# 03 ford ranger 2.3 running on 2 cylinders **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** ford, ranger\ **Created:** [March 3, 2023, 3:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/03-ford-ranger-2-3-running-on-2-cylinders/189421 "2023-03-03T15:03:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![joayjd\_184342](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5e9695/32.png) [@joayjd\_184342](https://community.cartalk.com/u/joayjd_184342)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2023, 3:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/03-ford-ranger-2-3-running-on-2-cylinders/189421/1 "2023-03-03T15:03:00Z")
i have been stumped the past few days i have a 03 ford ranger 4 cylinder, before i bought it, it was going through coil packs and would run fine for a couple weeks then run on only 2 cylinders when I bought the car we tested the ECM and it was giving a weak single to cylinder 2&3 but giving a good single to cylinder 1&4. after that i buy a new ecm and program it and it still has the same weak single to cylinder 2&3, i re-ran new wires but no luck, it threw no misfire codes ---
**Author:** ![old\_mopar\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6bbea6/32.png) [@old\_mopar\_guy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/old_mopar_guy)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2023, 5:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/03-ford-ranger-2-3-running-on-2-cylinders/189421/2 "2023-03-03T17:21:37Z")
Change all 4 spark plugs and see if that improves things. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2023, 5:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/03-ford-ranger-2-3-running-on-2-cylinders/189421/3 "2023-03-03T17:31:20Z")
Compression test the engine before spending any more on parts. Confirm the engine is mechanically OK. A weak 2 and 3 makes me think you have a blown head gasket. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2023, 5:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/03-ford-ranger-2-3-running-on-2-cylinders/189421/4 "2023-03-03T17:36:54Z")
> [@Mustangman](#): > > A weak 2 and 3 makes me think you have a blown head gasket Agreed. ![HEAD GASKET](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/6/3/638488512e7e52a743754ad158a9bb8977fe096c.jpeg) But I would do a leak-down test instead. Tester ---
**Author:** ![Rod-Knox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Rod-Knox](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rod-Knox)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2023, 5:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/03-ford-ranger-2-3-running-on-2-cylinders/189421/5 "2023-03-03T17:42:35Z")
Possibly a leaking valve. A leak down test would find that problem also. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2023, 5:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/03-ford-ranger-2-3-running-on-2-cylinders/189421/6 "2023-03-03T17:49:51Z")
> [@Rod-Knox](#): > > Possibly a leaking valve A leaking valve would only effect one cylinder. Tester ---
**Author:** ![Rod-Knox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Rod-Knox](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rod-Knox)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2023, 6:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/03-ford-ranger-2-3-running-on-2-cylinders/189421/7 "2023-03-03T18:09:45Z")
Are you sure? I’m trying to recall if my experience with adjacent cylinders failing due to one having a leaking valve were always on carbureted engines. But my memory is failing me and fuel injection could lesson if not eliminate the problem come to think of it.