHED IN THE CLUTCH THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND WOULDN'T PROCEED TO RUN. I CHECKED THE OIL DIP STICK TO FIND THE OIL LEVEL IS ACCEPTABLE, BUT THE MOTOR REFUSES TO TURN OVER. PROBLEM STILL OCCURS TO THIS DAY. *TR

EVERY 4 MONTHS I HAVE TO CHANGE MY SPARK PLUGS BECAUSE THE CERAMIC PART KEEPS BREAKING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHUTTER RAPIDLY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. HE DROVE APPROXIMATELY EIGHT MINUTES TO A LOCAL DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE CAM SHAFT SENSOR BECAME LOOSE. THE DEALER TIGHTENED THE CLAPPING SCREW ON THE SHAFT SENSOR AS A TEMPORARY REPAIR. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN COMPLETELY REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR HIS VEHICLE (ITEM NUMBER 10000592). HE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 60,300. UPDATED 04-09-08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A LOOSE CAM SHAFT SENSOR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A SNAPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THEN THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. AS OF SEPTEMBER 24, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. SHE STATED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY SNAPPED, WHICH SHE BELIEVED WAS THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 64,000.

I PURCHASED A VEHICLE WITH AN EXPRESS 45 DAY GUARANTEE. WITHIN THE 45 DAYS I WAS HAVING MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE. IT WAS NOT SHIFTING RIGHT, IT WAS OVERHEATING, LEAKING OIL AND RADIATOR FLUID. SINCE THE PROBLEMS WERE FOUND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN BROUGHT BACK INTO THE COMPANY FOR REPAIRS OVER AND OVER AGAIN, IT IS NOW FOUR MONTHS LATER AND THE PROBLEM STILL HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. WITH ALL THE BAD REPAIRS AND INSTALLS DONE ON THE VEHICLE IT'S LIFE EXPECTANCY IS NOW SHOT. THE COMPANY DOES NOT HAVE ANY OTHER COMPARABLE VEHICLES TO PUT US IN AND IS REFUSING TO PURCHASE THE VEHICLE BACK FOR THE PRICE I PAID ON IT.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AN ANTIFREEZE LEAK WAS NOTICED UNDER THE VEHICLE. IT WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE ANTIFREEZE ATE THROUGH THE SOFT PLUGS OF THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SOFT PLUGS AND HOSES OF THE WATER PASSAGE.

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE 1998 FORD RANGER ENGINE WAS MAKING NOISE AND THE SPARK PLUG HAD BLEW OUT OF THE CYLINDER. THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAD CONSIDERABLY LESS POWER AFTER THE LOSS OF THE SPARK PLUG. THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE SPARK PLUG EARLIER TODAY. WHEN THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE SPARK PLUG FAILED IT WAS HANGING BY ITS WIRES. THE CONSUMER HAD NOT CONTACTED FORD AT THIS TIME. THE DEALER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED AT THIS POINT. *AK (11/15/05) *SC

THE ENGINE FAILED. *DT *JB

HAD OIL CHANGED AT CLEAN LUBE-NO OIL LEAKAGE BEFORE VISIT WITH THEM-THEY TOLD ME MY OIL PAN WAS CRACKED AND WHEN I LEFT IT WAS POURING OUT OIL. THEY KEPT MY OIL PAN AND SAID THEY HAD TO SEND IT TO A LAB TO SEE IF THEY CRACKED IT....I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THEM SINCE. THE COST OF THE NEW OIL PAN WAS 404.00 AND THEY SAID IT WAS A STRESS CRACK AND IT SHOULD HACE BEEN A RECALL. THEY SEE THIS IN THESE LITTLE TRUCKS.....PLEASE HELP ME......THEY NEED TO PAY FOR MY OIL PAN PER MECHANIC.THANK YOU TRISH HULL. *AK

THE OIL WAS LEAKING DUE TO A CRACKED OIL PAN. *YH

THE HARMONIC BALANCER SEPARATED, WHICH MADE CONTACT WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND FRONT U-JOINT. THE REAR END OF VEHICLE TORE APART WHEN THE FRONT PORTION OF THE DRIVE SHAFT MADE CONTACT WITH THE ROAD. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALLS SO THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. PH *TT *JB

AS I WAS TURNING A CORNER THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY APPEARED TO LOSE POWER. I THOUGHT INITIALLY THE ENGINE HAD STALLED AND I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING HOWEVER IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OUT OF IDLE AND WOULD STALL WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS PRESSED. THE VEHICLE WOULD ILDE ALONG AND I WAS FORCED TO RUN ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD IN IDLE THE REST OF THE WAY HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND TWO AIR SENSORS WERE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 35-40MPHAND /AFTER CROSSING A BRIDGE FRONT BODY MOUNTS BROKE OFF. DRIVER HAD TO JUMP FROM VEHICLE TO AVOID INJURY. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED, AND HAS BEEN IN STORAGE FOR SIX MONTHS. *AK

MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR HAS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AT 9,000 AND 31,000 MILES. WHEN IT FAILS, THE ENGINE STALLS, AND IS VERY DIFFICULT TO RESTART AND KEEP RUNNING. WITHOUT ENGINE POWER, THERE IS LIMITED BRAKE AND POWER STEERING FUNCTIONING. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD IF IT OCCURS IN A MOVING TRAFFIC SITUATION. FORD IS UNABLE (UNWILLING?) TO PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION AS TO WHETHER THIS IS AN ACCEPTABLE FAILURE RATE.*AK

BOUGHT THIS TRUCK WITH 16,000 MILES ON IT FROM EARNHEART DODGE. DEC . 11,1999.ON JAN 24,2000 TOOK IT TO BERGE FORD SERVICE DEPT. FOR NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE (LIKE MARBLES RUNNNING AROUND IN IT) TRUCK STAYED THERE TO HAVE ENGINE LOOKED AT FOR 5 DAYS. IN THE MEANTIME I HAD TO PAY FOR RENTAL.GOT TIRED WAITNG FOR TRUCK TO BE LOOKED AT AND CALLED EARNHEART FORD SERVICE TO COME PICK UP AND TAKE TO THEIRS. SERVICE REP SAID COULD BE JUST CARBON IN IT. SO THEY DECARBONED IT.THE NOISE STILL WAS THERE. AFTER 20,000MILES ON THE TRUCK TOTAL ,THEY PUT IN FORD FACTORY REBUILT ENGINE IN IT. OKAY FOR ABOUT 1,000 MILES , NOISE CAME BACK.TOOK BACK TO FORD SAID IT WAS PROBABLY CARBON AGAIN.HOW COME SAME PROBLEM WITH NEW REBUILT ENGINE ? THEY DECARBONED IT.WHEN TRUCK PICKED UP THERE WAS STILL NOISE. SERVICE SAID DECARBON STUFF STILL HAD TO WORK MORE. NOISE GOT LOUDER. GOT IN TOUCH TO SEE WHAT NOW THEY WERE GOING TO DO.SERVICE MANAGER SAID WOULD BE IN TOUCH.NO CALLS. TRIED CALLING AND LEAVE MESSAGES NUMBER OF TIMES NO ANSWER. FINALLY ABLE TO GET AHOLD OF SERVICE MANGER AND HE SAID THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING MORE FOR ME EVEN THOUGH STILL UNDER WARRENTY.SAID HIS MECHANIC CALLED THE FORD HOTLINE AND THEY TOLD HIM THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF SOME OF THE RANGERS HAVING THESE PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE ,BUT IT WOULD NOT HURT THE ENGINE . IT HAD TO DO WITH THE ALIGNMENT OF THE VALVES IN SOME OF THE ENGINES. I SAID WAIT A MINUTE NOT ONLY I FEEL MY TRUCK IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE MAKING THIS RACKET AS I DRIVE THE FREEWAYU TO WORK 4-5 TIMES A WEEK 40 MILES 1 WAY,BUT WHY SHOULD I BE STUCK WITH A NOISY ,UNSAFE VEHICLE AFTER PAYING ALL THE MONEY I HAVE FOR IT AND TO BE UNHAPPY WITH IT? QUESTION.. IF THIS ONLY A NOISE PROBLEM WHY WAS THE CONSUMERS NOT WARNED ABOUT IT WHEN THEY BOUGHT IT.AND WHY DID THEY CHANGE THE FIRST ENGINE?I THINK THESE ENGINES SHOULD ALL BE RECALLED TO FIND OUT THE TRUE PROBLEM BEFORE IT BECOMES ANOTHER "FIRESTONE" DISASTER. PLEASE RESPOND.

RATTLING NOISE FROM ENGINE. ENGINE REPLACED STILL RATTLES. CLUNK WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST GEAR.

VEHICLE FAILED TO START NUMEROUS TIMES, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS COMING ON. YH

DUE TO DESIGN FLAW, OIL FILTER IS LOCATED UNDER MANIFOLD. WHILE REMOVING OIL FILTER, THE OWNER HAD HIS HAND BURNT BY HOT MANIFOLD. YH

WHILE CHANGING OIL FILTER, EXHAUST PIPE BURNED CONSUMER'S HAND. THIS CAUSED THE OIL FILTER TOO TOUCH THE BAR WIRE OF THE STARTER, CAUSING A SPARK TO IGNITE THE OIL, RESULTING IN A FIRE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS CHANGED VARIOUS PARTS, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

MAKES CHIRPING NOISE ABOUT HALF THE TIME WHEN STARTED; TWO AUTHORIZED FORD DEALERS HAVE NOT FOUND THE CAUSE

DESIGN OF THE OIL FILTER LOCATION CAUSES ELECTRICAL SPARKS WHENEVER THE FILTER COMES INTO CONTACT WITH STARTER HOT TERMINAL. A PROTECTED COVER SHOULD BE DESIGNED SO THIS CONDITION WOULD NOT OCCUR. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

WHILE CONSUMER IS DRIVING THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOOSES POWER, CONSUMER HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO DEALER MANY TIMES BUT THE ARE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND THE COMPUTER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. NLM

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE IS CUTTING OFF, AND THERE IS A LOSS OF POWER WHEN APPLYING THE GAS PEDAL DUE TO THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR GOING OUT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS FIVE TIMES. *AK