1997 Ford Ranger

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD RANGER. WHILE TRAVELING 10 MPH ATTEMPTING A LEFT HAND TURN THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NO LONGER RESPOND CAUSING THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE STEERING WHEEL COULD BE TURNED IN ANY DIRECTION BUT THE WHEELS WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE MOVEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING BOX HAD SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS AND THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 85000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL AT 55 MPH, BUT TO NO AVAIL. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT RECEIVED REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V399000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE SURFACE IMMEDIATELY AFTER RECALL REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

1997 FORD RANGER XLT ,DATE IS APPROXIMATE SINCE FILLER HOSE SLOWLY CRACKED AND GOT WORSE, SMELLED FUEL CONSTANTLY SINCE 80,000 MILES AND HAD TO EVENTUALLY SPEND 600.00 TO GET IT FIXED AT FORD DEALERSHIP FOR WHAT LOOKED LIKE A SMALL RUBBER HOSE, I WOULD HAVE REPLACED MYSELF BUT COULD NOT LOCATE OEM REPLACEMENT ANYWHERE ELSE INCLUDING ALL AUTO STORES (DEALER ONLY PART), THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, I CONSIDERED IT A TIMEBOMB. THANKFULLY NOTHING DANGEROUS HAPPENED BEFORE I TOOK IT TO DEALER, THOUGH DOING A INTERNET SEARCH REVEALED A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE CERTAIN YEARS OF FORD RANGERS WHICH SOME PEOPLE DUE TO COST ARE REPLACING WITH A COMMON RUBBER HOSE WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS AND HAS STATIC THAT COULD MAKE IT GO UP IN FLAMES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, BOTH REAR SPRINGS FELL FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS RESIDENCE WITHOUT INCIDENT AND CONTACTED THE DEALER IN WHICH HE PURCHASED IT. THE DEALER ADVISED IT WAS THE CONTACTS RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAS HAD NUMEROUS FAILURES INCLUDING A HOLE IN THE FUEL TANK AND MUFFLER FAILURES. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 119,000.

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

I OWN A 1997 FORD RANGER XLT 4X4 4.0LTR.MANY SHOPS HAVE WORK ON THE FRONT AXEL WHEEL BEARINGS AND SEALS AND RETAINER NUT THIS NUT TAKES A SOCKET 2.3/8 R-6 MOST SHOPS DON'T HAVE IT SO THEY USE WHAT EVER THEY HAVE,CHISELL,LOCKING PLYERS ECT...CREATING FRONT END DAMAGE TO WHEEL BEARINGS,SEALS, BRAKES,CALIPERS,BRAKE DRUMS, MOST OF AL THE TIRES..I HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS BECAUSE THEY DID NOT USE THE RIGHT TOOL FOR THE JOB ALSO DID NOT REMOVE LCKING PIN FROM SPINDEL. *TR

THE ENGINE OCCASIONALLY RACES (RUNAWAY ACCELERATION) ON MY 1997 FORD RANGER 4X4 WITH STANDARD TRANSMISSION AND OVERDRIVE AND 3.0L ENGINE. THE ACCELERATION TENDS TO OCCUR AFTER I HAVE DRIVEN THE VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (70 MPH) AND THEN DRIVE AT SLOWER SPEEDS SUCH AS IN AN URBAN SETTING. AT SUCH TIMES, THE IDLE REMAINS RATHER HIGH AND ENGINE RACING OCCURS WHEN I ENGAGE THE CLUTCH TO SHIFT INTO SECOND OR THIRD GEAR. THE ENGINE RACING CAUSES THE GEARS TO CLASH (GRIND) AND RESIST SHIFTING; I HAVE ALMOST BEEN REAR ENDED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO THIS SLOWING OF FORWARD MOTION SINCE THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON TO INDICATE IT. SOMETIMES THE ACCELERATION RUNS AWAY, AND I HAVE HAD TO QUICKLY PULL OVER AND TURN OFF THE IGNITION TO PREVENT BLOWING THE ENGINE. I HAVE TAKEN THE PROBLEM TO SEVERAL MECHANICS INCLUDING FORD, BUT NONE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE. THERE EVIDENTLY WAS A RECALL FOR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS WITH A SIMILAR PROBLEM BUT NOT FOR STANDARD TRANSMISSIONS. *TR

WHEN FILLING FUEL TANK ON 1997 FORD RANGER 4X4 LONG BED, FUEL LEAKS BACK OUT AND PUDDLES ON PAVEMENT BELOW VEHICLE DUE TO A SPLIT THAT HAS RECENTLY DEVELOPED IN THE FUEL TANK FILLER NECK (HOSE). EVEN WHEN I DO NOT FILL TANK ALL THE WAY (TO PREVENT ABOVE LEAKING) GAS FUMES ARE STILL STRONG AND HAVE ACCUMULATED INSIDE THE CANOPY (TOPPER) ON PICKUP BED. FUEL APPEARS TO LEAK (BASED ON ODOR) AFTER EXECUTING A SHARP TURN, A QUICK STOP, AND WHEN TRAVELING OVER BUMPY ROADS. FORD'S PRICE FOR A REPLACEMENT FILLER NECK IS PROHIBITIVE (AROUND $450) PLUS LABOR AND THUS, I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO HAVE THE PROBLEM REPAIRED. *TR