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OK, I was heading out of eagan on MN55 NB crossing on the mendota bridge. there is a nice little ramp going onto the bridge that is great for coasting down , so I look no one is behind me, so I pulse up to sixty, fas, and freewheel down the ramp and halfway across the big bridge , watching my current trip gauge shoot for the moon when I start seeing cars coming from behind. So I get er going and and step on it, but very little throttle response. I tried downshifting, rpms go up, but no acceleration is happening. I get across the bridge and to the second exit and I still cant get it to go over 50 mph.
I take the 28th street exit go up the ramp turn right and park and shut off and sit for a while trying to decide what to do. By now i am quite upset, thinking what should I do? call the dealer? park it and drive the van til I can find out whats wrong? Well after I sat for a few minutes calming down, I started driving toward my place. i notice it seems to be running fine. I pass my place and head up to downtown minneapolis on the back streets make my delivery, then decide to just keep working and see if it happens again. well, i finished the day 150 miles and never had another issue. Now i am beginning to wonder if I imagined the whole thing! :confused: I am thinking I will just keep driving and see, mabye it wont happen again, but i think i am going to save my super high mpg game for the Mirage!

Any ideas?

I dunno, Michael. Maybe some gunk in the fuel filter?

My Ranger gets an apparent ECU brain fart on reboot occasionally that sounds similar to your issue (but not as severe). So far turning it off and back on again works.

Mechanics usually aren't good at diagnosing intermittent problems so I haven't sought professional help.

My Ranger gets an apparent ECU brain fart on reboot occasionally that sounds similar to your issue (but not as severe). So far turning it off and back on again works.

Mechanics usually aren't good at diagnosing intermittent problems so I haven't sought professional help.

Mabye that is all it was. turning it off and leting it sit a few minutes seemed to clear up the problem. I was paranoid that it was happening again a few times, but it was just the wind, gusting up to almost 40 mph messin with me ;)

My Ranger gets an apparent ECU brain fart on reboot occasionally that sounds similar to your issue (but not as severe). So far turning it off and back on again works.

Mechanics usually aren't good at diagnosing intermittent problems so I haven't sought professional help.

Actually you are probably right on the mark with your diagnosis. When you shut down an engine and/or trans ecu when doing a fas and then restart you can create a situation (not common) where the ecu sees implausible input - like vehicle speed (when it assumes 0 for a start).

Usually a complete normal shutdown, wait 30 sec and restart will allow the ecu to restart normally with no implausible value input. In rare cases a battery reset (disconnect battery and use a fused jumper wire to bridge the positive and negative battery cables (NOT TERMINALS!!!!! really important detail there) for 15 minutes will clear any errors in the ecu.

Think of it kind of like using the power button on your pc instead of the shut down operation - most of the time not a problem but every once in a while you get the blue screen of death on start up.

Anyway, not likely to be the fuel filter. You would be more likely to see that be a problem at full throttle/full fuel pressure. Also very rare for a fuel filter to clog - I have changed exactly 2 clogged fuel filters in 15 years.

ps - most techs hate intermittant and electrical diagnosis, you have to think and it usually doesn't pay very well - I love the challenge, anyone can change a part - not everyone know what part to change.

That could be Scott. but the thing I didn't mention is I coast quite a bit while not running at slower speeds, I also shut it off at red lights if I suspect I will be there for a while, even today in the afternoon without a problem.
i wonder if the higher speed had anything to do with it?
i have done the same coast with my mirage and with my van and had no problems.
Mabye some time i will try another high speed ice off coast when i am not working and see if it happens again.

It's possible that a threshold for vehicle speed (not the same value as engine speed) may be different for the ranger. It could also be just a complete fluke of nature (pesky electrons don't always behave). I tend not to worry to much about single events that aren't at least infrequently recurring.

The really long shot here would be a possible failing ecu - but very unlikely.

My take would be just a sw glitch in the ecu that cleared when you shut down for a few minutes.

(pesky electrons don't always behave).

well, that tends to throw a curve at many a scientific inquiry hehehe:p:p

Thanks for the replies Scott! :)

In Russian they call it, "zhest" (the zh is pronounced like the j in deja vu), which roughly translates as "s--- happens." Could have been any number of things that triggered it, if it doesn't happen again and the FE is still good than why worry!

MT When did you get a 2006 Ranger-must have missed that?I do remember that the minivan was being retired. 36 MPG already-wow!! 11 mpg up on the minivan! Weight really does kill mpg!!(more than Cylinders)

Indelicate question- what did you pay for a 2006 with how many miles? If this is too gauche a question, just ignore it. I'm still hunting for an economical solution to my FSP. Old vehicles are lots of work.I just spent $60 ordering intake manifold gaskets- a chronic GM problem, and I'm steeling myself for a full morning of greasy tedious work to replace them-when they arrive.

Thanks,
Charlie

PS Inline fuel filter can go on and off like that-usually it eventually is more off than on-how many miles??
PPS- You didn't imagine it-whatever it is, it will be back. It is faintly possible that the PO had this problem and kinda gave up on it. Intermittent Electrical problems can be tricky also, but try filter 1st(cheap easy).Oh, do you guys have much of a problem with h2o in the gas?Unlikely, but worth keeping in mind.

MT When did you get a 2006 Ranger-must have missed that?I do remember that the minivan was being retired. 36 MPG already-wow!! 11 mpg up on the minivan! Weight really does kill mpg!!(more than Cylinders)

Indelicate question- what did you pay for a 2006 with how many miles? If this is too gauche a question, just ignore it. I'm still hunting for an economical solution to my FSP. Old vehicles are lots of work.I just spent $60 ordering intake manifold gaskets- a chronic GM problem, and I'm steeling myself for a full morning of greasy tedious work to replace them-when they arrive.

Thanks,
Charlie

I got the ranger last week.
The van is only semiretired, still runs great. backup when the ranger need service, kayak and bicycle hauler, etc...
I got it for $5800 and it has 80,000 miles (barely broken in for me ;) )

I posted some pics on my blogspot here:

http://mtbucket.blogspot.com/2009/05/my-ranger-pickup.html

Ranger ran great today, 150 miles, 38.5 mpg, with many highway trips over 40 mpg, the best being 11 miles at 43.5 mpg.
This is with the default settings on the scangauge, once I get it dialed in, the numbers could be a bit lower, but still I am getting great mileage with a steady throttle and speeds below 60!!!

$5800- hey not bad!! Lot to be said for inexpensive!
Thanks for the info
Charlie

I must have missed this one while I was on break...

My Ranger has intermittent issues also, though even with the issues it seems to be doing better than yours.

I see it more often now, but mainly because the SG gives me a bit of a tip (FE drop).

FE suffers slightly, but the big clue is that it idles rough and only idles at 5-600 rpm.

With a different vehicle or lower speeds I would be able to tell better, but it doesn't sound all that different when travelling down the highway. Mainly because wind and road noise are loud enough to hide the sound of the engine.

If it's doing this, I really loose a lot trying to get up hills. So far all I have needed to do to fix it is FAS then bump start again.

It's done this before hypermiling too, it's just more noticable since I am starting more often (FASing).

Im beginning to think I was just spazzed a bit or something, I have to remind myself that I am used to trucks with a V6, plus it may have been more of an incline than I thought, plus the winds were gusting to almost 40 mph! I really thought there was something wrong, but it has run fine ever since, just a bit wimpy compared to what I am use too. It is a good tradeoff though for for 10 extra MPG! even with a 700 # load I am beating the EPA of a Yaris! :)

I have to remind myself that I am used to trucks with a V6, plus it may have been more of an incline than I thought, plus the winds were gusting to almost 40 mph!

That sounds like my Friday night, with a couple of changes.

I'm on the highway going 30-35 mph. DWL I am only getting 30 mpg.

No incline.

What's the problem? 40 mph headwind (steady wind, not gusts) and rain so hard that most people were pulled over on the side of the road (if they can't see well enough to go 55 they won't bother).

I can't believe what I'll go through to see the GF.

Well... since Friday night, fiance.

I can't believe what I'll go through to see the GF.

Well... since Friday night, fiance.

CONGRATULATIONS!

sweeet!! congrats indeed! :thumbs_up:

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

:bananahuge:

That's a big step, but there is none better in my book. :D

Hey, when she becomes Mrs. Taliesin, you won't have to drive through hurricanes to see here anymore! :D

Hey, when she becomes Mrs. Taliesin, you won't have to drive through hurricanes to see here anymore! :D

Ahh to be young again:) . Congrats

Ahh to be young again:) . Congrats

Young... Heck, I get called "dad" at work all the time. I'll be 41 in a couple of months.

hey, better late than never! mabye theres still hope for me at 43! :)

well the ranger after over 2000 miles did it again, lost lots of power going up a slight incline. i just shut it of, coasted a short bit and resarted and it cleared right up. must be that computer issue. if it only does it now and then and doesn't get any worse i can live with it i guess...thanks to everyone who posted here! :)

Perhaps there is an update for the ECU?