1. Home
  2. Ford
  3. Ranger
  4. 2003
  5. Rough Idle and Stalling

2003 Ford Ranger Rough Idle and Stalling

The Ford Ranger V6 is known for a rough idle, engine stalling, loss of power, and misfires, accompanied by the check engine light .

The intake manifold O-ring gaskets commonly leak, which creates a large vacuum leak. This vacuum leak causes unmetered air to enter the engine, and the fuel system becomes insufficient to compensate for the large amount of air reaching the engine.

Replacing the intake manifold gaskets corrects this concern.

Affected Model Years

This issue affects Ford Ranger model years 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, .

51 people reported this problem

  • 2003 189 Miles
    Check Engin light. Ruff idle, dies at stop light with foot on brake the idle reves up same when left in park. However sometimes when I let my fuel pump all the way turn on before starting problem goes away sometimes. I feel like its with fuel/breathing idk please help
  • 2003 175,000 Miles
    engine bucks,stalls at red lights, power loss, check engine light on- codes say Mass airflow sensor. I replaced air flow sensor with a new one; engine light still on still have the same power problems it did not fix the problem.
  • 2003 145,000 Miles
    Engine has no power between gear shifting
  • 2003 258,880 Miles
    No matter if engine is hot or cold it will, at idle or coasting into an idle, it will surge and then stall. The surgeing shows on rpm gauge jumping up to 1200 and down to 500 and back and forth and then stalls. Although not every time at an idle it will do this. I usually have to keep my foot on the gas pedal to keep rpms about 1100-1200 and she wont stall. P codes are P 0171 and P 0174, which are lean at bank one and bank two. I researched to find it could be as simple as an O2 sensor or the MAF sensor or as difficult as a fuel rail or intake manifold gasket. Six months ago I would get the P 0171 code with engine light. But it would go away and then come back. So I cleaned the MAF and replaced the PVC. Also replaced the fuel filter. No difference. Six months ago I also put on a new IAT when a terrible howl was coming from the air intake to throttle body. All this just after having code that said shift selonoid B was closed or sticking. She also had a 3 second delay when shifting into drive. So after 3 times of pulling the trans pan I replace the EPC,TCC,SSB & SSD and upper and lower valve body gaskets. And guess what. Not one bit of difference in trans performance. Still has a delay and shifts hard. When the rpms bounce I can hear the drive line clanking with each surge. That adds up to 100 plus in trans fluid alone and the selonoids and gaskets over 300 bucks. Now it looks like I have to pull the top end to replace more gaskets that may or may not be blown. I love my 4x4 but come oooon. I need a trouble shooting or diagnostic way to find out what the heck is wrong for sure. Im done pouring money into her to get no improvement. Any suggestions???? Besides get rid of her.....

Ford Ranger 2003 Common Problems