Ranger 4 cyl reliability?

[Martinjmpr]

Anybody have any clue about the reliability/longevity of the Ranger's 4 cyl motors? This would be from about 1993 - up (2nd and 3rd gen Rangers.)

Thinking of a Ranger as a possible DD next year (separate thread on that topic in the Fireside Chat forum.) Right now I'm thinking of a 93 - 02 Ranger, 2wd, reg cab, with a 4 cyl and a 5 speed. AC would be the only "luxury" I'd be interested in. Most likely anything I'd look for would have 100k - 150k on the clock, though I've seen some advertised that have nearly 200k.

 

[GlennA]

One of my buddies has one with about 150k and his son has one with about 250k. His has a five speed and the son has an automatic. I don't recall him having any drivetrain problems with them. They seem to be reliable, but underpowered compared to the import 4 cylinders.

The clutch slave cylinder is mounted inside the bell housing, so changing it requires removing the transmission.

 

[ihatemybike]

My wife had a 1997 4 cyl for several years and now a family friend owns it. Hasn't required much work aside from regular maintenance.

 

[DaJudge]

I have owned two, an '89 and a '92. They were completely reliable. I drove the '89 until it had 160,000 on it and only sold it because I was out of work for a couple of months and someone offered me cash. The '92 I sold to my Brother-N-Law at about 120,000 and he drove it for 6 more years. I know he had over 200,000 on it but I don't know how much. It still ran great when he traded it in.

They are certainly not power houses but they will give you reliable service.

 

[stimpy13]

I have a 4 cyl, 5spd 1993 Ranger I use as a work truck that has 275k on it. My dad bought it new for a work truck and drove it up till about 2 years ago. Had a tree fall on it and he bought it bac from the insurance company and gave it to me. Stock engine, stock clutch, and stock rear end. It has had 3 new timing chains and three starters. He just did regular oil changes every 3 thousand miles. Still runs great and starts every time.

 

[wanderer-rrorc]

I have worked on rangers for the last 12 years..the 2.3 and 2.5 are 300,000 motors NO PROBLEM!!!....the auto trans in the 87-95's are sometimes iffy if not serviced regularly..but can still survive alot...

my buddy has a 89 with OVER 300K...it JUST gave him trouble thursday..but a new crank position sensor and its good to go!!

 

[tommudd]

Had a 89 I bought new, after two new engines in less than 30,000 miles I gave up on them and traded it back in , never had a problem with any other 4 cylinders but that one, junk!

 

[ExplorerExplorer]

I've had a 2.3 Ranger that had 275k miles when I sold it and now a 2.5 Ranger with 198k... One manual, one automatic, only things I've done besides maintenance was an A/C compressor clutch, and one alternator...

 

[bronconut]

Great engine almost bullet proof, might be a little under powered at your altitude though.

 

[Jay2mann]

Ranger reliability

I had a 1994, 2.3, 5 speed, I drove for 10 years and put 100,000 miles on and only had to change water pump and a ignition relay, thinking about buying a new one before they quit making them next year