Ok...now for you GM and Chrysler smart asses...you can just sit on the sideline and watch! This is a SERIOUS question for the automotive geniuses on ARFCOM:
My truck is a 2001 Ford Ranger (Hey...it was cheap!
). I drive it daily to-from work. I put about 300 miles per week on it. I just had the oil changed and under most conditions, it runs perfectly. I use it for hauling stuff too...it IS a work vehicle. It gets regular maintenance per the recommendations in the owner's manual.
Today while driving to work, traffic was light and we all were moving VERY FAST. In fact, I wasn't paying attention, just following the pack
when my truck began sputtering and coughing like something was choking it up badly. In fact, I was accelerating when it occurred. I did a quick instrument scan and looked for smoke in the rear-view...thinking that maybe I'd blown a head gasket or lunched a piston. Nothing.
Then I noticed the speedo...and it read +90!!!
I quickly backed off and the problem disappeared. WTF? I decided to lay back and wait for a long gap in traffic (Again...very light) then I floored it again. At first the 4.0 liter six pulled hard then just at 90mph...sputter...cough...cough...blech! No more! I then coasted back down to the normal speed and continued to work.
So...for all of you Ford guys...is there a governor on my engine? Is this a computer problem? Is this thing terminal? Should I just STFU and live with it? In truth...I've never done anything close to 90 in that thing since purchasing it. I was surprised to realize how fast we were all going. I don't usually drive anywhere close to this fast and the engine seems to operate fine as long as I don't ask it to go ninety.