1997 FORD RANGER Fuelpropulsion System Problems

FORD RANGER 4X4 XLT 4.0L HAS HAD PROBLEMS FROM THE BEGINNING FRONT TIRES TWO OUT , FOG LIGHTS, AIR CONDITIONING, TRANSMISSION SHIFT POINTS , CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WHEN NEW AND TO THIS DAY GAS MILEAGE NOT AS STATED ON WINDOW STICKER ,ALSO WINDOWS MOTOR AND CONTROLS

AIR BAGS.. DEFLATING, UNSERVICEABLE, DEMAND USELESS, ONLY ON PASSENGER SIDE, DRIVERS SIDE DISLODGED HORN FUEL/PROPULSION.. WITH FUEL TANK FILLED, FIRST HALF(1/2) TANK HAVING EXCESSIVE FUEL CONSUMED. SECOND (1/2) OF FUEL CONSUMED AT OWNERS MANUAL SPECIFICATIONS OF CITY AND HIGHWAY MILES PER GALLON. THROTTLE PEDAL STIFF, STICKS, AFTER NORMAL DAILY WARM UP, EXTRA FOOT PRESSURE NEEDED TO DISLODGE PEDAL AND CABLE, REAL SLUGGISH AS IF NOT RECEIVING ENOUGH FUEL TO INJECTORS, EVEN AFTER REGULAR MAINTENANCE COMPLETED.. SEAT BELTS.. DRIVERS SIDE HOOKUP RETAINING LATCH MALFUNCTIONS AND " WILL NOT REMAIN LATCHED", SEVERAL ATTEMPTS NEED TO BE MADE BEFORE GETTING A STRONG SEATBELT CLIP TO LATCH LOCKED ON

LOOKED UNDER MY FORD RANGER AND SAW THAT BOTH OF THE METAL STRAPS THAT HOLD THE FUEL TANK TO THE VEHICLE HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND BROKEN IN HALF. I SAW THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE SAME ISSUES ON MY YEAR, BUT ONLY FOR THE FORD F150, NOT THE FORD RANGER, EVEN THOUGH THE ISSUE IS THE SAME.

PLASTIC FUEL LINE SPLIT AT THE INPUT OF THE FUEL FILTER THAT IS LOCATED BEHIND THE ENGINE ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE FRAME. WHEN THE IGNITION IS TURNED ON GASOLINE SPRAYS FROM THIS CRACK PIECE OF PLASTIC LINE. THIS IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE FUEL PUMP IS ELECTRIC AND ENERGIZES ANYTIME THE IGNITION IS ON THE PUMP IS LOCATED IN THE GAS TANK AT THE REAR OF THE TRUCK . THIS IS POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS AS THE SPRAYING GASOLINE COULD EASILY HIT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER OR EXHAUST SYSTEM WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. FORTUNATELY I NOTICED THE LEAK UNDER THE VEHICLE WHEN I WAS WARMING UP THE CAR ON AS COOL MORNING. AS A RESULT NO REAL DAMAGE WAS DONE. WILL COST ABOUT $350 TO REPAIR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL SPILLED FROM THE VEHICLE AND ONTO THE GROUND AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO REFUEL THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHOM LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE FUEL FILTER NECK HOSE, WHICH WAS CRACKED DUE TO CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE FUEL FILTER NECK HOSE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR DUE TO THE VEHICLE'S AGE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 210,000.

NO INCIDENT OCCURRED BECAUSE I FOUND IT IN TIME (THANK GOD)! I CAME OUT MY FRONT DOOR AND NOTICED SOMETHING HANGING UNDER MY TRUCK. I TOOK IT TO CAR-X AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS ONE OF MY SUPPORTS HOLDING UP MY GAS TANK. RIGHT THERE I ALMOST HAD A HEART ATTACK! I ASKED THEM TO CHECK IT OUT. THE NEXT DAY THEY CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T FIX IT BECAUSE IT WAS TOO RUSTY UNDERNEATH. THEY EVEN CALLED THE DEALER, I GOT IT FROM, AND THEY TOLD THEM THEY DIDN'T WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT. RIGHT NOW I HAVE A RATCHET BELT HOLDING IT UP BUT I'M AFRAID IT WON'T LAST THROUGH A LOT OF RAIN AND SNOW. *TR

EACH TIME I FILL UP, THE GAS TANK OVERFLOWS, CREATING A HUGE SAFETY RISK OF EITHER A FIRE OR EXPLOSION. *TR

LAST YEAR I STARTED NOTICING A GAS SMELL WHEN FILLING. BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR I NOTICED GAS LEAK ON GROUND WHEN FILLING. I AM NOW IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE GAS FILL PIPE, IT HAS DETERIORATED TO AN UNUSABLE CONDITION. WHETHER THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE GASOHAUL USED IN MN. OR POOR QUALITY IN THE MANUFACTURING I COULDN'T TELL YOU,BUT WHEN I ORDERED THE PART THEY TOLD ME THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO THEIR DELIVERY TRUCK. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO BEFORE THERE IS AN EXPLOSION OR FIRE IN A GAS STATION WHILE SOMEONE IS FILLING THEIR TRUCK. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF MORE INFORMATION IS NEEDED OR WHAT IS BEING DONE WITH THIS MATTER. *TR