2004 Ford Ranger review from North America

2004 Ford Ranger regular cab with 2.3L 4 cylinder. At 32,200 miles the engine started pinging while cruising, some pinging while accelerating. After 30 seconds of sitting at idle (regardless of a/c on or off) RPM's dropped to 300-500 and engine began hunting badly. Sometimes died during the next 5 stoplights it took to get to Service Center. Ford Service center ran diagnostics, all cleared, including sensors, computer, and fuel pump pressure/volume. They replaced air and fuel filters, flushed fuel system, cleaned intake and MAS (air flow sensor). Also disconnected battery to reset engine computer. For the next 200 miles I've driven pinging still occurs, some at cruise at 70mph down freeway, also some especially after accelerating for several seconds. Spark plugs were replaced 5,000 ago. Drive roughly 60 miles half freeway half city daily. Until now have not had any problems, but this may become a large issue. Fuel mileage in the last 1,000 miles has also degraded from 28-30 (with cab height fiberglass canopy) to 20-22. Engine certainly isn't friendly enough to register any fault codes. I'm hoping the ford dealer service center can find the problem next week, otherwise I suppose I'll have to spend as much as I paid for the truck on all sorts of diagnostic stuff and plug it all in and monitor everything while driving down the road, or convert the thing to a stand alone fuel management system with all new sensors to make sure I never get credit cards paid off. Also had a 1994 v6 4x4 which I drove regularly, and never had any problems with. Love these simple little trucks which can do most anything while still fitting in a normal parking space and sipping fuel.

Handy fuel mileage.

Drives and shifts nicely (5 speed manual).

Newer suspension design and wider tires on the 2004 improve handling and keep the rear tires from spinning on takeoff compared to the 1994 I used to have.