Ford Ranger

Scott714

Scott714

Club Member
Looking for a early 2000s Ranger 4x4 extended cab 4.0 auto for my son. He likes the looks of them but I don't know much about them. Is the 4.0 a lot better than the 3.0 ? Besides rust were they known for any other problems to look out for ?
$6000 budget

Thanks
 
I had a 3.0 Standard cab ranger and loved it The 3.0 has great power and isn't to bad on gas. I had a manual transmission as well. If he is just looking for a DD the 3.0 would do him well.
 
I bought a 2003 Ranger FX4 (auto/4.0) new and it had over 200K when I sold it. Only needed oil, filters and plugs. Never had a single problem with the engine/trans/rear end. I loved that truck, wish I still had it.

Side note.......while those engines are great, do not expect to get much better than 15mpg.

--Joe
 
I had two 1996 Rangers. One with the 2.3 4 cylinder and one with the 4.0. I would get the 4.0. When I had mine and browsed ranger forums, everybody said the 3.0 had the power of the 4 cylinder and the mpg of the 4.0. And I had a 4-cylinder and wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

Issues that I remember are the leaf spring hanger rust out and break. I replaced 3 out of 4 on each of mine. My memory is kinda vague, but I think in 2001 is when they got the OHC 4.0 vs the pushrod 4.0. Had more power but there was an issue with the timing chains??? Something like the guides or something failed and one bank has them on the back requiring engine or trans removal. Like I said,don't really remember that much about that issue since my 4.0 was the pushrod one.
 
I've owned 4 rangers in the past and they have been some of the best vehicles I have had to date as far as stacking miles and not having to do a ton more than regular maintenance. If you are going 4x4 i'd go 4.0, look out for the guy that thinks its a f150 and tows with it like it is and you should be fine using common sense else where. Like it was mentioned the 4.0 is not great on mileage.
 
I had a couple of them...

Had a '98 2WD lowered on 17" Bullitts that I bought from Coach. It was a 4cyl automatic, good little commuter. They have issues with the oil pickup getting blocked with sludge and starving the engine. I sold it to a friend and it blew up a few weeks later, unfortunately. We split the cost of a junkyard motor and he installed it.

Also had a 2004 FX4 extended cab that I bought from FuckFace at Varsity. Good truck, no problems, fit 31" ATs with no problems. The only bad thing about them is that the passenger door seams ALWAYS rust. Be sure to get on the ground and look it the seams from below. When I was selling the truck, I never noticed it... buyer pointed it out and told me that they have a problem with the water drains on that door.
 
moneypit said:
leave michigan,
Click to expand...

He's not lying. Check southern Craigslist ads.

I had an '01 any put 270,000 miles on it before I totaled it. I had the 3.0L auto and 3.73's. If you find a 3.0L with 3:55's, you'll get real decent gas mileage too.
 
tons of rust free ones down here... and my high school car was a 85 ranger with a nasty 306 and a C4 with a stall.... :D
 
I just bought a 2002 Ranger Edge 4x2 3.0 for my son. He only wanted a Ranger, so that's what we bought. I owned a 96 4.0 4x4 years ago and I don't feel like the 3.0 is too bad. The newer 4.0 SOHC motor makes more power, but as stated above I think they have timing chain issues. I wanted the basic 3.0 pushrod motor for future ease of maintenance. Ours was very solid looking, but unfortunately after buying it I discovered all of the places they like to rust. If nothing is visible, check the bed mounts up near the cab...especially if there is a bedliner in it. Look on the core support by the body mounts, they like to disintegrate there too. The spring perches will rust out, but they are easy to change. The brake lines also like to rust too. Ours has a rubber floor that trapped moisture, so on the drivers side there is some rust as well. Good luck with the search!
 
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