2002 Ford Ranger Engine

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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 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

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

SINCE ABOUT 10,000 MILES MY ENGINE HAS MADE A CRACKLING NOISE UNDER ACCELERATION. 'VE TALKED TO MANY OTHER RANGER OWNERS WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. SOME OF THEM SAID THEY TOOK THEIR TRUCKS TO A DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THE NOISE WAS FROM THE TIMING IN THE ENGINE AND THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE FIXED. IT WAS TO MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IF A AUTOMOTIVE COMPANY MAKES A MISTAKE AND IT IS NOT EASILY REPAIRABLE AND IS FREQUENT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL SO THE PROBLEM COULD BE FIXED. I'M GOING TO SELL MY TRUCK IN THE SPRING BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE NO IDEA IF THIS TIMING PROBLEM WILL HAVE ANY LONG TERM EFFECT ON THE ENGINE ITSELF BUT I DO NOT WANT TO WAIT AROUND AND SEE SINCE FORD ONLY OFFERS A 3 YEAR 36,000 MILE WARRANTY AND I HAVE 45,000 MILES ON MY TRUCK.*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

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

I HAD A PINGING,THEY CHANGED A SENSOR, IT WENT AWAY FOR A WHILE AND NOW IT IS BACK, THEN THEY CLEANED THE CARBON OUT OF THE ENGINE AND NOW IT SURGES, AND STILL PINGS. THEY PUT IT ON A MACHINE AND THE MACHINE SAID IT IS OK. I AM NOT SATISFIED. *JB

EXHAUST ODOR AFTER ENGINE REACHES NORMAL OPERATING TEMP. THE ODOR IS LIKE ROTTEN EGGS, SULPHUR, PHOSPHORUS. PROBLEM BEGAN WHEN VEHICLE WAS APPROX. 9 MONTHS OLD WITH LESS THAN 10,000 MILES. VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT NEW AND IS A 2002 FORD RANGER WITH 4.0, AUTO, 4X4. VEHICLE NOW HAS 17,405 MILES AND HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER 4 OR 5 TIMES WITHOUT RESOLVE AND IS ABOUT TO GO BACK AGAIN. THE DEALER SAID THEY HAVE DONE EVERYTHING FORD HAS ADVISED THEM TO DO AND THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO TRY NEXT. THE DEALER SAID FORD WILL NOT AUTHORIZE REPLACING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WOULD START OVER AGAIN WHEN THE NEW CONVERTOR "BURNS" IN. THE DEALER TOLD ME THE FIRST TIME IT WOULD GO AWAY IN APPROX. 5,000 MILES. THE SMELL REMAINS AND, IF ANYTHING, IS GETTING WORSE. THE FRUSTRATION BEGAN WHEN I TOOK THE TRUCK IN THE FIRST TIME FOR THE EXHAUST ODOR AND A SEVERE JERK WHEN PUTTING THE TRANS. INTO REVERSE. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THE "JERK" WAS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE (10,008 MILES) WAS GETTING "BROKE IN" BUT THE SMELL WAS DUE TO THE CONVERTOR JUST "BURNING IN" BECAUSE IT WAS NEW! I'VE HAD 5 RANGERS SINCE 1996 AND PURCHASE 3 OTHER VEHICLES SINCE 1990 AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS ODOR IN ANY OF THEM. *JB

PURCHASED A NEW 2002 FORD RANGER 4X4 4DR XCAB WITH THE 4.0 ENGINE. VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION # [XXX], ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2002. AFTER COMING TO STOP, ENGINE HAS SURGED. FIRST TIME RPM WENT TO 1500 AND COULD KEEP THE TRUCK IN PLACE WITH BRAKE PRESSURE. TOOK TO DEALER FOR 3000 SERVICE IN DECEMBER AND REPORTED PROBLEM. DEALER PERFORMED NORMAL 3000 SERVICE AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS, HOWEVER THEY ASKED TO BE INFORMED IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN. THIS TIME ENGINE SURGED TO OVER 3000 RPM AND COULD NOT KEEP TRUCK STOPPED PUSHING INTO ANOTHER TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME. WE HIT BUMPERS AND THE ONLY WAY TO STOP MY TRUCK WAS TO SLAM THE TRANSMISSION INTO PARK. ARE THERE ANY OTHER REPORTED PROBLEMS OF ENGINE SURGE LIKE THIS. USING REGULAR GASOLINE IN THE TANK. TAKING TRUCK BACK TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *JB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

2002 RANGERS ARE APPARENTLY EQUIPPED WITH A SPEED CONTROL CHIP THAT LIMITS TOP END SPEED AND RPM'S. I WAS NOT INFORMED THAT MY VEHICLE WAS GOING TO BE CRIPPLED BY THIS DEVICE OR I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED IT. WHEN DRIVING IN THE WESTERN US, THIS LIMITER HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT 4 TIMES. FORD SHOULD BE COMPELLED TO TELL BUYERS THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS A SPEED LIMITER BEFORE THE SALE IS CLOSED.

WHILE TURNING A CORNER THE VEHICLES ENGINE SHUTS OFF. VEHICLE WILL START RIGHT UP AGAIN, CONSUMER FEELS UNSAFE BECAUSE THE BRAKES AND STEERING GO OUT. CAUSE OF STALLING IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

THE VEHICLES ENGINE IDLES ROUGHLY WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE. I NOTICED THIS PROBLEM INSTANTLY AFTER PICKING UP THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALERSHIP. I HAD TAKEN IT IN TO DEAN SELLERS FORD IN TROY MICHIGAN WITH 500 MILES ON IT AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A NEW ENGINE FOR THE RANGER, AND IT WAS SUPPOSE TO DRIVE LIKE THAT. HOWEVER, AFTER CONTINUING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND EXPERIENCING STALL OUTS I BELIEVE THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY ENGINE. I STARTED UP OTHER RANGERS AT OTHER DEALERSHIPS AND YES, WHEN FIRST STARTED THE IDLING IS ROUGH BUT THEN KICKS DOWN TO A NORMAL RUNNING IDLE. I HAVE HAD A SERVICE TECH. AGREE WITH ME THAT THE IDLING SEEMS TO BE ROUGH ON MY VEHICLE BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN FOUND TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. NOR HAS ANYTHING BEEN FOUND ON THE STALL OUTS. I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED "JOLTING" OR "SURGES" OF POWER WHILE DRIVING. ATTEMPTING TO SPEED UP 5 OR 10 MPH PRODUCES A JOLT FORWARD AS THOUGH YOU HAVE GUNNED THE ENGINE, AT TIMES IT FEELS AS THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS SPEEDING UP ON IT'S OWN. I TRULY BELIEVE FORD IS MANUFACTURING FAULTY ENGINES WITH THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE AND I AM COMPLETELY 100% UNSATISFIED WITH MY PURCHASE OF THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE OWNED A 1995 RANGER AND HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THAT YEAR LINE. SOMEONE OF AUTHORITY NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE THIS VEHICLE AND CONSUMERS SHOULD BE COMPENSATED FOR THE MANY ISSUES FORD HAS WITH RANGER ENGINES. YOUR ASSISTANCE AND POWER IS MUCH APPRECIATED.*AK