x-posted in the automotive board too

Rode in a buddies Ranger this weekend and it was not running right. Its been pretty neglected its whole life but they have started to take better care of it in the past few months. Since then, its started to drive like crap....specifically after the oil/filter change as well as new air cleaner.

Anyway this weekend, it would drive perfectly first thing in the morning while it was cold but after it warmed up, it had absolutely zero throttle response and was just overall sluggish in general. On the drive back to the house it had random spurts where it operated correctly but in the end kept doing the same thing.

I recommended checking the spark plugs and they were dirty as you could get. brushed em off and that seemed to help for a while but the last morning it went back to doing the same old thing.

My question is do you think brand new plugs would help or does it sound like there are other bigger issues?

Replace the fuel pump.

I went with an Amazon cheapo...

Bigger issues. I had similar symptoms and the fix was TPS. You can try to clean that, but I had to replace. I also heard they are real finicky on fuel pressure - and pretty common for fuel pump to be an issue. Just a few things to check.

That series has cooling system plumbing geometry problems.

Could be just getting hot.

You need to "burp" it to eliminate an air lock.

Remove radiator cap. Lift front end off the ground as much as you can. If it has a winch this is easy. I've seen it done with a tractor loader as well.

Once the coolant has displaced the air lock, top off and go.

If it doesn't work the first time just do it again.

I had the same symptoms in a 2008 Ranger Crew and it turned out to be the throttle cable. After fiddling around with both ends (especially the length adjustment at the throttle body), it is running like it should now.

How old is the battery?

We have a 2012 crew 500 and we've learned it runs terrible once the battery starts to crap out.

Check the oil level. When deanship did my yearly maintenance they did not put enough oil in it. Would start normally and sound great when it warmed up and you gave it throttle would sound like its choking out well it was because it was low on oil. It took long time for them to figure that out. I replaced TPS, Throttle cable, filters then took to another place and they figured it out.

thanks for all the replies guys.......he said he'll start at the easiest/cheapest fix and go from there

second on fuel pump. same issues i had and fuel pump fixed it. do it yourself.

Fuel pump. Changed on 15 and 19 with low hours. They will act up like that before they go completely out.

Very likely fuel pump. Easy fix via Chinese knockoff from amazon or ebay. Should be ~$100. Buy the whole assembly. I tried buying just the pump to save a few bucks but disassembling the housing was a pain and I ended up breaking it and having to buy the whole thing anyway.

Other common issue is a bad wiring harness on the throttle, but that usually acts up when you first start and run it, not after it warms up.

Check the rubber manifold from the throttle body to the motor. They can split over time. They'll still run, just like crap.

How coincidental to find this thread today, I too haz 2010 Ranger and I'm in the middle of a 'refresh' that's been long overdue. I wouldn't say my Ranger is a POS, it's always run good, but for the limited use it's had I think it has given it's share of nagging problems along the way. Most notable was the deterioration of all the soft suspension parts. It got scary to operate on hard surfaces at any speed above a jog. After all the bushings cracked and fell out the whole unit wanted to swap ends at high speed. So here we are tonight....



So far I think I'm at almost $1,100 worth of parts (the labor is all me).

• new (every) A-arm bushing, nut, bolt, sleeve
• new CV shafts
• new wheel bearings
• new ball joints
• new steering sector
• new shock bushings (aftermarket)
• new stabilizer bushings
• new brakes pads
• new radiator
• new radiator hoses
• new thermostat
• blasted and painted all the A arms (powder coat flaking)

I'm sure there's some stuff I have forgotten I've ordered - I just wait to see what UPS shows up with each day. I've also learned some stuff from this thread - thanks to everyone contributing.