Dashboard Instrument Lens & Coolant Gauge

[DeanoDeano]

I have a 98 Ranger 4 liter, 2wd, manual tranny.

Is there an easy way to remove the large plastic lens that cover's the speedo and instruments? There is a bunch of dust inside that I want to clean up, but not bad enough to tear the whole dash apart.

Secondly, my coolant gauge appears to have failed. I suspect the sending unit of course, but it is a laborious process to remove everything and replace it. Any advice on whether I should check anything else first?

 

[sgtsandman]

Unfortunately, you have to tear half of the dash apart in order to get enough acces to the instrument cluster. I can't remember if you have to pull the cluster in order to be able to pull the clear cover off or not.

As far as the guage, usually it is the sending unit that is the problem and not the gauge itself. But I don't know the proceedure to check the guage or power from the wire harness to the instrument cluster. I depend on the shop manual for stuff like that. Unfortunately I'm nowhere near close to it to read through and give any pointers.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Unfortunately, you have to tear half of the dash apart in order to get enough acces to the instrument cluster. I can't remember if you have to pull the cluster in order to be able to pull the clear cover off or not.

As far as the guage, usually it is the sending unit that is the problem and not the gauge itself. But I don't know the proceedure to check the guage or power from the wire harness to the instrument cluster. I depend on the shop manual for stuff like that. Unfortunately I'm nowhere near close to it to read through and give any pointers.

Yup, dash has to come apart to get to the cluster. Pretty sure the plastic lens thing can be pulled without pulling the cluster, but if you need to check the wiring, then the cluster has to come out.

Usually it is the sending unit that’s wrong and it’s the easy thing to change. FWIW, the single wire sensor is the dash sensor and the two wire is for the computer. Which always seemed kind of dumb because if the computer sensor goes bad, I’d like to know about it right away. There is a resistance value for the sensors to check if they are working but I never remember what it is. Gauge stops working, replace the sensor. If it still doesn’t work, then it’s diagnostic time.

 

[DeanoDeano]

Yup, dash has to come apart to get to the cluster. Pretty sure the plastic lens thing can be pulled without pulling the cluster, but if you need to check the wiring, then the cluster has to come out.

Usually it is the sending unit that’s wrong and it’s the easy thing to change. FWIW, the single wire sensor is the dash sensor and the two wire is for the computer. Which always seemed kind of dumb because if the computer sensor goes bad, I’d like to know about it right away. There is a resistance value for the sensors to check if they are working but I never remember what it is. Gauge stops working, replace the sensor. If it still doesn’t work, then it’s diagnostic time.

I don't need to get to instrument cluster, I would like to be able to just remove the large plastic lens and clean up a bit.

You wrote "Usually it is the sending unit that’s wrong and it’s the easy thing to change."

It appears to me that I will have to remove the intake manifold and everything that proceeds it?

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I don't need to get to instrument cluster, I would like to be able to just remove the large plastic lens and clean up a bit.

You have to pull the dash apart to get to the lens, there is no ”easy“ way unfortunately. You may or may not be able to pull the lens without pulling the cluster. I never tried it, just cleaned it when I pulled the cluster for one reason or another like replacing burned out bulbs. The lens is bolted to the cluster.

You wrote "Usually it is the sending unit that’s wrong and it’s the easy thing to change."

It appears to me that I will have to remove the intake manifold and everything that proceeds it?

The 4.0 in the Rangers up through the end of 2000 are different from the 2001-2011 4.0L. I don’t remember ever having to remove anything to get to the sensor on the older ones. The older ones also all thread in. Newer ones use that clip like the video shows. You have an older one.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Ugh, videos are atrocious…

If it’s not raining too much tomorrow I’ll try to get out and shoot a video…

 

[DeanoDeano]

Thanks Johnny! If you can show me where they are located that would be great!

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Thanks Johnny! If you can show me where they are located that would be great!

 

[Curious Hound]

If you'd let your hair grow out over your face, you could play Cousin Itt on the Addams Family

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

If you'd let your hair grow out over your face, you could play Cousin Itt on the Addams Family

If I let my hair grow out it would be a Fro. My hair is thick, it stays short. This beard has been growing for over 3 years and I’ve trimmed it back a couple times.