Faults:

The only thing that ever happened to me in this truck was that it got stuck in 4x4 low for a couple of weeks. I didn't drive it much cause of that, but one day it just came right out. Other than that it was a great truck.

General Comments:

This was a great truck. I had it for about 7 months and I loved it. it had power and a great 4x4. it all ways started. I would recommend this truck to everybody. the reason I don't have it anymore was that I rolled it. the only reason it rolled was cause of the trailer I was pulling. I was moving home driving in white out conditions in Montana and I went off of a 15 ft. drop off into a creek. the truck kept me very safe. I walked away with nothing more than a scratch. that truck was pulling a trailer and all my stuff, even my motorcycle in the box and it was going up and down the Montana mountains with 8 inches of snow on them with no problems. well until I could no longer see the road.

Faults:

2004 Ford Ranger regular cab with 2.3L 4 cylinder.

At 32,200 miles, the engine started pinging while cruising, and some pinging while accelerating. After 30 seconds of sitting at idle (regardless of A/C on or off), RPM dropped to 300-500 and the engine began hunting badly. Sometimes died during the next 5 stoplights it took to get to the service center.

The 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, the pinging still occurs, some at cruise at 70mph down the 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.

General Comments:

Handy fuel mileage.

Drives and shifts nicely (5 speed manual).

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

Faults:

I have experienced no problems with this vehicle to date.

General Comments:

I like this truck very much.

The over-all design appearance is very pleasing to my eyes.

The interior is well laid out and all controls are easy to reach. The seats are comfortable and easy on my back.

Visibility is excellent.

Awesome radio/CD unit.

The manual transmission gearing could be a little better... too close in 1 - 4 gear.