2002 Ford Ranger engine and engine cooling problems

“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”

“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.”

“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”

“ON 02-21-2010 MY 2002 FORD RANGER STARTED ON FIRE. I WAS RETURNING HOME WITH IN LESS THEN 5MINS MY CAR WAS BURST INTO FLAMES. AFTER THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME TO MY AID THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT OF MY TRUCK. I RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE FROM FORD IN 12-2010 AND TOOK MY TRUCK IN FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THIS WAS 3 WEEKS BEFORE THE FIRE. EVEN WITH THE RECALL MY TRUCK BURST INTO FLAMES LEAVING NOTHING BUT THE FRAME. *TR”

“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.”