1997 Ford Ranger

ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS: 1. INTERMITTENT WIPERS WILL WIPE 2, 3, 4, 5 TIMES AT RANDOM IN A ROW ALWAYS AND NOT IN THAT ORDER. 2. BACKUP LIGHTS CONTINUE TO BLOW FUSE AFTER REPLACING ALL LIGHTING PARTS 3. HORN WORKS 1% OF THE TIME, UNABLE TO FIND CAUSE. 4. AC BLOWS HOT AIR INTERMITTENTLY EVEN AFTER REPLACEMENT OF BLOWER BLEND DOOR. 5. GAS: WHEN BELOW 1/4 TANK AND MAKING RIGHT TURN TRUCK WILL STALL, EVEN AFTER WORK ON TANK. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE INDICATOR REMAINED LIT UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. WHEN THE SPEED WAS REDUCED, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP FOR INSPECTION AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS RE-BUILT REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,099 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 126,431. UPDATED 05/08/09 *BF THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE SEAT BROKE LOOSE. UPDATED 05/12/09.*JB UPDATED 06/09/09.*JB

CONSUMER STATED WHEN STARTING VEHICLE IT IDLED AND WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SUDDENLY TOOK OFF WHILE STILL IDLING VERY HIGH. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER 3 TIMES, AND EACH TIME , THE VEHICLE WAS PUT ON THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE AND NOTHING WAS FOUND. CONSUMER WAS AFRAID OF AN ACCIDENT IF THIS CONTINUED. *AK

1997 FORD RANGER TRUCK-SHORTLY AFTER LEAVING MY HOME, WITHIN 10 MINUTES, I NOTICED A CLICKING NOISE. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE CAR NEXT TO ME, I LOOKED AT MY GAUGES AND NOTICED NOTHING UNUSUAL. WITHIN APPROXIMATELY 1 MINUTE THE CAR LOST POWER. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE SHOULDER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. JUST BEFORE TURNING OFF THE IGNITION THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE SPIKED TO HOT. UPON EXAMINATION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE ENGINE GOT HOT ENOUGH TO CRACK ALL FOUR VALVES IN THE ENGINE HEAD. BASICALLY A NEW ENGINE IN A CAR WITH 84,000 MILES ON IT. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS ENGINE IS RATED TO LAST 200,000 MILES. *LA

97 FORD RANGER 4WD ~79K MILES, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FREOM WORK ON BACK ROAD DOING 30 MPH. SHE THOUGHT SHE RAN OVER SOMETHING AND THE TRUCK IMMEDIATELY DIED. NO ENGINE, POWER STEERING OR ANYTHING. *AK WHAT HAPPENED WAS THE CRAK SHAFT BROKE OFF AT THE ENGINE BLOCK. A WHOLE ENGINE REPLACEMENT WAS NEEDED. INSPECTING WHERE THE SHAFT BROKE OFF IT IS OBVIOUS TO ME, THE MECHANIC AND OTHERS THAT PART WAS DEFECTIVE IN THE MANUFACTURE PROCES. ABOUT 40% OF THE RING OF THE SHAFT LOOKS FINE (SOLID STEEL). THE REMAINDER OF THE RING IS ALL POUROUS. IT LOOKS LIKE A BAD FORGE PROCESS. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO DAMAGE OR INJURY OR WORSE, I DO BELIEVE THIS DEFECT PRESENTED A DANGEROUS SAFTEY ISSUE. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE HYWAY THE CONCEQUENCES COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. THE DEFECT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CAUGHT IN SOME QUALITY CONTROL PORCESS. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD ABOUT REIMBURSMENT FOR THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT BUT THEY WILL NOT CONSIDER IT. I HAVE THE PART THAT BROKE OFF AND CAN SUPPLY YOU WITH DIGITAL PHOTOS IF THAT WOULD HELP. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REGISTER THIS COMPLAINT.

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WILL CONTINUOUSLY COME ON AND STAY ON. ALSO, ALARM WILL COME ON FROM TIME TO TIME, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF. CONTACTED DEALER WHO COULD NOT FIND CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *AK THE DOOR SWITCHES WILL NOT ALLOW THE INTERIOR LIGHT TO GO OFF UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS IN FULL MOTION WITH THE CLUTCH LET ALL THE WAY OUT. WHEN BACKING UP IN THE DARK IT IS HARD TO SEE OUT OF THE BACK WINDOW BECAUSE OF THE INTERIOR LIGHT BEING ILLUMINATED. *JG