Ranger- Curious

[teh603]

I'm in the market for a new truck, thanks to a dip who rear- ended my old one on Christmas and the insurance company deciding to total it because it was just old.

Anyway, I've heard good things about Rangers, and I'm considering buying an older one?

 

[Uncle Gump]

Being from Texas... the used market is pretty rust free. Something we don't see to much up here.

Good luck... they are really great small trucks and I don't think you can go wrong.

Welcome to TRS...

 

[RonD]

Avoid 2001-2004 Rangers with 4.0l SOHC engine unless there is a service record that timing chains have been updated, once they were updated there were no issues, well same issues as any engine with 2 longer timing chains, lol
You have to pull out the engine to do this service work

Also 2004-2006 Rangers with 3.0l, had exhaust valve recession issue, if heads have been changed then they are fine

The Mazda B-series are exactly the same as the Rangers by year(1994 and up), and are often priced lower
B4000 is 4.0l
B3000 is a 3.0l
B2500 is a 2.5l 4cyl(1998-2001)
B2300 is a 2.3l 4cyl(2001-2011 are the 2.3l DOHC engines, which have been good reliable engines)


2004 and up Ranger's or Mazda's have digital instrument clusters, these can not be swapped easily so mileage shown is usually correct
2003 and older clusters are easy to swap out, so "buyer beware" on mileage shown on cluster, check pedal wear on a "low miler" if they look "new" they have been replaced to try and match a swapped low mile cluster

Make sure CEL(check engine light) works, it should come on with key on and go off when cranking or after startup

 

[ericbphoto]

Subliminal message; buy a Ranger, buy a Ranger, buy a Ranger...

 

[Dirtman]

There are some rangers that are better than others, some had issues, Ron mentioned a few issues but even the worst of the worst is still a good truck when it comes to rangers. The trick is knowing the quirks and being on top of them. Like the 2.9's cannot be overheated so coolant system maintenance is imperative. The automatic transmissions also hate being overheated so an aux cooler and regular fluid changes are a must. The 2.3 manual trans trucks on the other hand can not be destroyed by any act of man.

 

[teh603]

Avoid 2001-2004 Rangers with 4.0l SOHC engine unless there is a service record that timing chains have been updated, once they were updated there were no issues, well same issues as any engine with 2 longer timing chains, lol
You have to pull out the engine to do this service work

Also 2004-2006 Rangers with 3.0l, had exhaust valve recession issue, if heads have been changed then they are fine

The Mazda B-series are exactly the same as the Rangers by year(1994 and up), and are often priced lower
B4000 is 4.0l
B3000 is a 3.0l
B2500 is a 2.5l 4cyl(1998-2001)
B2300 is a 2.3l 4cyl(2001-2011 are the 2.3l DOHC engines, which have been good reliable engines)

They're kinda hard to find right here? I don't think they were popular locally. But my first good car was a Miata, so I'd be fine in a B4000.

2004 and up Ranger's or Mazda's have digital instrument clusters, these can not be swapped easily so mileage shown is usually correct
2003 and older clusters are easy to swap out, so "buyer beware" on mileage shown on cluster, check pedal wear on a "low miler" if they look "new" they have been replaced to try and match a swapped low mile cluster

Yeah, I prepaid for some Carfax reports, but that gives me another place to check for it.

I do remember some vehicles having the speedo fail, and having to get a junkyard cluster? My mom's F-100 is on like it's third cluster because they just kept breaking. And the one it's got now, literally only the speedo works so dad's got a dozen or so pod gauges crapping it up.

That having been said, there's a right way to replace a cluster, and then there's the used car dealer way.

Make sure CEL(check engine light) works, it should come on with key on and go off when cranking or after startup

And I plan on getting a mechanic to check anything I'm serious about.

Subliminal message; buy a Ranger, buy a Ranger, buy a Ranger...

lol

My wife's mom had one? But sadly it wasn't running and ended up getting sold long ago. And then stuff happened to it. BUT, she's willing to vouch for one.