Used Ranger

I've had mine for five years, with pretty good luck with it. Ask for maintenance records from whomever you buy it from.

When you test drive, see if it "clunks" into gear accelerating from the stop. Apparently, this is common in trucks, mine has done it the whole time I've had it ( just waiting for the trans to drop in the middle of the road).

Also, do a good check of the hoses, especially around the DPTE or EGR sensors. I found mine were corroded through, making the truck run rough. I replaced the hoses and it runs great now. They are supposed to be made from high temp. silicone from what I am told. Make sure someone didn't replace them with gas line hose.

Hope this is a step in the right direction.

Lots. Here's a good place to start looking:

Caveat

Is there anything I should watch for with my new '03 base Ranger?

I've already been told to check the transmission fluid with every oil change. Anything else?

Jon

'03 Ford Ranger, 2.3L 5 speed '85 Shelby Charger, 2.2L turbo'd 5 speed

No, it's a friggin' jet engine that works on the principle of anti-gravity.

From the late 1990s up though the 2000 model year the 4.0L engine was a pushrod OHV design. The engine is basically a bored-out modification of an earlier small-cube model. It has *issues* -- primarily the marbling problem (possibly piston slap) which Ford now refuses to address. The 2001 (and beyond, I believe) 4.0 engines are overhead cam engines, and have some different problems (principally related to the chain cam drive system). The other engine components are the same.

You asked about the Ranger XLT. But by modifying the terms of the Google Groups advanced search engine, you can include other Ranger models with 4.0 engines that deal with many of these engine problems. But the XLT specifically has some unique problems (serious drive train issues) that would not apply to the shorter wheelbase models.

Similarly, adding a 4X4 search term in Google will produce a still different list. And being more specific on year will narrow that list. Lots of info has been posted about Ranger problems here, and on various web sites. Google will find them for you.

Regards,

Caveat

(2000 4.0 XLT 4X4)

Having read quite a few posts here, Rangers sound more and more like aircooled VWs with their shared problems that others have a grip on, so with some reading, you can too. :) I regard it as a plus.

If a guy were to go buy a used Ranger, which engine should he look for? Would a 4 speed manual be best too?

I'm thinking of kids I know that need vehicles and want a small pickup. Like having an updated VW bug, with the internet they'd be set to take care of their own vehicle just like them nutty aircooled VW people? :)

Alvin in AZ (ex-ramva nut)

As a veteran of several VW beatles (circa late 60s), I can identify with the common problems to which you refer (e.g., the #3 exhaust valve overheating because cooling air was blocked by the oil cooler). And I've rebuilt more than a couple 1500cc engines in my garage.

Unfortunately, however, such shade tree mechanic's skills are of little use with recent vehicles. Everything is computer-operated, and

-- even with shop manuals -- home repair is very difficult even if you had all the specialized tools.

I have the 4.0 with a manual tranny. It is an XLT with 4WD, and the power is appreciated. The engine is very strong, but a real gas hog. Don't know much about the 3.0s. The 5-speed is adequate, if clunky. It is built in Japan and is probably the strongest element in the drive train.

The Ranger is actually not a small pickup. It's a mid-sized vehicle midway between a small 2WD older Datsun PU types and a full sized current truck. Best advise I could give is to go drive a few vehicles in the different sizes and choose what best fits your needs.

Rgds,

Caveat

Those old Datsun pickups were tough as nails. I used to work at a garden nursery during high school-- we had several '74s adn '76 Datsun pickups with over 300,000 miles on them. Sure, they were beat to hell and rusted out everywhere. However, they always started in sub-zero weather and they ran strong and cheap on gas.