ENGINE HESITATION/JERKING

[Timothy Ferguson]

I have a 2000 Ford Ranger 3.0l Flex Fuel V6 with 39655 miles. I drive roughly 11miles each way to work. As you can see I drive the truck very little. I sit in traffic coming home more than anything. My question is this. When I do not drive the truck at all during the weekend (Sat and Sun) and when I go to work on that Mon I turn the truck on and let it warm up (just habit). I get going down the highway at speeds of 55 to 60mph and the truck will hesitate or jerk. It will not do this if I drive it at least everyday. It will only do this on the first day it is started in the morning after sitting for a period of time of a day or two with out starting. It only hesitiates and jerks during coasting not acceleration or deacceleration and definatly not during idle. WHY? do it then but not any other time?

-Is it the spark plugs. (They are only 1 1/2 year old. Less than 10,000 miles on them)
-Is it the gas? (I pump BP)
-Is it the oil?
-Or is it just something that happens because it has sat a period of time and the fluids and everythign has drained back in the engine?

PLEASE HELP!?

 

[Timothy Ferguson]

Flex Fuel mean I have the abilty to use regular fuel or alcohol in it. Yes I am using regular gas. I have had the trans looked at already. Everything is functioning fine. I have had a flush and fill done on it also. I wonder if it does it because the transmission and fluid has not warmed to operating temperature yet so the fluid thick and more viscous.

 

[michaelc80]

You might consider having it scanned for any codes in the computer that might point you to the source of the problem.

 

[1 FMF]

quote:

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Originally posted by Timothy Ferguson:
It only hesitiates and jerks during coasting not acceleration or deacceleration and definatly not during idle.

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my best guess since it's during coasting is something to do with the transmission. As with all cars trucks today, most likely a malfunctioning sensor. I doubt it's gas, oil, spark plugs, or anything to do with the engine since you say it runs fine under load just about all the time.

what is "Flex Fuel V6" ? I'm assuming you're running gasoline as fuel.