2002 Ford Ranger Engine Problems

ENGINE ERROR CODE P303 DISPLAYED AND ENGINE MISSING ON THAT CYLINDER. FORD TSB 05-26-3 STATES HEAD REPLACEMENT NECESSARY TO CORRECT. THIS APPEARS TO BE A GENERIC ISSUE WITH THE 3.0 LITER VULCAN ENGINES,. CAR WILL NOT PASS EMISSIONS INSPECTION UNTIL THIS IS REPAIRED.

ENGINE EJECTED SPARK PLUG FROM CYLINDER NUMBER THREE. MECHANIC SAID IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD VEHICLES MANUFACTURED WITH AN ALUMINUM HEAD. I AM FORTUNATE THAT THIS OCCURRED WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP SIGN AT ONLY 20MPH. AT HIGHER SPEEDS, THE MECHANIC SAID THE SPARK PLUG MAY HAVE EJECTED ITSELF STRAIGHT THROUGH THE HOOD AFTER WHICH, THE ENGINE OFTEN CATCHES FIRE BECAUSE OF THE GASOLINE SPURTING OUT OF THE CYLINDER. REPAIR INCLUDED A HELICOIL TAP KIT AND NEW SPARK PLUGS. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY FORD AND ALL GOVERNMENT SAFETY AGENCIES. THIS TRUCK HAS VERY LOW MILEAGE FOR IT'S AGE AND HAS BEEN TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF. THERE IS NO REASON WHY THIS SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED OTHER THAN FAULTY DESIGN AND USE OF AN ALUMINUM HEAD. *TR

2002 FORD RANGER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SAFETY DEFECT WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED RECENTLY WHILE DRIVING, SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING AS HE LEFT OFF THE ACCELERATOR TO MAKE A TURN , THE ENGINE RPM'S DROPPED AND THE VEHICLE STARTED IDLING ERRATICALLY AND ALMOST SLATTED OUT COMPLETELY. THE CONSUMER READ ON A WEBSITE WHERE A PLASTIC PLUG COULD COME OUT OF THE FRONT OF THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. HE REMOVED THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND SOON AFTER, HE DISCOVERED THE PLASTIC PLUG AND ABOUT A 3/8 HOLE IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE HOLE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOOSE VACUUM IN THE SYSTEM, THEREFORE IT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE ERRATIC IDLE/STALL. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WELDED THE PART BACK TOGETHER AFTER LEARNING IT WOULD COST ANYWHERE FROM $500-$1000 TO REPLACE. *JB

WHILE ACCELERATING OR ATTEMPTING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE THE ENGINE STARTS TO CUT OFF LIKE IT IS STARVING FOR FUEL. STARTED HAPPENING ABOUT 1 YEAR AGO AND CONTINUES TO THIS DATE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVER HEAT AND SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF; HOWEVER, AS SOON AS HE SHUT THE ENGINE OFF, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED HE HEARD A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,300.

THE VEHICLES ENGINE SHUTS OFF AS IT IS BEING ACCELERATED, OR AT CRUISING SPEED. THE ENGINE IS THE ONLY SYSTEM AFFECTED BUT CAUSES VEHICLE TO BE UNDRIVABLE FOR AROUND 5-10 SECONDS UNTIL VEHICLE PUTS ITSELF BACK IN GEAR AFTER SHUTTING OFF. THIS OCCURS RANDOMLY SOMETIMES RIGHT AWAY AFTER VEHICLE IS STARTED AND MOVED OR OTHER TIMES AFTER LONGER PERIODS OF DRIVING. IT HAS OCCURRED REPEATEDLY, WHEN THE VEHICLE ENGINE COMES BACK AND IT DOES PUT ITSELF BACK INTO GEAR AND YOU START TO ACCELERATE AGAIN IT WILL CUT OFF. IT HAS CAUSED OPERATOR NOT TO BE ABLE TO ACCELERATE TO MERGE ONTO HIGHWAYS, PULL OUT ONTO ROADS, OR TO MAINTAIN CRUISING SPEEDS IN ROADS OR HIGHWAYS. IT HAS BEEN TAKEN TO FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS 3 TIMES. EACH TIME THE ENGINE CONTROL RELAY DIODE HAS BEEN CHANGED AND BLAMED FOR PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN CONNECTED TO COMPUTER AND DRIVEN(FIRST TIME AT FORD REPAIR SHOP), THE ENGINE HAS CUT OUT CAUSING VEHICLE TO STOP ACCELERATING AND THE COMPUTER SHOWS THAT NOTHING IS HAPPENING. IT CONTINUES TO READ THAT THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING FINE.I HAVE PERSONALLY REPLACED COIL PACK, AND THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. THE FIRST TIME DIODE WAS REPLACED THE VEHICLE RAN FOR ALMOST 8 MONTHS THEN PROBLEM RECURRED. IT WAS TAKEN TO FORD AND DIODE REPLACED AGAIN, THIS TIME LASTING ONLY 2-3 MONTHS. IT WAS TAKEN TO FORD THE 3RD TIME FOR DIODE TO BE REPLACED, THIS TIME LASTING ONLY 2 WEEKS. I CALLED THE FORD SHOP AND SPOKE TO MANAGER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHY THE ENGINE WAS CUTTING OUT. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THEM TO GET AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO FIX MY VEHICLE, SO I WAS TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT UNIT HOWEVER, AFTER THE REPAIR THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO LEAK COOLANT. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE MECHANIC FOUND A SMALL HOLE IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. IN ADDITION, HE FOUND THAT THE ENGINE BLOCK RUSTED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 62,000.

A RATTLE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF A 2002 FORD RANGER (64,000 MILES) ATTRIBUTED TO THE TIMING CHAIN. NO DAMAGE YET, BUT I HAVE ASKED AROUND AND FOUND THIS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AND IN SOME CASES, LEADING TO ENGINE FAILURE. *TR

A PLASTIC WATER HEATER CONTROL VALVE IN THE VEHICLE COOLING SYSTEM DENATURED AND CRUMBLED, LEAKING COOLANT OUT OF THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ENGINE SEIZURE HAD I NOT BEEN AWARE OF THE SITUATION. THIS IS THE SECOND PLASTIC PART FAILURE (FIRST WAS THE THERMOSTAT/TEMP SENSOR HOUSING) WHICH FAILED AND LEAKED COOLANT DURING THE WARRANTY INTERVAL. COOLING SYSTEMS ARE NO PLACE FOR PLASTIC PARTS. *TR

SEAT BELT NEVER STAYS CONNECTED ( POPS OUT) ALL SPEEDS. (5 YRS) I ASKED DEALER ABOUT FIXING HE SAID MY WARRANTY EXPIRED BUY A NEW ONE (FORD DOES NOT CARE ABOUT SAFETY AFTER WARRANTY DATE) THE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL STAY ON FOR A WEEK THEN OFF FOR A MONTH THEN REPEAT ( 5 YRS) DOOR AJAR LIGHT HAS NEVER TURNED OFF (MAYBE IT WILL BURN OUT SO I DON'T SEE IT ANYMORE) TAILGATE LATCH REPLACED 3 TIMES ( DANG THAT CHEAP PLASTIC) FRONT END REALIGNED NUMEROUS TIMES (ANTI NASCAR, ALWAYS TURNS RIGHT) ENGINE SHUDDERS BAD FEW TIMES A YEAR(BAD GAS MAYBE ONCE, OTHERS PROBABLY NOT) COIL PACK REPLACED TWICE (IM STILL UNDER 60,000 MILES) REAR WINDOW LEAKS ALSO :) *TR

I BOUGHT A 2002 FORD RANGER IN APRIL OF 2006 AND NOW THERE SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE OIL PRESSURE SENSOR ON THE ENGINE FAILING THE SENSOR CAUSES THE GAUGE TO "TWITCH" I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE WITH THIS UNKNOWN DEFECT HAS THERE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS MATTER? I HAVE VISITED SOME ON LINE BULLETIN BOARDS AND IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON DEFECT. *TR

I OWNED A 2002 FORD RANGER WITH 45,000 MILES ON IT. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING IT AND CAME TO A STOP AT AN INTERSECTION AFTER EXITING AN EXPRESSWAY. BLACK SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WITHIN 10 MINUTES, THE TRUCKS ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND COCKPIT WERE COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND THE TRUCK WAS DESTROYED. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE #3 SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. REPAIRS WILL BE MADE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APROXIMATELY 10 MPH, AND WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF STEERING AND BRAKES. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH VEHICLE STALLED.VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND KEPT FOR TWO DAYS, BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK *MR

HAVING ISSUES WITH MY TRUCK I THOUGHT MIGHT BE TRANSMISSION NOW THE DEALER SAYS IT IS A CAM SENSOR. THE TRUCK SPUTTERS AND STOPS CAUSING SEVERAL NEAR MISSES THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR SEVERAL YEARS BUT THE DEALER WAS NOT BALE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. *TR

I OWN A 2002 FORD RANGER WITH A 3.0FEV IT HAS HAD THE PROBLEM RELATED TO NHTSA ID 10018746, FORD TSB 052212. WHILE THE TRUCK WAS UNDER WARRANTY THE DEALERS COULD NOT "FIND THE PROBLEM" AFTER THE WARRANTY RAN OUT THEY FOUND THIS ISSUE AND ARE WILLING TO FIX IT FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE PRODUCES A KNOCKING SOUND.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DOESN'T RUN PROPERLY ON THE 87 OCTANE GAS. THE ENGINE HAD A SPARK-KNOCK CONDITION. THE CONSUMER FEELS THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR A NEW VEHICLE. *PH *NLM

THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE AT HIGH SPEEDS. RECENTLY I BOUGHT A USED 2002 FORD RANGER XLT, W/ 4.0 LITER ENGINE, AND I NOTED THE 125 MPH SPEEDOMETER. LAST EVENING AN 18 WHEELER CUT INTO MY LANE AND I QUICKLY ACCELERATED HITTING ABOUT 90 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE TO AVOID BEING CRUSHED. HOWEVER JUST AS I WAS CLEARING THE FRONT END OF THE SEMI THE ENGINE BEGAN TO FAULTER AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW. PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR DIDN'T INCREASE VEHICLE SPEED OR ENGINE RPM. I WAS SCARED OUT OF MY WITS. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THAT NIGHT AND THEY AGREED TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. WHICH THEY LATER DEFERRED ON (BASICALLY THEY KNEW OF THE DEFECT). AFTER TALKING TO SEVERAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPS AT THE DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THE FUEL EJECTORS ARE DESIGNED TO CUT OUT AT HIGH SPEEDS. I PRESSED FURTHER AND TALKED TO OTHER DEALERSHIPS TO FIND OUT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DETEREMINED UNSAFE AT HIGH SPEEDS BY FORD, SO THIS SAFETY FEATURE WAS INCORPORATED IN THE VEHICLE. I GOT LITTLE "POSITIVE" RESPONSES WHEN I ASKED WHY A)THE SPEEDOMOTER WENT TO 125 MPH (NOTING THAT OLER VEHICHLES MANUFACTURED IN THE MID TO LATE 1980'S ONLY HAD 85 MPH SPEEDOMETERS) B)WHY AM I PAYING SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLARS FOR A 4.0 LITER ENGINE AND C) WHY IS THIS UNSAFE CONDITION NOT DISCLOSED ANYWHERE OR AT ANY TIME DURING MY PURCHASE? I ASKED IF FATTY FOODS ARE BAD FOR ME WOULD I PAY FULL PRICE FOR A 2 LB. STEAK AND ONLY BE SERVED A 6 OZ. ONE? HE HAD NO RESPONSE. *AK