1988 Ford Ranger Problems

I BOUGHT A 1988 FORD RANGER TAN GOLD IN COLOR LOVE THE TRUCK, BUT I WENT TO INDIANA TO PICK MY SON UP EVERYTHING WAS FINE BUT ON THE WAY BACK THAT'S WHEN EVERYTHING STARTED TO FALL APART HERE. OK, STARTER WOULDN'T RESTART HAD TO POP CLUTCH IT, AN THEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL ITSELF GAVE AWAY FROM THE FIRE WALL ON THE WAY HOME TO SAVANNA IL. OK, IT WAS DARK OUT SO THE NEXT DAY WENT TO LOOK AND MY SON AND I SAW THERE WAS A CRACK THERE SO WE TRIED TO FIX THIS AN SEE WHY IT WASN'T STARTING UP. I CALLED MIDAS TO SEE IF THEY WOULD WELD THIS UP FOR ME. WE HAVE TRIED CARPENTER TAPE TO TRY AND PULL THE FIRE WALL BACK IN TO RELEASE THE CLUTCH TO GET THIS TRUCK SOMEWHERE TO BE FIXED AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN FREEPORT IL , BUT I HAVE CALLED ON FORD TO DO SOMETHING AND NOT WAIT ON AN ACCIDENT OR RECALL. THE FLUID THAT LEAKED OUT HIT THE MOTOR GOING DOWN THE ROAD. UPDATED 5/12/10 *CN UPDATED IVOQ 05/26/10 ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE INVOICE. THE FIRE WALL COULD NOT BE REPAIRED DUE TO THE CONDITION IT WAS IN. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED A NEW CAB. UPDATED IVOQ 07/13/10 UPDATED 07/15/10.8JB *TR

FAILURE IN THE IGNITION SYSTEM (THIRD TIME WITH THIS VEHICLE) 2-12-97 WAS THE FIRST TIME I REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE, THEN ON 10-01-01 THE IGNITION MODULE NEEDED TO REPLACED A SECOND TIME. THIS IS QUITE A CONCERN TO ME BECAUSE THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STALLS OUT. I LOSE ALL POWER, INCLUDING STEERING. THE MOST RECENT FAILURE WAS WHEN I WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE 55 FREEWAY DOING ABOUT 60 MPH. THIS FAILURE ALSO DAMAGED THE DISTRIBUTOR WHICH ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED*AK.

DRIVING 60 MPH, A LOSS OF POWER WAS NOTICED. THIS BECAME A LOUD EXHAUST NOISE. AFTER COASTING TO A STOP, PUTTING UP THE HOOD TO SEARCH FOR PROBLEMS, AND FINDING NO EVIDENCE OF ANY, ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE BACKFIRED, AND SMOKE BEGAN TO POUR OUT FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. A FIRE STARTED WHICH COMPLETELY DESTROYED THE VEHICLE. *TR

DT: THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE ON THE ENGINE BY THE FUEL RAIL. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THIS HAPPENED ON JULY 26, 2005. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. TRIED TO START IT THEN IT BACK FIRED AND CAUGHT FLAMES. *AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH IN DOWNTOWN TRAFFIC AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED AROUND TRAFFIC AND COASTED TO A STOP ON A SIDE STREET. THE CONTACT CHANGED THE BRAKE LINES AND THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.

REAR BRAKES LOCK UP AFTER VEHICLE HAS SET OVERNIGHT AND ESPECIALLY DURING DAMP WEATHER. *AK

MY HUSBAND WAS EAST BOUND ON HWY 90 BY RITZVILLE, WA WHEN HIS FORD RANGER WENT OFF THE ROAD FOR NO REASON (ACCORDING TO WITNESSES AS HE HAD JUST PASSED A TRUCK) THE TRUCK ROLLED, SEAT-BELT FAILED AND HE WAS THROWN FROM THE TRUCK. WE HAVE HAD LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS RANGER AND OUR BRONCO II STALLING OUT AT ROAD SPEEDS. I BELIEVE THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO MY HUSBAND. ACCORDING TO THE INVESTIGATING POLICEMAN, THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE TRUCK SUCH AS A BLOWN TIRE, BROKEN TIE-ROD, ETC. THIS ACCIDENT OCCURED ON A STRAIGHT STRECH OF ROAD IN THE EARLY AFTERNOON UNDER GOOD WEATHER CONDITIONS. I HAVE A NUMBER OF REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT RECIEPTS RELATED TO THIS STALLING PROBLEM. AS WELL AS A BRONCO II THAT STILL STALLS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS! PLEASE HELP BY INVESTIGATING THIS PROBLEM.*AK

THE SHOULDER HARNESS DOES NOT RETRACT AFTER YOU LEAN FORWARD,LEAVING IT LOOSE AND USELESS AS A RESTRAINT .

1988 FORD RANGER WAS TOWED BACK OUT HERE ON 4/1/2011 OK THIS 1988 FORD RANGER HAS NOT BEEN DROVE ANYWHERE OK IT ALSO WAS ON RECALL FOR BRAKE WORK AN THIS CAN'T BE DONE EITHER CAUSE OF OTHER ISSUE WITH POWER TRAIN AN YOU NEED BRAKE AN BE ABLE TO USE THE CLUTCH AS WILL OK AN THIS IS SITTING IN THE SIDE OD THE DRIVEWAY HERE THE 1988 FORD RANGER HAS X OUT RECALL RIGHT WITH THIS VIN NUMBER [XXX] , AN WHILE THEY WAS WORKING ON THIS 1988 FORD RANGER THERE WAS DAMAGE DONE , THEY NEVER PUT THE PART BACK AT ALL THERE BIG WHOLE THERE THIS 1988 FORD RANGER WAS A TRADE IN AT FAIRWAY FORD IN FREEPORT IL ON 2003 FORD RANGER. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I BOUGHT A 1988 FORD RANGER TAN GOLD IN COLOR LOVE THE TRUCK, BUT I WENT TO INDIANA TO PICK MY SON UP EVERYTHING WAS FINE BUT ON THE WAY BACK THAT'S WHEN EVERYTHING STARTED TO FALL APART HERE. OK, STARTER WOULDN'T RESTART HAD TO POP CLUTCH IT, AN THEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL ITSELF GAVE AWAY FROM THE FIRE WALL ON THE WAY HOME TO SAVANNA IL. OK, IT WAS DARK OUT SO THE NEXT DAY WENT TO LOOK AND MY SON AND I SAW THERE WAS A CRACK THERE SO WE TRIED TO FIX THIS AN SEE WHY IT WASN'T STARTING UP. I CALLED MIDAS TO SEE IF THEY WOULD WELD THIS UP FOR ME. WE HAVE TRIED CARPENTER TAPE TO TRY AND PULL THE FIRE WALL BACK IN TO RELEASE THE CLUTCH TO GET THIS TRUCK SOMEWHERE TO BE FIXED AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN FREEPORT IL , BUT I HAVE CALLED ON FORD TO DO SOMETHING AND NOT WAIT ON AN ACCIDENT OR RECALL. THE FLUID THAT LEAKED OUT HIT THE MOTOR GOING DOWN THE ROAD. UPDATED 5/12/10 *CN UPDATED IVOQ 05/26/10 ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE INVOICE. THE FIRE WALL COULD NOT BE REPAIRED DUE TO THE CONDITION IT WAS IN. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED A NEW CAB. UPDATED IVOQ 07/13/10 UPDATED 07/15/10.8JB *TR

DT: THE CONTACT STATED 1988 FORD RANGER CAUGHT ON FIRE ON JULY 28 ,05. IT BURNED UP ALL OF THE WIRING, ENGINE, AND ONE TIRE. THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CAR HAD BEEN SITTING FOR ONE YEAR. THE CONSUMER HAD BEEN WORKING ON THE CAR. HE REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION, PUT A NEW REAR END UNDER IT, AND PUT ON OXYGEN SENSORS. HE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART VEHICLE AND IT QUIT. HE WENT TO START IT AGAIN IT BACK FIRED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. HAS NOT CONTACTED FORD ABOUT THE FIRE. HE SEEMED TO THINK THE FIRE WAS FUEL RELATED. *AK

ENGINE RUNS TOO FAST WILL NOT IDLE -AIR COMPRESSER WILL NOT WORK. *AK

1988 FORD RANGER STILL NEEDING A NEW CAB, WELL I WENT ONLINE HERE TO SEE IF I COULD FIND SOME WHERE TO GET A 1988 FORD RANGER CAB. SO CHATTING ONLINE HERE WITH WHOLE SALE FORD RANGER SARA ASKED ME FOR A PART NUMBER FOR THE NEW CAB I SAID THAT THEY NEVER GAVE ME ONE ON THE RECEIPT. I CALLED SOME WHERE ELSE OK BRAD IS NAME AND HE SAID THAT I COULD PUT A PARCH IN THERE WHERE IT WOULD BE ROAD SAFE . BODY SHOP WOULD HAVE MY FORD RANGER BACK TO ROAD SAFE. OK, WHAT'S THE HOLD UP ON THIS NOW ? I MAILED IN THE EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID. UPDATED IVOQ 08/05/10 UPDATED IVOQ 08/19/10*JB *TR

WENT TO PICK UP MY 1988 FORD RANGER TODAY AT FAIRWAY FORD FREEPORT IL AT NUMBER 1 815 232 6868 OK I WAS TOLD HERE THAT THEY HAD BEEN TRYING TO CALL ME BUT WAS UNABLE TO REACH ME CALL HAD WRONG PHONE NUMBER OK BUT I HAVE REPORT HERE THAT STATE THAT TO FIX 1988 FORD RANGER THE FIRE WALL IS UNFIXABLE THEY NEW CAB TO MATCH THE COLOR OR APAINT JOB EITHER WAY AND I WILL SETTLE ON THIS PLU THEY WILL FIX MY CHEVY FOR PART THAT WILL BUY THAT NEED TO FIX WITH , BUT THEY NEED TO KNOW TO WHERE FINE ONE AT THAT IS ROAD SAFE, THAT YOU WOULD APPROVE AN THEY WILL REPAIR THE 1988 FORD RANGER AT THERE COST. *TR

HOOD LATCH FAILS TO LATCH PROPERLY.

HOOD LATCH STICKING ON OCCASIONS.

BOTH DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE MIRRORS FAILED AT ANY SPEED. I HAVE REPLACED THEM TWICE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO TENSION ADJUSTMENT TO PREVENT THE MIRRORS FROM BEING BLOWN BACK TO A USELESS POSITION. I KNOW OF 4 OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. BUT JUST TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD EVERY 1988-1989 FORD RANGER OUTFITTED WITH THE BLACK ABS PLASTIC "FLAG" STYLE MIRROR HAS THIS PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ALL OF A SUDDEN THE REARVIEW MIRROR LOST TENSION AND FELL OFF. CONTACTED DEALER WHO KNEW THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. MIRROR WAS ATTACHED WITH TWO SCREWS. HAS BEEN REPLACED 9 TIMES. *AK

METAL BAR WHICH CONNECTS THE STEERING GEAR TO TIE ROD WOR EOUT, CAUSING STEERING TO FAIL, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING STEERING COLUMN SMOKES, AS RESULT HAZARD AND TURN SIGNAL ARE INOPERATIVE. *AK

I WAS DRIVING UPHILL ON HIGHWAY 152 WHEN MY SLIP YOKE EXPLODED BLOWING OUT THE REAR OF THE BELLHOUSING TO MY TRANSMISSION THROWING THE TRUCK REAR END 6 FT IN THE AIR AND THE NOSE OF THE TRUCK 3 FEET IN THE AIR THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE DRIVE SHAFT TAKING INTO THE GROUND WHEN COMING DOWN THE DRIVESHAFT SLAPPED AROUND RIPPING OUT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD FROM THE CADILLAC CONVERTER AND PUT A LARGE GASH APPROXIMATELY 12IN TO 18 IN INTO THE GAS TANK WHEN I DROP MY TRANSMISSION TO REPLACE IT I FOUND OUT THAT THE BLOCK WAS NO GOOD DUE TO THE FACT THAT 2 SQUARE PIECES OF THE BLOCK APPROXIMATELY 2 IN SQUARE CAME WITH THE TRANSMISSION AS IT WAS PULLED LEAVING THE BLOCK USELESS BUY THIS SLIP YOKE EXPLODING WHICH I FOUND OUT ON YOUTUBE THIS HAD HAPPENED TO OTHER FORD RANGERS OF THIS PARTICULAR YEAR DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE SLIP YOKE IS MADE OUT OF COMPRESS MATERIAL IT SHOULD BE A SOLID STILL PEACE IF NOT FOR GOING UPHILL I'M SURE MY TRUCK WOULD ROLLED END-OVER-END INN MAKING THIS INCIDENT FATAL IF I HAD KNOWN I COULD HAVE MADE AN INSTANT DIDN'T REPORT ABOUT THIS SITUATION EARLIER I WOULD HAVE

TIRES REPLACED. *SD

WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH IN A 1988, FORD TRUCK, RANGER, A FIRESTONE FR480 TIRE , SIZE: P215/70R14, DOT: W2HYFR5106 EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 30,000 MILES ON TIRES, AND IT WAS NOT ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT, FIRESTONE CUSTOMER AFFAIRS CONTACTED DEALER WHO REPLACED HIS TIRE AT MINIMAL COST. *YD

TIRES REPLACED. *SD

INTERMITTENT SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN STARTING VEHICLE. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK

THE ENGINE SURGES. WILL TRY AND DIE OUT WHEN YOU TRY TO ACCELERATE FROM A COMPLETE STOP. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT

ALL FOUR OVERLOAD SPRINGS USED ON TWO DIFFERENT PICKUP TRUCKS USED AS PAINTER'S WORK VEHICLES HAVE FAILED IN THE PAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS. EACH TIME AN EIGHT INCH CHUNK OF HARDENED STEEL SPRING WEIGHING AT LEAST A COUPLE OF POUNDS HAS BLASTED LOOSE RICOCHETING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. SO FAR NONE OF THESE FAILURES HAVE CAUSED ME AN ACCIEDNET, BUT WITH A 100% CATOSTROPHIC PRODUCT FAILURE RATE I WOULD IMAGINE OTHERS HAVE NOT BEEN AS FORTUNATE. CAMPWAYS SHRUGGED IT OFF WITHOUT INTEREST. BOTH TRUCKS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN USED WELL WITHIN NORMAL URBAN WORK TRUCK PARAMETERS. IN MY OPINION THESE OVERLOAD SSPRINGS PRESENT A CLEAR, POTENTIALLY FATAL VEHICLE SAFETY HAZARD.

ENGINE RUNS TOO FAST WILL NOT IDLE -AIR COMPRESSER WILL NOT WORK. *AK

WHILE DRIVING STEERING COLUMN SMOKES, AS RESULT HAZARD AND TURN SIGNAL ARE INOPERATIVE. *AK