Tech Thread - Ford Ranger

[civic minded]

i think that is the first time i am hearing that one - the spring in the seat making noise??well what i can tell you - unhinged the seat and turn it over , if you have access to the springs - WD40 them

[nick009]

hrm i do about 3000k at 120 too but my engine is sound like it ready to blow up(manual).

[lighthammer]

^^^ do u have a CAI with a K&N cone filter on?

Those tend to make more noise than a drop-in K&N.

[nick009]

nope i have a drop in

[vharripersad]

SOME PLEASE EXPLAIN
Guys, My uncle has a Ford Ranger 2.5 XLT Manual 2009 TCM ranger 4x4. His 4x4 has the 4x4 lever, RFW switch and Diff Lock Switch.
My unit is a 4x4 XLT manual 2010 Ford ranger. I have the 4x4 lever and the RFW switch, however I DONT have a DIFF LOCK Switch like my uncle has. Does that mean my unit is crappy as compared to my uncle? Someone please explain, thanks.

Also, for the guy who is hearing his seat making noise, I BET U push down the radio pole all the way inside and the noise stops. It's a defect with all Rangers where the radio pole when extended all out swings and makes a springly noise right above ur head but feels like its coming from the driver's section of the vehicle. May be wrong but my dad experience it in his HURRICANE and I DID in my XLT.

[civic minded]

I don't think diff lock comes standard ???

[D grey wingroad]

thanks man!!

i was talking to a few ppl recently about puting a timer on these pickups but one guy told me that the ford engines are built differently and a timer is not necessary..............

could someone explain this to me and tell me if it true or not.......

[civic minded]

read....
viewtopic.php?f=41&t=321233&hilit=turbo+timers

next time - do a search

[lighthammer]

for the sake of repetition....

The newer pickups with the newer-design turbochargers (Variable Geometry/Variable Nozzle Turbocharger etc.) are both oil-cooled & water-cooled. I think they take water from the radiator as well as engine oil to keep the turbo running at spec-temps.

Hence these newer turbo's (like in the TDCi Rangers, Navara, Hilux & L200 Sportero) don't run as much heat as the older ones with the simpler design (WL/WLT Rangers, 2.5/3.0 Frontiers, L200, etc).
The cool-down period is much less with the VGT/VNT turbo's than regular turbo's, hence less need for a turbo-timer.


It might still be advisable to install a turbo timer - esp. for extended highway runs. Despite the new-technology, the turbo will definitely run some heat and as long as your radiator & oil-pump are keepin the turbo cool that extra couple of mins, your turbo will last longer.

D grey wingroad...
if you have the 2.5 TDCI WLC engine (look under your hood, if you have a big black plastic thing covering the entire engine block, and your air-filter airbox is cylindrical) then you have a newer Variable Geometry Turbocharger.



This turbo is both water & air-cooled (from both the radiator & intercooler mounted under your front grill) - hence it doesn't generate as much heat as an older-style turbo like the one in my frontier. This means you don't need a turbo-timer to keep the engine running after driving within boost at highway speeds (boost usually kicks in at around 1800RPM for the newer TDCi engines) and then parking up somewhere.




If you have the 2.5 TDI WLT engine (your engine block will be exposed, and you can see the four fuel lines running directly from the fuel-pump to the injectors on the left side of the engine block, plus your air-filter airbox is square and should read "12V SOHC" on top of it) then you have an older-type turbo-charger.





Boost kicks in at around 2200 RPM's for this engine, so if you were driving under 2200rpm for at least a min before parking & shutting off (which is what happens when you're slowing down, pulling into the neighbourhood and then driveway and then parking at home) - this still counts as "non-boost idle time" where your turbo isn't spooling and thus is cooling down - making redundant the extra 1-2mins of Turbotimer-regulated idle time.


Ford claims that it's still not necessary to have a TT with these older engines, but either way, new or old engine, a TT won't hurt your engine.

[homeboy]

Good read LH, one thing confuses me though is the pick with the WLT engine, this is the same that i have but my firewall plate says WL......confusing.....

[lighthammer]

^^ u have the WL engine then. I dunnop if these come turbocharged - have a look by the exhaust headers. Or u could check for the intercooler in front of the radiator.

Otherwise the WL engine looks exactly the same as the WLT engine, sans turbo and intercooler.

[civic minded]

Good job , min of info.

[lighthammer]

homeboy check this link and download the pdf manuals for more info on your engine

http://www.trinituner.com/v3/forums/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=326401.

[nick009]

but the wlt has both water cool and oil cool also

[lighthammer]

^^ oh ho - I didn't know that. I thought the WLT turbo's were only oil-cooled.

[vharripersad]

Guys, I am not an expert with turbo timers but I realized when I had my frontier that it is not necessary and a waste of money, thats why the factory does not have them built in. I had one connected to my frontier and the only time it will be running when the ignition was off when I was parking at Grandbazzar or Trincity and was lucky to get a carpark right away. Most driving to park at work home by a partner etc, the timer would have already clock down to ZERO when I was ready to turn the engine off. It was only useful if I needed to park right off the highway like the malls for example and ran only for two minutes.
So I really think timers are a waste of time, if you are running your engine hard, just take ur time, fish around for a park, we drive in side streets and malls slower anyway, and by that time when u get ur park, the turbo would have already cooled down.

Again, I am not an expert, this is just my experience with the frontier. The timer was connected to the RPM wire something like that. So i did not have to set the timer each time, the faster and longer I drove, the higher the timer was clocking. Once I was driving under 60 0r 80 i think, the turbo timer would go back down to zero and remain 0 until i cross 80 again

[Mr. Go Slow]

Guys, I am not an expert with turbo timers but I realized when I had my frontier that it is not necessary and a waste of money, thats why the factory does not have them built in. I had one connected to my frontier and the only time it will be running when the ignition was off when I was parking at Grandbazzar or Trincity and was lucky to get a carpark right away. Most driving to park at work home by a partner etc, the timer would have already clock down to ZERO when I was ready to turn the engine off. It was only useful if I needed to park right off the highway like the malls for example and ran only for two minutes.
So I really think timers are a waste of time, if you are running your engine hard, just take ur time, fish around for a park, we drive in side streets and malls slower anyway, and by that time when u get ur park, the turbo would have already cooled down.

Again, I am not an expert, this is just my experience with the frontier. The timer was connected to the RPM wire something like that. So i did not have to set the timer each time, the faster and longer I drove, the higher the timer was clocking. Once I was driving under 60 0r 80 i think, the turbo timer would go back down to zero and remain 0 until i cross 80 again

Agreed. When I used to run the 3sgte in my trueno, 99.9% of the time when I switched off, the turbo timer, was down to zero anyway ... Never saw the need for it on the Ranger, even with my aggressive driving style.

[nick009]

anybody know what the fuek strainer element size(pump inlet) is for the wlt engine?
Or even a typical fuel strainer element size
thinking of getting an inline strainer

[vharripersad]

Guys, when rain is falling heavy can i drive on 4h? Can I also u 4h on wet road? Some people telling me yes and some saying no. What to do?

[civic minded]

if you have the newer rangers - ie - 2008 - up - you can drive with 4h no problems, just don't over do it on dry pavement and too much speed.

[Cooper]

Guys, when rain is falling heavy can i drive on 4h? Can I also u 4h on wet road? Some people telling me yes and some saying no. What to do?

Do not exceed 100 km/h.... it's usually written on the driver's side sun visor on the newer Rangers. I did it a couple times in really heavy rain while heading to and from Otaheite to Point Fortin. Didn't want to take a chance of losing grip with the stock tires.

[lighthammer]

no use 4H only for slippery conditions like sand, loose gravel or driving on the beach.

If you use 4H even on wet roads, you'll still end up with gear-winding or "drive-line binding", i.e. the LSD won't allow for much slipping of the wheels when turning corners on wet tarmac - this causes the drivetrain to tighten up and may even lead to breaking your transfer case - literally! You'll feel & hear a "bang!" and you'll see the transfercase broken into pieces.


Source (i know it says dry pavement, but it applied to wet too)

Just slow down in wet weather, drive 4 seconds behind the car in front, turn on your headlights (NOT THE HAZARDS!! - can't tell when you have to indicate if your hazards on) and learn how to use your ABS brakes in slippery road conditions.

[vharripersad]

Guys, thanks for your feedback. I am still confuse though because my friends said that when I am on 4h it puts more strain on the parts and can damage it. They say to use it only in mud. But u guys are using it on exactly what type condition? like highway wet road, main road wet road or is it highway with plenty water, mainroad with plenty water whilst its raining? What exactly type of road is it safe to use on? And are you guys sure I won't damage anything? I know the visor has DONT USE ON DRY PAVEMENT, but can I use when the road is wet and now drying up but still slick, or is it only when the raining is pouring and the road is gathering water? I am so confused.

[Cooper]

lighthammer, I had the same concerns about damaging the driveline. But if you ever had the "pleasure" of using Bridgstone Dueler Tires in wet conditions, you'll understand where I'm coming from.... the grip goes down to turn-a-corner-and-say-your-prayers.

If the roads going down Point were flat, I'd have no major issues....just slow down and take it easy in 2H. But there are hills that do go round corners, and in the rain, it can be a bit scary. I'd prefer to be on the safe side and use my 4H in those conditions. It's not on all the time anyway during a trip like that.... I just shift on the fly while the RFW is on.

[Cooper]

Just collected the truck after the 20K service....

Details on the Invoice:
Replaced Oil, Oil Filter & Fuel Filter. Checked Tyre pressure, Topped up fluids, greased all ends, checked lights & Horn. Checked Battery. Checked Air Filter.


I have a K&N so I didn't have to pay for an air filter. I specifically asked them to check the rear leaf springs....went off road, into a lot of mud recently and after I pressure washed the van, I got a lot of squeaking from the rear springs. They greased them up nicely and the noise is gone. Everyone from the guy collecting the truck, the service Technician and Cashiers were very professional and polite. I always get great service at McEnearney, which is why I'm kinda surprised when I hear complaints about the place.

[vharripersad]

So cooper, u r saying that in wet conditions on paved road, its save to leave the RFW on, so u can switch between 2h and 4h? Leaving the RFW on should not damage anything like what the picture shows above?
I feel I will play it safe, once a month use my 4h and 4l just for a minute to keep it running. Apart from that, no 4wheel engagement unless i get stuck.

B.T.W how come point to sando road is so bad, especially where WASA has dug up and not repaired for months now and yet no one protest/complain etc?

[vharripersad]

I am going to underwash my 2010 Ranger XLT 4x4 tomorrow. I am not going to Shock Oil it, cause every mechanic and the firm said DON'T SHOCK OIL, they will grease when needed.

Anyone knows why this shock oil is such a bad thing?

[Cooper]

I only do it because I have crappy tires and they lose traction in very wet conditions.....You can leave the RFW on all the time, but keep in mind that the front wheels will have an extra load on them (front hubs as well as the front prop-shaft is connected with the RFW on) and it could affect your fuel mileage. When you move the gear to 4H, only then the transfer case comes into play on the front wheels.

I actually crawled under the van and tried moving stuff by hand with the gear in the 2H & 4H positions....... I get bored sometimes


Most of the Road is good from Sando to Point. Some parts after Otaheite are bad, but it is a 'challenging drive' after you pass Vessigny .

[lighthammer]

^^ ah I see.

We have nice roads (mostly) in the north, so 4H is a rare thing until I head up towards manzanilla and beyond


Time to change those bridgestone duellers.

[Mr. Go Slow]

^^ ah I see.

We have nice roads (mostly) in the north, so 4H is a rare thing until I head up towards manzanilla and beyond


Time to change those bridgestone duellers.

What's the general consensus for the "best" tires to upgrade the ranger too with the stock wheels? Brand and size .. ?