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Ford Explorer Community - Maintenance - Modifications - Performance Upgrades - Problem Solving - Off-Road - Street
Explorer Forum Covers the Explorer ST, Explorer Sport, Explorer Sport Trac, Lincoln Aviator, Mercury Mountaineer, Mazda Navajo, Ford Ranger, Mazda Pickups, and the Ford Aerostar
Hello, I'm new to this forum. I just bought a 2002 Ranger Edge from a dealer somebody traded it on new truck. It's been converted to a 302. He couldn't tell me much other than it was a 1968 302 with a C4 3-speed auto. Everything works except the speedo and the rpm gauge. I took it to my local mechanic and he said there was no way to get it to work. I just won't accept that. So a friend of mine told me to look here. If anybody can help it would be greatly appreciated
Welcome to this forum! I've moved your thread to the Ranger section. They sell aftermarket speedometer kits that you could add to your set up. Check WWW.JCWhitney.Com or WWW.SummitRacing.Com.
The factory speedo runs off the rear axle sensor. However this envolves the computer, which I'm guessing you are no longer using. The Speedo is Electronic in the dash. So in a way the mechanic is right. Your only solution would be to run an aftermarket tach and speedo that are mechanical. Then you could use the C4 factory speedo gear in the transmission.
There are probably a number of ways to get the stock speedometer working. Here are some ideas:
Option 1) Substitute the ABS Module from a 99~2001 5.0L Explorer to accept the signal from the rear ABS sensor in your 2002 Ranger and then output a 0~12v square wave to the speedo. (The stock ABS module 2002 Ranger does not have this speed conversion capability.) Using the Ex Module is a little complicated because it also requires a G-force sensor and some rewiring. You'd also need to add a mechanical proportioning valve since the Ranger provides the proportioning function electronically in the ABS Module but the 5.0L Ex does not.
Option 2) Tee a second set of wires from the pair leading from the stock rear ABS sensor to the stock ABS Module of your 2002 Ranger. Run these wires as the input to a 2001 Ranger 2.5L GEM and then output the 0~12V from the GEM to the speedometer. This requires some custom wiring but is less complicated that option 1 above. It also leaves the factory Ranger ABS system intact.
Option 3) Find out if the speedo signal generator from a 1995~1997 Ranger/Explorer transmission will plug directly into the speedo cable port of your C4. If so, its output can be sent directly to your Ranger's speedometer without using a module.
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Options #1 and #2 have both been done successfully on 2001~2003 Rangers with EFI V8 swaps. These types of systems adjust the speedometer for tire size differences by electronic flashing of the module (ABS or GEM) used. If your engine is carbureted, it might be a little tricky doing the flash without a PCM in the system.
To the best of my knowledge, option #3 has not been tried with a C4. If it did work, this method would have the great advantage that it uses interchangeable gears to adjust the speedo just like a speedo with a cable drive. Also, the wiring is dead simple - a single wire to transmit the speed signal and a ground.