1998 Ford Ranger engine and engine cooling problems

“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”

“CARBON MONOXIDE LEAKAGE INTO CAB OF 1998 FORD RANGER CAUSED SEVERE SLEEPINESS WHILE DRIVING TO AND FROM WORK AND WHILE AT HOME. EACH DAY FOR ABOUT A MONTH I WAS EXPERIENCING DIZZINESS, SLEEPINESS AND NAUSEA. I HAD A SMALL ACCIDENT WHEN I FEEL ASLEEP WHILE STOPPING FOR A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT AND RAN INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. I REPORTED MY DIZZINESS AND SLEEPINESS TO MY SUPERVISOR WHO NOTIFIED OUR MEDICAL DEPARTMENT AND THEY SENT ME HOME. I HAD A MEDICAL STRESS TEST PERFORMED; IT WAS OK', A SLEEP STUDY PERFORMED AND THE CARDIOLOGIST INCREASED MY DOSAGE OF A BETA BLOCKER. I WAS FINALLY RELEASED TO RETURN TO WORK TWO MONTHS LATER. I HAD TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER SHORTLY AFTER I WAS SENT HOME AND THEY REPORTED THERE WAS NO CO LEAKING INTO MY CAB. I TRIED DISCUSSING MY PROBLEM WITH THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT A COUPLE OF TIMES, BUT THEY SAID THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG AND THAT'S ALL THEY COULD DO FOR THE CARBON MONOXIDE WAS ENTERING INTO MY CAB FROM THE EXHAUST OF OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. I FINALLY FOUND AND BOUGHT A DIGITAL CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR WHICH WOULD READ ANY LEVEL OF CO DETECTED. THE…”

“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.”

“PULLED MY 1998 FORD RANGER INTO A STORE PARKING LOT. I WAS GETTING READY TO PARK WHEN I COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. STOPPED THE TRUCK. SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I POPPED THE HOOD AND SAW AN ELECTRICAL PLUG BURNING WITH FLAMES. I WAS ABLE TO BLOW THE FLAMES OUT BEFORE MUCH ELSE WAS DAMAGED. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL PLUG IS WHAT CAUGHT FIRE. IT ALSO DAMAGED MY RESERVOIR FOR THE BRAKE FLUID. THEY ARE REPLACING THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE CRUISE CONTROL PLUG. OF COURSE, THIS IS AT MY OWN EXPENSE, NOT FORDS. *TR”

“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.”