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There have been concerns about the ECM in the Ford Ranger. A faulty ECM can trigger the Check Engine light to come on, result in decreased engine performance, and cause the engine to misfire, stall, or fail to start. To determine if the ECM is the problem in the Ranger, you can conduct a visual inspection as a troubleshooting step. Start by examining the connector pins to ensure they are all straight, intact, and free of corrosion. You can also do a smell test by taking a whiff near the unit's plug; a strong burnt plastic smell indicates a likely issue, in which case you should investigate further by opening up the unit. Upon opening it, look for any burnt components or corrosion - if either is present, it is necessary to replace the ECM.
If the ECM in your Ford Ranger starts to malfunction, you'll observe the vehicle experiencing misfires and the check engine light blinking. Additional signs to look out for are difficulty starting, poor gas mileage, and performance problems with the engine.