Ranger one - my son’s first Ford. 98 stepside build by 410customs

[allmyEXes]

@410Fortune What year and transmission do you have?

 

[410Fortune]

Are you sure your 99 has 4 o2 sensors?

I thought only 97 and 98 had that setup? But remember my 05 engine is even wired for 4 even though only 3 were hooked up by Mazda? So odd

The trans is ????? 02+ that’s all I know because it has the second speed sensor
It came from junk yard, it actually originally was in this truck… and now they are back together

I installed the pcm, key and tumbler as well as pats module yesterday… took the truck for a loooooong test drive. It’s running and shifting properly for the FIRST TIME since I built it!!! Finally!!

I have one code still… canister purge circuit control failure… it dawned on me I have seen this before. Can’t use a ranger canister purge valve with an explorer pcm. So I need to swap to a 99 explorer canister purge and then I expect no codes!!!!

I am going back to the junk yard next week this key and pcm came from I want the front door locks so I can make this ranger use one key

I’m very happy!!! Finally!!!!

Some sohcs had 4 ea 02 sensors… when the exhaust stays in two pipes leading into the muffler you have 4, on most sohcs after 99??? They went into a single pipe after the y pipe and they only had 3 sensors. Maybe 99 was the crossover year? I dunno
I do know that so far this thing is happy and the trans shifts great! Engine runs awesome.
It’s been a looooong battle on this build. I learned a lot

Persistence is the word of the day

Next I’m going to finally put in the manual tensioners and then we can think about a paint job green Monstaliner

 

[allmyEXes]

So all '97 to '04s with 4.0 sohc engines had the 5R55E?
COPIED from The Ranger Station:
"In 2001 and up Rangers, Ford added ISS (intermediate shaft speed) sensor and an OSS (output shaft speed) sensor to the outside of the 5R55E's (and 5R44Es as well)
So, your 2002 computer NEEDS the inputs from these 2 new sensors, they can't be retrofitted to older 5R55E cases

So, you need a 2001-2011 5R55E from a 4.0l, also needs to match 2WD or 4x4 as there is no conversion possible.

One heads up, I have read that some 2001 and up Rangers had the 5R55W transmission (never seen it myself), easy way to tell is there is no dipstick on this model
The wiring is different than 5R55E, so connector won't work/fit.

Not that it helps you, but a 1995 to 2000 Ranger can use 1995-2011 trans because its computer doesn't need the ISS or OSS sensors, they are just left unhooked but can't go the other way".

There is an answer in there somewhere as to what was going on.

So, going with 1999 pcm etc made everything happy?

ADDED SUNDAY A.M.: The reason I ask is because if a '97 came with a 5R55E, why would the transmission not work correctly with the '97 pcm?

 

[410Fortune]

I have no idea why the 97 pcm had it shifting incorrectly I assume it was a bad pcm
At this point, or it was not happy with the lack of a 4th 02 sensor, or the lack of the power valve in the intake? Not sure

I am running a 2004 upper intake

The 99 pcm is working fantastic

We have had 100+ rangers not one ever had the 5rw, not one.. that must be a myth
They all have dipsticks and 5re

Yes you can use the late 5r in the early trucks and just ignore the second speed sensor… the pcm after 2001 requires the sensor

To recap
2004 sohc engine and trans
I was not able to get the 04/05 pcm to work in my truck because I used the 98 dash and wiring
We had you flash the 04 pcm to remove pats
I believe you flashed it to be a 02?
Ran fantastic, trans would run at high line pressure and shifting sucked

Tried fixing the trans through valve body modifications, 3 times. Eventually out in known good 2005 valve body. Same result

Installed 98 ohv pcm pats key and changed wiring. Barely ran

Installed 97 sohc pcm and changed some wires for vss sensor
Ran great, but shifting 3-4 and 4-5 very very late (hanging in gear) throttle input only helped slightly. 97 pcm expecting 4 02 sensors and a power valve

Finally found 99 pcm and installed with pats, and key/tumbler

Finally running and shifting properly!!
She was this close to getting a v8 conversion

 

[Josh P]

She was this close to getting a v8 conversion

Not close enough.

 

[allmyEXes]

I'm still trying to understand why the 5R55E behaved so differently with all of the different pcms. The programming from year to year?

 

[dvdswan]

I'm still trying to find the 07-11 Ranger rims and here you are with them on 3 vehicles now. SMH

I guess I'm having a hard time wanting to pay more than 30 bucks a rim since the j/y is asking that.

 

[410Fortune]

I only have one set of these wheels hahahahaha I had one other set years ago and let them go when I sold my 96 explorer

This set came off the blue 07 v8 truck I built, the stock wheels and tires were part of my pay
They were on my sport trax for a while and then found there way onto this ranger

They are the best ranger wheel! 06-11 ranger I believe


I have no idea why the trans shifting the way it was? I thought maybe bad throttle position sensor? It checks out. Then I thought maybe my 05 intake and tps not the same as earlier trucks… it’s the same
So if the tps is the same and working fine
I figure it must be a speed sensor issue?

The 97 PCM gave me trouble codes for lack of speed sensor p0500 even though the pcm could see the truck moving and the dash was working fine. The abs pump on this truck is doing the speed signal buffering . The 97 pcm was still expecting a tailhousing mounted vss. So that is why the code because the vss style sensor simply wasn’t there. I could have wired one in… just to clear that code.

The 05’pcm you flashed to be a 03 pcm was the one that started all of this.. the shifting started good but eventually got very harsh was running full line pressure? That’s why I assumed the issue was in the trans.. nope. 3 valve bodies and another trans later… same result

The next pcm I tried 98 ohv pcm barely ran
Early ohv ocm can run a sohc engine but the later obd2 pcm will freak out over the cam and crank timing signals

The finally the 97 pcm, ran good but holding gear way too long, p0500 and mia 4th 02 senosr

Now with 99 pcm and correct 3 02 sensors correct speed sensor setup for a 99 (and pump does smoothing) this truck thinks it’s a 99 sohc and all is well!! It is ignoring the second speed sensor in the trans and I’m running a 05 style upper intake, seems to be happy now!!

Wish I knew! All I know is 3 valve bodies 2 transmissions and 4 pcm… we finally have a winner

Project spare parts can keep her name and stay in the family. This is the second sohc engine we have ever owned here (I have flipped 50 trucks with sohc engine and I have repaired 200 more, but never had to own one) the first sohc I owned was in my sport trac and it lasted about 2 weeks before it overheated and jumped time

Around here that will earn you a v8, shhhh don’t tell my kid! It would be nice if this drivetrain could last a few years hahaha

 

[allmyEXes]

Are your manual tensioners installed.
P0500 indicates a VSS malfunction. it means the pcm isn't receiving accurate speed readings from the VSS or the signal is missing altogether that would do it on the '97 pcm as it relates to the transmission. But you already know that. Maybe a different situation for each combo (pcm) and wiring that you had.
Look around in your extra stuff for a pcm for a 2002 Sport Trac with a 4.0 SOHC.

 

[donalds]

Every once and a while ill see that po500 code on my 99 but after all the tests I can find nothing been this way for years
So you may have nothing there however if you find it let me know
Ill clear it it takes a few months to come back