2001 Ford Ranger Misfire problem

Ok, like an idiot I loaned my car to a friend and well he ran it totally out of gas. When I did get gas back into it and fired it up, it had a very bad misfire. After doing a compression check I found out that Cylinder 1 had 0 Compression. Upon taking off the valve cover I noticed that the intake of Cylinder 1 push rod was missing, thus I got a magnet and found it. I checked the push rod and it was still strait had no damage and did not look wore. I took it to a mechanic for a 2nd opinion, and he said it still looked good and was not bent as well. Replacing that helped my misfire some, but it was still misfiring some, but not as often. Some at idle and a lot high RPM on the interstate, where it will kick out a code. So I have since changed the Sparkplugs, Sparkplug Wires, Coil Pack, Fuel injector port on cylinder 1, Fuel filter and the DPFE sensor (Because It was tossing the 1400 code). I can not seem to find the reason of the misfire.

It keeps tossing Code 0301 and SOMETIMES not always Code 0300 and I know that is multiple misfire cylinders. I also know that in the coil pack that cylinder 1, 5 and 2, 6 and 3, 4 are linked IE fire at the same time. So I switched the sparkplug cables from 1 to 5 ect. In hopes to have the Code 301 change to a 305 however it did not. It still kicked out a code 301 and a 300 though the 300 was kicked out more at this point than the 301.

So If ANYONE has ANY idea for help I would appreciate it. Right now I am looking at maybe a bad valve spring or something messed up with the EGR system. I did check the EGR valve and it seems to be operating properly as I can tell, but no vacuum at idle in the hose. I tested the EGR valve the old fashioned way by sucking on it and making sure the plunger part raised. And dropped when pressure released.


So please has anyone else seen this problem? Or give me SOME clue what might be causing it.

The car was running OK before your friend drove it out of gas, right? You know what happens to the fuel pump when it is allowed to run without being submerged in gas? Are you getting adequate fuel pressure at the rail? However, the compression problem is puzzling - probably totally unrelated to the running out of gas.

The compression is fine now that I re-installed the Rod. But still having problems with the misfire. What puzzles me is why it always says 0301 that is misfire on cyl 1. However when I switched the Sparkplug wires around it still tossed out misfire on cyl 1. Granted I don’t know how it figures out what cyl is misfiring but I would suspect through the Coil Pack. If not it makes sense then.

And yes it ran like a kitten before I loaned it to him, he only had it 1 day.

The only thing that I can think of why the rod was tossed might be because when it ran out of gas, if the engine had a violent jerk on a sputter.

Note: I have since found out how it figures out misfires. Cam

Ok here is an update! I had a mechanic look at the Ranger. I told him to do what he could short of breaking down the engine. He changed the sensor to tell when the Fuel inject should fire. He also changed out the coil pack again to see if I had bought a bad one. He changed spark plugs, and a few more Fuel injections themselves. He also check the plug wires, plugs fuel pressure, cylinder compression.

Ok after all this it is STILL MISSING!!! I am now down to pulling my hair out, I had another mechanic tell me that the Hydraulic lifter could have been damaged when he ran it out of gas and it toss the Push rod!

Here are some things I would like to know,

1st Can I change the hydraulic lifters without having to remove the head?

2nd Could it have damaged the CAM?

3rd How do you test the timing on a 2001 Ford Ranger. I know how to with a timing light on old Distributor cap cars, but not on this Coil pack. One of my thoughts was maybe when he ran it out of gas and it gave a it a good enough jolt it may have jumped a link on the timing chain.

4th Any other suggestions from anyone on what might be the problem?

I am reaching for straws here..

I suspect that your mechanic is taking you for a ride. Although any of the things he did could be the cause of your problems, I would place them at the bottom of the list of possible solutions. Looks like you have already spent a pretty penny for what I think was a guessing game. From what I read, your problem is in one cylinder, thus anything common to all cylinders will more than likely be the issue. So it has to be problems with fuel delivery and/or ignition. Have you tried to have a diagnostic test done? It may be worthwhile for about $95.00.

I suspect that your mechanic is taking you for a ride. Although any of the things he did could be the cause of your problems, I would place them at the bottom of the list of possible solutions. Looks like you have already spent a pretty penny for what I think was a guessing game. From what I read, your problem is in one cylinder, thus anything common to all cylinders will more than likely be the issue. So it has to be problems with fuel delivery and/or ignition. Have you tried to have a diagnostic test done? It may be worthwhile for about $95.00.

Already had the test done, the mechanic that did all the work, works for Napa where my father works. He didn’t charge anything for labor, only the parts and he kept that under 125 bucks.. I get all my parts at cost with no markup on them. He even hooked the truck up to his diagnostics equipment, and it told him clogged fuel inject ect.. he fixed all the problems that the diagnostics equipment told him was wrong.

So pretty much anything that could be outside the motor has been tested to be good, or has been changed. Yea its a guessing game even the Diagnostics equipment couldn't point it down. The reason I am now thinking its either the Hydraulic Lifters or the Timing chain jumped. It does sometimes throw the code 0300 all cylinders misfire so that’s why I am concerned about the timing chain.