Hi guys. 2002 4.0 Ranger. The truck seems to like to kick out of park into reverse after the truck is off. It will buck and roll if I don’t set the E brake. Tranny fluid is good. No problems shifting while driving.
The idle is becoming an issue as well. Seems to not be weather related. I replaced the idle valve and put on a fresh serpentine belt. When I start the truck, the idle will be high. Almost like the throttle is stuck. After awhile, the idle gradually drops down to 500 and starts to buck. At this point, unless I give it fuel it dies. There doesn’t seem to be any noticeable fuel leaks or smells but there is a noise that sounds like an air leak under the hood.
Any ideas on what to check first? It has been drivable for a few days like this, but I want to get through another winter if I can. Thanks in advance guys!
It sounds like you have a pretty good vacuum leak somewhere. Listen around your intake manifold for the hissing noise and see if there are any hoses disconnected from any ports on the manifold. if not, its most likely intake manifold gaskets. They are notorious for leaking on the 4.0 rangers and explorers from the late 90s to the early 2000s. As for the transmission issue, How sloppy is your shifter? And does the needle that points to the selected gear on the cluster properly line up with the gear that you are actually in?