1997 XLT 4.0 ADD TACH

[judgejohnmd]

My 97 4.0 5 speed has no factory tach: I’d like to replace dash with a factory dash speedo/tach combo: just curious if this is feasible, and whether my wiring already has the necessary tach wiring/plugs, perhaps??!!
Thanks!
Judgejohnmd

 

[RonD]

Yes, Tach wire is already on the cluster

1996 to 2003 Ranger/B-series Clusters are direct fit and, plug and play, same wiring

 

[scotts90ranger]

Yep, did it on my '97 2.3L, just go to a junkyard and get one with a tach (doesn't matter the engine for whatever reason, I put a explorer cluster in mine...), you can even get crazy and keep your original speedo/odometer, I found a link on explorerforum I think where you take a AA battery and jump across two of the 4 pins on the speedo stepper motor, note the mph it stops at, pull the needle off with a fork (yes, a fork from the kitchen), pull the I think 2 screws that hold the speedo to the face plate, do the same to the other speedo then install your speedo into the tach face plate then put the battery across and push the needle on at the right MPH then reassemble... chances are you might need to pull a couple bulbs out of the cluster like I did (I think theft and one other...). As an added bonus you might end up with a low fuel light (says "check gauge") like I did.

 

[Josh B]

There are options you might not even think of until looking around at the pick & pay, and you'll also likely be surprised at the prices. I actually haven't been to my nearest one since the pandemic took place but I already had a cluster with all I'd need to repair/replace mine, and it was so cheap I don't even recall the price. Each individual gauge inside it pop in and out individually so you can replace one or all, and possibly use various ones for each slot (But I have not confirmed or explored that possible option)

 

[scotts90ranger]

Josh, on your '93 it's even simpler, no need to pull the needles. I imagine the stepper motors are the same all around but that's too much work to go changing... on the '89-94 dash the main thing you have to look out for is the mid '92 year breakpoint, conveniently the circuit board colors are different in all 4 configurations but I don't remember what is what anymore, it's been 20 years since I put a tach cluster in my '90...

 

[Josh B]

Welll, now I'm not certain. My spare may be from a 94 Mazda with a 4.0 also but I thought they were identical, and had no idea of the colors.
The the fuel and oil gauge symbols on my 93 are blue, as is the Km in the speedo and the X 1000 in the tach and the numbers in the Battery.
The one from the Mazda in the yard those are all a faded yellow or florescent green type color

I wonder if they'll swap after 3 years

 

[scotts90ranger]

On those there are 4 different color circuit boards for the 4 different configurations: 89-92.5 with tach, 89-92.5 without tach, 92.5-94 with tach and 92.5-94 without tach, they are wired differently but have the same connections so it's easy to get them mixed up, but getting parts between '93-94 is safe no matter what...

 

[Josh B]

Awesome! So the 94 Mazda should swap all or just parts with my 93 Ranger?

 

[scotts90ranger]

yes, pull your speedo out of your original cluster (the outer sections are pressed in so you will have to pry a touch, you can pull them out with your fingers though, the speedo is held in by the outer sections) and put it in your tach cluster and put it in, the hardest part is getting the speedo cable disconnected in the whole process...

 

[Josh B]

Awesome Scott, I didn't know that either. I have tried before at least 2 or 3 times (following the book) and just gave up on it. I was afraid of breaking it

 

[judgejohnmd]

Yes, Tach wire is already on the cluster

1996 to 2003 Ranger/B-series Clusters are direct fit and, plug and play, same wiring

Is there anything in the engine bay I need to hookup/plug in?

Thanks for your quick response!!!
Judgejohnmd

 

[RonD]

No, the Tach signal is from the computer(PCM), not the engine or spark system in 1995 and up Rangers

The clusters were plug and play, with tach or without tach, part of an option package or could be odered with tach as pay extra on any model
Manuals usually got a Tach cluster, but not always

 

[scotts90ranger]

I've seen it the other way, autos usually have a tach and manuals don't, makes no sense unless you factor in in the '90's people who got manuals got less options and didn't think of a tach...

 

[RonD]

"Standard" transmission used to mean manual transmission, and people still use the term "standard transmission" to mean manual
You paid extra for an automatic in those days

But in the mid to late 1990's Automatics became the "standard transmission" in all cars and trucks
And on some models you now pay extra for a manual, or it isn't offered at all

And current extra features are much easier to add if vehicles are automatics
Auto stop/start
Auto braking
Traction control
Remote start
To name a few