Help with new/old Ranger

[upinsmoke]

New member - hope this is the correct forum
Howdy all! I just purchased through auction a 98 Ranger XLT, 4x4, manual with unknown mileage although I'm sure it's a 100 or more. Overall it appears to be in pretty good shape - only one small dent in the front fender and several small scratches. I'm having a friend (mechanic) throw it up on a lift today to see if there's anything major wrong with it. I drove it about 70 mile yesterday and it all appeared good - we'll see.

I have discovered several issues tho :
the a/c doesn't come on but have great heat - hopefully maybe the heater control valve isn't switching it over??

Next up is (surprise) the gauge cluster, (whiteface aftermarket) speedo and tach aren't working correctly. Speedo said I was doing 80 when in fact I was going 65 and then it dropped to 20 mph and stayed there. Tach never gets above like, 1,200.All other gauges worked fine.

Radiator has a small leak (as in it doesn't overheat) in the right side tank.

Got the report back from mechanic and he found no major mechanical issues. Anything I should be looking out for??

Any thoughts/suggestions/information would be appreciated.
Rick

 

[rookieshooter]

When you turn on AC, does the compressor engage? Might be low on gas and the low pressure switch stays in the open position.
Only other thing...SAS

 

[upinsmoke]

I didn't hear the compressor engage, but I also didn't look to see if it did. I'll check it tomorrow. So if the gas is low it won't allow the compressor to engage? Also, what is SAS? Thanks