Hi guys,

I have a 1996 Ranger with the 4cylinder engine, manual. It has about 160k on the clock.

The other day coming back from getting some gas, I noticed a hesitation while accelerating in 3rd gear, felt it again in fourth and overdrive/5th. Seems like when you give it say 1/2 throttle or better, you feel the hesitation while its accelerating. This does NOT happen while accelerating in 1st and 2nd gear.
The truck is definitely due for its fuel filter, plugs and wires but before I go through all of that, could it be something else?

I took it for a test drive again and was able to go through the gears very slowly on the gas without it hesitating, say like 1/4 throttle, but once I gave it some more gas, it would hesitate.

I might think it could be say a fuel filter but why not in 1st or 2nd gear, a lot of things I thought/think it could be, don't seem to fall true because 1st and 2nd gear I don't feel the hesitation. This one has thrown me for a loop.

Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.