99 Ranger with 98 Explorer 5.0 Swap No Speedo/Abs light on

[RonD]

Found an old 4WABS diagram, quite different that the 1999 diagram

 

[Mvanaxen]

This one is the closest to the harness I have. Only differences are pin 5 is blank, pin 21 has a pink/red and pin 25 has a large yellow/green.

On the 98 Rabs the diagram shows a module.... I would like to find this.

Found an old 4WABS diagram, quite different that the 1999 diagram

 

[RonD]

Ford moved around RABS module, I have seen it on firewall in cab above gas pedal and also above glove box
In 1999 above glove box would be best guess, the PATS module is also located there

Not sure if passenger side had an airbag in 1999, if so be sure to unhook battery and then WAIT 10min for its capacitors to drain

 

[Mvanaxen]

Upon further inspection it looks like they did a full wiring swap from the 98 explorer. The GEM number comes back to a 98 explorer.

 

[Mvanaxen]

If thats the case am I stuck with swapping to 4wabs? I dont see a way around that without a dash and engine bay harness. I have the explorer 4wabs module... I would need the ranger brake lines, rotors, spindles?, and sensors l believe.

 

[fastpakr]

I'm curious - do you actually need the Explorer GEM? I'm running the Ranger unit in mine after the 5.0 swap.

 

[Mvanaxen]

Idk but it looks like whomever did this swap just decided to switch everything over. I dont see a way of keeping a functioning Rabs with this wiring setup.

 

[Mvanaxen]

I currently have an ABS light, airbag light and no speedo

 

[don4331]

I was looking through all the swap articles and they all seem to include 4WABS

I know mine has it, and I specifically pulled Explorer parts to ensure it worked at the end.

Air bags are really finnicky about being the correct GEM, airbag module - had to pay real money (couple hundred) to get replacement that had same part number right down to revision for BiL's truck when restoring it (previous owner used pintle hitch on 5 ton to stop)

 

[franklin2]

Idk but it looks like whomever did this swap just decided to switch everything over. I dont see a way of keeping a functioning Rabs with this wiring setup.

So your only hurdle to jump now is getting the 4wabs working? Do you have all the 98 4wabs stuff you need to complete it? You said something about brackets up front, I am assuming for the front ABS sensors? Will you need two rear abs sensors also or just the one that the truck had in the rearend? I am learning something here at your expense.

P.S. I just looked at the 1998 diagram above in Ron D's post and it looks like 3 sensors, two up front and one in the rear. Also in that diagram I see a data link connector connecting the ABS to the computer network. If that is the case, I don't see how you would get the other RABS to work in this system if the explorer network is looking for a certain 4wabs computer box and all it's getting is another type RABS box in the network.

 

[Mvanaxen]

I have the 4wabs module they left free hanging with the harness connected but nothing else. I'm not familiar with the Ranger ABS setups but I can only assume the spindle is different on the 4wabs to accommodate the sensors but maybe I'll get lucky and its the same.

 

[RonD]

If you want a working 4WABS system then you need the brake lines as well as the sensors

And does the 4WABS unit have 5 brake line hook ups?

If you just want a working speed system for now and then do RABS or 4WABS later then get one of these

SGI-100BT: Universal Speedometer and Tachometer Interface

Dakota Digital manufactures digital instrumentation and accessories for the automotive, motorcycle and car audio enthusiast.

www.dakotadigital.com

Fairly easy to wire in, Key on 12v power(and ground), 2 wires from rear axle sensor, 1 wire out to the grey/black wires(they should all be spliced together already)

Very common to use one of these on a V8 swap into a 1998-2000 Ranger
It can do what the Ranger GEM did, convert the 20,000ppm(rear axle) signal to 8,000ppm signal and send that out to speedo, computer and cruise

Its also adjustable for tire size and fine tuned speed, Fords are +/- 4mph calibration at 65mph, just FYI

ABS light can be disabled by removing the bulbs ground wire at the current 4WABS unit
In the 1998 4WABS diagram the pin16 dark green wire is what grounds the ABS bulb when module want to light it up, no ground and no light

EDIT
Actually just unplug the 4WABS unit and pull it out

 

[Mvanaxen]

Speedo fixed... Fuses.... I'm an idiot. Thanks for helping! Sorry I overlooked the simple answer and was looking for something more complex.