1997 Ford Ranger power train problems

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONE MINUTE AFTER STARTING, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER, HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 181,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 181,760.”

“THE ENGINE OCCASIONALLY RACES (RUNAWAY ACCELERATION) ON MY 1997 FORD RANGER 4X4 WITH STANDARD TRANSMISSION AND OVERDRIVE AND 3.0L ENGINE. THE ACCELERATION TENDS TO OCCUR AFTER I HAVE DRIVEN THE VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (70 MPH) AND THEN DRIVE AT SLOWER SPEEDS SUCH AS IN AN URBAN SETTING. AT SUCH TIMES, THE IDLE REMAINS RATHER HIGH AND ENGINE RACING OCCURS WHEN I ENGAGE THE CLUTCH TO SHIFT INTO SECOND OR THIRD GEAR. THE ENGINE RACING CAUSES THE GEARS TO CLASH (GRIND) AND RESIST SHIFTING; I HAVE ALMOST BEEN REAR ENDED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO THIS SLOWING OF FORWARD MOTION SINCE THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON TO INDICATE IT. SOMETIMES THE ACCELERATION RUNS AWAY, AND I HAVE HAD TO QUICKLY PULL OVER AND TURN OFF THE IGNITION TO PREVENT BLOWING THE ENGINE. I HAVE TAKEN THE PROBLEM TO SEVERAL MECHANICS INCLUDING FORD, BUT NONE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE. THERE EVIDENTLY WAS A RECALL FOR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS WITH A SIMILAR PROBLEM BUT NOT FOR STANDARD TRANSMISSIONS. *TR”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE INDICATOR REMAINED LIT UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. WHEN THE SPEED WAS REDUCED, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP FOR INSPECTION AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS RE-BUILT REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,099 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 126,431. UPDATED 05/08/09 *BF THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE SEAT BROKE LOOSE. UPDATED 05/12/09.*JB UPDATED 06/09/09.*JB”

“LTR FM EDWARD KURRELL (PA) RE FAULTY PARTS & POOR CRAFTSMANSHIP OF FORD VEHICLES, THE MOTOR IN HIS 1997 FORD RANGER BLEW UP DUE TO A FAULTY THERMOSTAT. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED HE NEEDED NEW TIRES AND THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE DID NOT WORK. *JB”

“THIS TRUCK ACCERLERATES BY ITSELF, IT USED TO ONLY BE BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS BUT NOW I CAN BE ON THE FREEWAY AND IN 4TH GEAR WHEN I CAN FEEL THE PEDAL GO DOWN TO THE FLOOR, I'M FORCED TO PUT IT IN NUETRAL UNTIL THE RPMS GO DOWN, TRYING TO GET IT INTO ANOTHER GEAR ONLY GRINDS BECAUSE ITS RUNNING TOO HIGH. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, IF IT HAPPENS AT THE WRONG TIME SOMEONE COULD GET HURT OR THE ENGINE WILL JUST BLOW UP! *AK”

“MY '97 FORD RANGER STANDARD TRANSMISSION EXHIBITS HIGH IDLE CONDITIONS WHILE SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS. MY DEALER WAS NEVER ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE NEW. MY VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER BUMPER TO BUMPER AND EMISSIONS WARRANTY BUT I HAVE SAVED RECEIPTS OF THEIR ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM DURING TIME VEHICLE WAS WARRANTED BACK IN 1997. I RECENTLY DISCOVERED THAT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS FOUND THE EXACT SAME HIGH IDLE PROBLEM WITH THEIR 1998 TO 2000 MODEL RANGERS AND THEY ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TSB00-3-5. WHEN I CALLED MY DEALER TO INQUIRE AND ASK THEM TO INCLUDE MY '97 RANGER IN THE BULLETIN, THEY WERE EVASIVE AND WOULDN'T HELP. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT MY OPTIONS ARE. ANY HELP GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. P.S. FOR YOUR INFO, THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN CAN BE FOUND AT ( CASE SENSITIVE, PLEASE TYPE EXACTLY) V8SHO.COM/SHO/TSB00-3-5.HTML . *NLM”