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Ford Ranger 2013 Problems

Are you having problems with your 2013 Ford Ranger? Let our team of motoring experts keep you up to date with all of the latest 2013 Ford Ranger issues & faults. We have gathered all of the most frequently asked questions and problems relating to the 2013 Ford Ranger in one spot to help you decide if it's a smart buy.

What is causing my 2013 Ford Ranger to shudder when it downshifts?

There have been plenty of complaints over this transmission, and a lot of them have been traced back to the valve body separator plate which, from the sound of things, has been replaced on your vehicle. However, was it replaced with a new part or a second-hand one sourced from another vehicle? Was the work done by a Ford dealership or a transmission specialist or a general workshop?

It’s not so likely to be the wiring that’s at fault. Wiring tends to either conduct electricity or it doesn’t. But that doesn’t mean the computer that controls the transmission wasn’t damaged when the loom was burned. Fundamentally, the symptoms you’re experiencing could be from any (or all of) the causes you’ve suggested. Valve bodies, torque converters, electronic control units and gearbox internals all have to be working in perfect harmony in a modern automatic transmission. One little problem with any of those systems can cause all sorts of shifting problems. I’d take the vehicle to a transmission specialist who will be able to – hopefully – diagnose the exact cause of the harsh downshifts and do something about it.

Ford Ranger 2013: Clutch upgrade

Is the clutch you fitted a dual-mass one, if it is I would suggest you fit a solid clutch. Before doing that I would suggest you call Clutch Industries (1300 369 787) and ask for their advice.

How many kms on a 2013 Ford Ranger?

At 170,000 km there is plenty of life left in it, but it is higher than average for a 2013 model, and the price is on the high side.

 

Used Ford Ranger review: 2011-2015

Released in 2011 the all-new PX Ranger was Ford’s entry into the new-age ute market, and like all new generation utes it came in a wide range of models to suit most needs.

While it was built in Thailand, the PX Ranger was the product of Ford’s Australian design team.

The range of models verged on bewildering. You could have almost any style you wanted, including single, dual and super-cab bodies, cab-chassis or ute, high riding rear-wheel drive, four-wheel drive, and petrol or diesel engines.

There was also a choice of models from basic entry-level to the XLT with every feature you could wish for.

Depending on the model you could carry up to 1271 kg and tow as much as 3350 kg.

The PX model range was made up of the XL, XLT and Wildtrack.

They were available in 4x2 (rear-wheel drive) and 4x4 (four-wheel drive) as a regular cab-chassis, a high-rider cab-chassis, and a pick-up, with the choice of single-cab, extended super-cab, and crew-cab bodies.

It also came with the choice of engines, including a 2.2-litre four-cylinder common-rail turbo-diesel, 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, and a 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbo-diesel.

There was also choice of a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed automatic transmission.

In XL form it boasted dual front airbags, ABS anti-lock braking, emergency brake assistance, digital stability control, traction control, hill holder, automatic headlights, air-conditioning, cruise control, remote keyless central locking, power mirrors, power windows, two-speaker audio, and alloy wheels.

Crew-cabs had the additional safety features of side airbags and head airbags.

The XLT was only available as a 3.2-litre pick-up, with the super-cab or crew-cab bodies, and either Hi-Rider 4x2 rear-wheel drive or 4x4 four-wheel drive.

It came with dual front airbags, side front airbags, head airbags, ABS anti-lock braking, electronic brakeforce distribution, emergency brake assistance, traction control, 17-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, climate control air-conditioning, automatic headlights, remote central locking, power mirrors and windows, six-speaker CD sound, fog lamps, limited slip differential, rain-sensing wipers, alarm, side steps and tow bar.

Sitting pretty atop the range was the Wildtrack, the Ranger with all the fruit.

It was a dual crew-cab 4x4 four-wheel drive pick-up with 3.2-litre common-rail turbo-diesel.

The list of standard features was lengthy. It included 18-inch alloy wheels, six-speaker CD sound, climate control air-conditioning, alarm, USB socket, Bluetooth to connect an Iphone or android device, reversing camera, floor carpets, rear parking sensors, cruise control, power driver’s seat, immobiliser, fog lamps, front cup holders, heated front seats, automatic headlamps, sat nav, rain-sensing wipers, power windows and mirrors, side steps, sports bar, and cloth trim.

For more you have prestige paint, but there was no option of a sunroof, and you couldn’t have park assist.

All models have a full-sized spare tyre.

An XLS model was added to the range in 2013, which slotted in between the XL and XLT. It was 4x4 four-wheel drive, had the 3.2-litre turbo-diesel engine, locking rear differential, and front fog lamps.

In 2014 an XL Plus came on the scene with 17-inch steel wheels, heavy-duty seat covers, a second battery and moulded black bumpers.

The number of seats you got depended on the choice of body.

You got three seats in the single-cab, four in the super-cab, and five in the crew-cab.

The cabin was nicely laid-out, comfortable and in most cases roomy.

Rear seat passengers in the super-cab would have found it cramped and uncomfortable; the rear seats were only meant for short trips from job site to job site.

For more comfort the crew-cab was the one to go for; rear seat passengers then found themselves in reasonably comfortable seats, with lap-sash seat belts for safety.

There were a range of storage options, and cupholders were fitted for the convenience of those in the front.

Lap/sash seat belts in the rear of dual-cab models allow the fitment of a baby car seat, and ISOFIX baby car seat mounting points (mandatory from 2014) are fitted.

All engines in the PX were new to the Ranger, and this time round Ford offered a petrol engine in addition to the turbo-diesels.

The new petrol engine was a 2.5-litre four-cylinder, which when pushed to its peaks produced 122 kW, or 165 horsepower, and 226 Nm.

It was only available in the rear-wheel drive XL cab-chassis, and only with a five-speed manual gearbox.

In addition to the petrol engine there were two turbo-diesels to choose from. Both were common-rail, one was a 2.2-litre four, the other a 3.2-litre with five cylinders.

The smaller diesel delivered 110 kW, or 147 horsepower, and 375 Nm at its performance peaks, the larger one 147 kW and 470 Nm.

While the 2.2-litre turbo-diesel was available in the XL, the XLT and Wildtrack came with the 3.2-litre engine standard.

The transmission options with the turbo-diesel engines were a six-speed manual gearbox or six-speed automatic.

The PX Ranger while being first and foremost a workhorse does a good job on its many and varied other duties.

With independent front suspension and semi-elliptic leaf spring rear suspension it rides firmly, but still comfortably.

It will carry a sizable load, tow a good-sized caravan, and do it in style.

The 3.2-litre turbo-diesel is the performance king and the best choice for towing.

Unlike oldtime utes which lacked anything resembling safety features the PX Ranger delivers on the safety front and most models got a five-star tick from ANCAP

It was only the lower level variants without side airbags that were hit with a four-star slap.

The five-star wonders have a full array of safety features, including dual front airbags, side font airbags, and head airbags, as well as ABS braking, traction control, stability control, emergency brake assistance, electronic brakeforce distribution, hill hold, rollover protection.

Reports from owners show a widely varying experience with reliability. Some love their cars, but others are less than impressed.

Worryingly, blown 3.2-litre diesel engines are often reported, and at quite low kilometres. Ford has replaced a number of engines under warranty, which makes buying one second hand risky.

With no warranty to fall back on, owners risk having to pay for the replacement engine out of their own pocket.

Those owners who have had an engine blow say they had no warning of the impending meltdown, the first thing they knew the engine was knocking badly, it was emitting white smoke from the exhaust, and it lacked power.

The message to anyone buying one now is to check the oil often, and change it regularly, possibly more frequently than Ford’s recommended 15,000km.

Ford recommends servicing the Ranger every 15,000km or 12 months, but it’s worth changing oil every 10,000km, particularly if the vehicle is working hard or towing.

With a rating to tow 3500kg, the Ranger is going to be a hard worker, so maintenance is crucial. When checking one prior to purchase, ask the vendor for the service book, which will hopefully show a pattern of regular servicing.

It is also essential to check for offroad use. There are plenty that have never seen an unsealed road, let alone a bush track and they are the ones to go for.

There have been a number of recalls with the PX that prospective owners should be aware of.

One related to the possible failure of the output shaft sensor on automatic vehicles causing a sudden downshift to first and possible loss of traction.

Another related to the possibility of the rear seat latch breaking preventing the seat back to be locked in the upright position.

Yet another referred to the possibility of the mounting bolts for the bulbar failing.

It is also essential to check for offroad use. There are plenty that have never seen an unsealed road, let alone a bush track and they are the ones to go for.

Ford introduced capped price servicing to put a lid on service costs in 2014; it applies to all vehicles built after 2007.

The new car warranty was for three-years/100,000km, which means it finally expires for the last examples in 2018.

MORE: If anything crops up, you’ll probably find it on our Ford Ranger problems page.

Sam Naismith: My 2012 dual-cab XLT has been very good. It has all the power and tech I want, it’s economical, handles well on the road and is great off it.

Ray Ellis: I was happy with my 2013 dual-cab XLT until the engine blew up at 42,000 km. Suddenly there was white smoke, the engine bay was covered with oil, and the engine was running roughly.

Alan Cross: My 2013 XL Hi-rider just died one day without warning. It needed a new engine.

Paul Johnstone: The engine in my 2012 XLT blew up with no warning. It was serviced regularly and everything appeared normal, but one day it started making a horrible knocking noise and vibrating badly. I’m very disappointed with it.

Barry Scott: The engine in my 2014 XLT was very sluggish. It lacked power and there was no torque, so Ford replaced the engine at 60,000 km. There have been other problems with the injectors, glow plugs, and the new engine has developed a worrying ticking noise. I’m not happy.

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Read the article
Does the 2013 Ford Ranger dual-cab have bearing problems?

The 3.2-litre turbo-diesel engine in the Ranger is known for its propensity to self-destruct. It can even happen at low kilometres.

Transmission problems with Ranger

Ford Australia customer service chief Stephen Kruk tells me the transmission has been repaired under warranty. A loan car was supplied while the vehicle was off the road.

Used Ford Ranger review: 2011-2013

Utes have always been popular with Aussies, but never more so than in recent years when there has been more to choose from than ever before.

The humble ute is no longer a mere work wagon; it is now called upon to perform all sorts of duties, from traditional worker, to cool sportster, weekend escaper and family hack.

They were once the realm of the traditional local car makers, Holden and Ford, who between them claimed the market. Now the market is dominated by Asian brands, in particular the Toyota HiLux.

Released in 2011 the PX Ranger is Ford's entry into this new ute market and like all new generation utes it comes in a wide range of models to suit most needs.

You could have almost any style you wanted including single, dual and super-cab bodies, cab-chassis or ute, 4x2, high riding 4x2, 4x4, petrol or diesel. There was also a choice of models from basic entry-level to the XLT with every feature you could wish for.

Depending on the model you could carry up to 1271kg and tow as much as 3350kg.

Unlike yesterday's utes, today's utes also deliver on the safety front. Most of the Ranger models get a five-star tick from ANCAP, it's only the lower level variants without curtain airbags that are hit with a four-star slap.

There was a choice of three engines, including a 2.5-litre petrol-slurping four-cylinder, a 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel and a 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbodiesel.

At the top of the tree the five-cylinder diesel delivers plenty of low-down grunt for comfortable cruising or hauling a hefty load.

On the road they exhibited decent drivability, the handling was safe and secure, the braking powerful.

Tucked away inside you rode in quiet comfort with every feature you could want. Indeed today's utes are all things to all owners.

Everyone agrees, the Ranger looks great, is comfortable and is a great towing vehicle.

Most owners say they are happy with their choice of ute, and few report any problems, but there are a couple of issues that keep cropping up.

One is the turbo. A number of owners have had turbos melt down, and the more experienced say the key is to let them idle to bring them the turbo temperature down before switching the engine off. Another thing they recommend is to use a good quality engine oil to keep the turbo bearing well lubed.

There are also reports of major engine issues after an oil change. It is claimed that the oil pump won't prime if the oil dump is longer than around 10 minutes, and if the pump won't prime it won't deliver oil to the engine and that means serious trouble. Some mechanics are aware of the issue, so talk to the guy doing your service and make sure he doesn't take a cuppa-break while the oil drains out of the engine.

Take a look at the lower radiator hose on your car and if it is close to rubbing on the engine, or has scuff marks that suggest it is rubbing on the engine, get a zip-tie to hold it away from the engine. Letting it rub through could lead to water leaks and a serious meltdown. There is a new hose available to avoid this issue, so talk to your dealer at the next service and get your car updated.

Anyone buying a used Ranger should be aware that it has a dual-mass flywheel and is affected by rapid clutch wear. A pulsation through the clutch pedal on manuals is a sign that all is not well in the clutch department. Replacing the clutch is not a cheap exercise.

If you are planning to operate the Ranger at or near its weight carrying capacity check it out with a suspension expert before doing so.

Check your chosen car for a creditable service record, and carefully go over it in search of evidence of off-road use. The Ranger is quite a capable off-roader, so anticipate that many will have been used off the black top. If you believe the car you're keen on had been off-road walk away.

Read the article
Driver's seat on 2013 Ford Ranger

Good news from Stephen Kruk, general manager of Ford Australia's customer service division, who says: "We will have a service fix released before the year's end." I've been agitating and yours will be one of the first Rangers to get the fix.

2013 Ford Ranger rattle

It's likely to be a fuelling issue, so check the fuel pump and injectors. Common-rail diesels often have issues with the injectors as they wear. To get a better reading on it I would suggest taking it to an experienced diesel mechanic.

Ford Ranger PX 4WD ute excessive sealant

Excess sealant suggests sloppy workmanship. You might like to mention it to your dealer and suggest they disassemble the diff and put it back together without excessive sealant that could cause issues down the track, or you could let it go and hope it doesn't cause any problems later on. If it was the engine I would want to fix it, but in the case of a diff I'd be tempted to report it in case something does develop in the future, and let it go.

Disclaimer: You acknowledge and agree that all answers are provided as a general guide only and should not be relied upon as bespoke advice. Carsguide is not liable for the accuracy of any information provided in the answers.
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Complete guide to Ford Ranger 2013
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