96 Ranger problems...

[Transient]

Sorry for the long post...

96' Ranger with 183,000 miles. 2.3 cyl., Automatic, XLT

When I'am driving and get to the 35 to 60 mph range, my trucks transmission wants to upshift, then immediately downshift to the gear it just left. It goes back and forth like this till I get where I am going, or after about 10 miles it will stop doing it. I checked the transmission fluid, and it is full and still pink.

I took it to Advanced Auto, and it blew a code of ECL Bank 1 I believe. I looked around the 'net and I think it came out to be the front O2 sensor may be bad/going bad.

Last week while it was warm enough I was driving with the rear window open, and noticed the faint smell of Rotten Eggs (this has been the only time though). Today I drove about 50 miles and basically used a quarter of a tank of gas.

I'am wondering if the catalytic convertor may also be going bad?

Any advice would be appreciated!!!

 

[SuperCab]

May just be bad plugs/wires. O2 sensors are usually the last thing to look at since they are the most expensive to replace ...

I'm sure others will give their input.


Most of all, welcome to the site!!!

 

[98f150base]

Check the mass airflow sensor. If it gets dirty it wil cause all sorts of drivability problems and through lean codes. Clean it with brake clean or mass airflow cleaner only nothing that leaves a oily residue like carb cleaner. It located on the air filter box and usually has 2 tamper proof torx screws. You can use a small pair of vise grips in place of the torx.

 

[Transient]

Greetings thanks for the replies!!
I took it to O'reillys and scanned it, and it blew codes of P1443, and P0420.
So basically the evap cannister, which I think I can handle and possibly the cat convertor, which I may take in and have done. I don't have many tools, and little time. I may just replace the entire exhaust, as the muffler has three holes in it anyways lol. I will try the MAF stuff first though. Thanks for any advice though guys!

 

[Transient]

I cleaned the MAF sensor today, and it runs better, with very little of the gear thing going on. I reset the power to clear the codes and will get them checked again tomorrow. Thanks for the advice!!

 

[98f150base]

Glad to hear it made a difference the only other thing would cause the feeling with the trans would be a missfire or and internal issue but since you said that it smelled like rotten eggs I would not worry about the problem being in the trans more of symptom of poor engine performance. The MAF is the main sensor for fuel mixture on fords when they get dirty it will run very poorly.

 

[Transient]

Just update this thread, I cleaned the MAF sensor, replaced the Evap assembly (as it was giving another code), had the transmission pan taken off and had the tranny examined (while in the vehicle), replaced the cat converter and muffler as both were ready to fall off anyways, it still does what it was doing before. LOL.
And its not giving any codes now. Dunno any ideas, I'am seriously thing of trading it in while I still can, thanks for all the advice though!!

 

[john112deere]

Two thoughts come to mind, though they really don't amount to any more than a couple parts I might throw at it before I gave up.

-I was doing some testing once on my '97 and forgot to reconnect my TPS sensor. It accelerated and drove fine up to cruising speed (30-35), but would buck badly at steady speed. Not sure what it would have done in front of an automatic.

-I don't know why it wouldn't throw a code, but I think the speed-sensor for the transmission and the speed sensor for the speedometer are two different units for that year, and bad speed sensors will make electronic automatics do weird things.

 

[smokey]

I agree with Ian check the TPS that can make them buck.
I 'm pretty sure it is tied in to the shift patterns of the Automatic also.