Eight problems related to gasoline engine have been reported for the 1998 Ford Ranger. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
The check gauges light comes on and the engine continues to knock after repair was done by the dealer.
Bought this truck with 16,000 miles on it from earnheart Dodge. Dec . 11,1999. On Jan 24,2000 took it to berge Ford service dept. For noise coming from engine (like marbles runnning around in it) truck stayed there to have engine looked at for 5 days. In the meantime I had to pay for rental. Got tired waitng for truck to be looked at and called earnheart Ford service to come pick up and take to theirs. Service rep said could be just carbon in it. So they decarboned it. The noise still was there. After 20,000miles on the truck total ,they put in Ford factory rebuilt engine in it. Okay for about 1,000 miles , noise came back. Took back to Ford said it was probably carbon again. How come same problem with new rebuilt engine ? they decarboned it. When truck picked up there was still noise. Service said decarbon stuff still had to work more. Noise got louder. Got in touch to see what now they were going to do. Service manager said would be in touch. No calls. Tried calling and leave messages number of times no answer. Finally able to get ahold of service manger and he said they could not do anything more for me even though still under warrenty. Said his mechanic called the Ford hotline and they told him that they were aware of some of the Rangers having these problems with the engine ,but it would not hurt the engine . It had to do with the alignment of the valves in some of the engines. I said wait a minute not only I feel my truck is unsafe to drive making this racket as I drive the freewayu to work 4-5 times a week 40 miles 1 way,but why should I be stuck with a noisy ,unsafe vehicle after paying all the money I have for it and to be unhappy with it? question. . If this only a noise problem why was the consumers not warned about it when they bought it. And why did they change the first engine?I think these engines should all be recalled to find out the true problem before it becomes another "firestone" disaster. Please respond.
While driving on interstate at approx 65mph all of a sudden the vehicle loses power. No prior warning. Contacted dealer several times.
Vehicle would lose power. Engine felt like it had died. An intermittent problem. When in lower gear only, would die out. Have been to dealer's twice.
Problem: engine continues to rev to 2000-3500 rpms when clutch is engaged or put into neutral. Per technical service bulletin it's a slow return to idle #617400. Calibration strategy change, message 11966.
At maintenance oil and filter change, attempted to remove filter by conventional method out through bottom of engine compartment. Filter contacted starter and chassis frame which created a electrical short circuit resulting in fire involving plastic wheel well and parking brake cable housing. Also destroyed two ground straps and main battery ground wire before battery could be disconnected and fire extinguished with dry chemical extinguisher. Ford of hyannis told us that no other similar incident had been reported. No caution or information was included in the owner's manual or in the dealer orientation which would have alerted the owner to the necessity of removing the filter through the top of the engine compartment. Had it not been for the immediate availability of large dry chemical extinguisher, the vehicle would have been destroyed and garage attached to home severely damaged.
Engine head failed twice. Yh.
Engine floods/fails to start, after waiting approximately 30 minutes, engine will sometimes start. (qcaw).