94 Ranger XLT Bucking/Stumbling Under Load

[DaleReynolds24]

Hey guys. I have a 1994 Ford Ranger XLT with the 2.3L and 5 speed transmission with 186,xxx miles. I had recently just cleaned out the MAF sensor with some cleaner to smooth out the idle just a bit (there was no issue before hand). I had done a tune up of new plugs, wires, coils about 6 months ago.

Its now been about a month or two since and now my truck has a pretty nasty miss only when there is a significant amount of load placed on the engine (going up a hill, passing, etc.) If I drive lightly, theres nothing wrong. But as soon as I go to give it a bit more throttle for going up a hill or passing, the truck starts missing and bucking pretty badly.

I had disconnected the MAF sensor and drove the truck and the missing went away. I reconnected the MAF sensor and it stayed that way for about a week, and then the missing came back. Is this the MAF sensor that has an issue? Or could it be something else? I'll go in and check the plugs tomorrow and see what the tell tale signs may be. Because this is my only vehicle and the truck has run very well considering it's age and I want to fix it to prevent any possible damage to this already well broken in engine. Thank you.

[tempfixit]

Originally Posted by DaleReynolds24

Hey guys. I have a 1994 Ford Ranger XLT with the 2.3L and 5 speed transmission with 186,xxx miles. I had recently just cleaned out the MAF sensor with some cleaner to smooth out the idle just a bit (there was no issue before hand). I had done a tune up of new plugs, wires, coils about 6 months ago.

Its now been about a month or two since and now my truck has a pretty nasty miss only when there is a significant amount of load placed on the engine (going up a hill, passing, etc.) If I drive lightly, theres nothing wrong. But as soon as I go to give it a bit more throttle for going up a hill or passing, the truck starts missing and bucking pretty badly.

I had disconnected the MAF sensor and drove the truck and the missing went away. I reconnected the MAF sensor and it stayed that way for about a week, and then the missing came back. Is this the MAF sensor that has an issue? Or could it be something else? I'll go in and check the plugs tomorrow and see what the tell tale signs may be. Because this is my only vehicle and the truck has run very well considering it's age and I want to fix it to prevent any possible damage to this already well broken in engine. Thank you.

Did you chec k for any codes before disconnecting MAF?? Do you have a check engine light on from the maf disconnection??


Post code numbers

[DaleReynolds24]

Unfortunately there is no code thrown, which is why I'm baffled by this. If the MAF sensor was bad, it would throw a code wouldn't it? I had gotten the truck scanned at my local Advance Auto Parts store and there's no stored or pending codes.