What did YOU do today?

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Did some electrical wiring work on my Pinto.

 

[bilbo]

Wish I could get the cruise working in my Superduty. Switches are fine.i checked them with a meter and I can see them working when I hook up Forscan. Got the brake pedal switch working right. Not sure what to check next.

Is it completely inop or does it work intermittently? If intermittent can Forscan give you a “first out?” If it’s always inop there should be a step by step test somewhere that you can follow.

I’m not 100% sure this will solve my issue as it’s an intermittent problem, but the switches did test out of range according to the manual so I’m hopeful. I don’t want it to be the servo as they seem hard to find. I saw tons that looked nearly identical on the outside at the junkyard but the retainer for the cable end was different from mine. I’m guessing they are programmed for a specific vehicle/drivetrain combo as well.

 

[ericbphoto]

Is it completely inop or does it work intermittently? If intermittent can Forscan give you a “first out?” If it’s always inop there should be a step by step test somewhere that you can follow.

I’m not 100% sure this will solve my issue as it’s an intermittent problem, but the switches did test out of range according to the manual so I’m hopeful. I don’t want it to be the servo as they seem hard to find. I saw tons that looked nearly identical on the outside at the junkyard but the retainer for the cable end was different from mine. I’m guessing they are programmed for a specific vehicle/drivetrain combo as well.

Doesn't work at all. I don't have the shop manual yet. So, no troubleshooting procedure. All I have is the wiring diagrams book.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Here's a couple pics of the F350 project, the section replaced was just smaller than a business card (what I made my template out of), the replacement metal came from the top of a 55 gal drum I had on hand (used the drum for scrap metal, kept the top for this type of thing). No in process pics, I tacked a piece of random sheet metal to the middle for a ground attachment. Hopefully this summer I'll pull the headliner at least some to get some paint on the under side of this area...

I know that rust is minor compared to what most of you deal with, but it's the only rust on that worn out beast...

Got further on the camper, jacks are on, sealed everything I think other than I need another tube of roof sealant but the wife just informed me that I was off on my weekends, I have one more weekend before we go camping... after I got the jacks on I tried to use them but I think the remote battery is finally dead and we're out of 9V batteries...

 

[sgtsandman]

Prepped the old sleeper couch for trash pickup. They wanted the mattress wrapped in plastic before they would be willing to pick it up. With the potential of there being bed bugs and urine smells in what they pick up, I guess I can't blame them. So, that was taken care of and the couch itself was covered in plastic so it won't be a wet, sopping mess when they go to pick it up.

Aside from that, I just cleaned up sticks in the yard. The maple out back and the beech in the front like to drop a lot of sticks. So, one needs to keep up on that. It's also laundry day.

 

[White_4x4Ranger]

I installed a new head unit in my truck, a 2003 Ranger XLT Supercab. It sounds really good and I like the backup camera and the Apple Carplay. FYI though, if you are going to do this, make sure you buy a dash kit before starting the installation. I didn't. I was still able to get the head unit installed but it doesn't look the best. Also, the Metra wiring harness adaptor makes things super easy to wire up. I'll link it below.
The Backup camera was pretty easy to wire up. I started at the rear and worked my way forward. For routing the wires I just followed a white cable (Not Sure What its for) that was already on the inside of the left frame rail. I followed that wire up until the engine bay, where I fished it up[ past the exhaust manifolds and pushed it through the steering collum grommet, which I had cut a small slit in prior to this for some lightbar wiring. After that, it was the simple step of pulling the wire up into the dash and connecting it to the head unit.
I have also replaced the front 2 speakers with some 6x8 Pioneer ones from Walmart that I got for like $65, TS-800M is the model I think. Rear Speakers are still stock, and I expect them to blow, as my head unit does 85 watts per channel and I doubt the stock Ford speakers can handle that for long.

I will be making a full-blown post on this. As of now, I don't have any photos, but I will work on getting those, and once I do that post should go up.

Wiring Adaptor link
URL in case the link decides to not work

https://www.autozone.com/electrical-and-lighting/stereo-wiring-harness/p/metra-stereo-wiring-harness-fdwh2/207604_0_0

 

[Rick W]

Prepped the old sleeper couch for trash pickup. They wanted the mattress wrapped in plastic before they would be willing to pick it up. With the potential of there being bed bugs and urine smells in what they pick up, I guess I can't blame them. So, that was taken care of and the couch itself was covered in plastic so it won't be a wet, sopping mess when they go to pick it up.

Aside from that, I just cleaned up sticks in the yard. The maple out back and the beech in the front like to drop a lot of sticks. So, one needs to keep up on that. It's also laundry day.

oh my gosh, you provided a target rich environment….

I need a day to craft my response to this

 

[Rick W]

Rear Speakers are still stock, and I expect them to blow, as my head unit does 85 watts per channel and I doubt the stock Ford speakers can handle that for long.

I will be making a full-blown post on this….,

Wow, ambitious. But wouldn’t it save time to just replace the speakers now, instead of doing a full blown post on how you blow them up? You must be a drag racer…

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

We had three big tree branches come down most of the way over the winter so today I tied the tractor on them, finished ripping them off the tree and dragged them out of the way so I can cut them off and haul them off.

Also picked up the hardware for the sleeping platform I am building for the Vagabond trip.

 

[White_4x4Ranger]

Wow, ambitious. But wouldn’t it save time to just replace the speakers now, instead of doing a full blown post on how you blow them up? You must be a drag racer…

lol. I meant a full-blown post on the entire installation, but if you guys want a post on how to blow rear speakers I might be able to make that happen.

 

[Saddle Tramp]

I totally failed at replacing the timing chain tensioners on my 4.0. The truck was up on jack stands and I just couldn't get the socket to stay on the nut end of the tensioner. The u-joint on the extension destroyed any pressure I could put on it.

I started taking the entire wheel well cover off when this weird float ball thing fell down. What the hell is that thing anyway? Luckily I noticed the wire shielding had worn through, so I wrapped that with electrical tape.

Consolation victory as I put the tire back on.

 

[ericbphoto]

I totally failed at replacing the timing chain tensioners on my 4.0. The truck was up on jack stands and I just couldn't get the socket to stay on the nut end of the tensioner. The u-joint on the extension destroyed any pressure I could put on it.

I started taking the entire wheel well cover off when this weird float ball thing fell down. What the hell is that thing anyway? Luckily I noticed the wire shielding had worn through, so I wrapped that with electrical tape.

Consolation victory as I put the tire back on.

The float ball thing was probably the vacuum reservoir for the vacuum supply to the HVAC controls. No wires to that, though. Just vacuum hose.

 

[sgtsandman]

I totally failed at replacing the timing chain tensioners on my 4.0. The truck was up on jack stands and I just couldn't get the socket to stay on the nut end of the tensioner. The u-joint on the extension destroyed any pressure I could put on it.

I started taking the entire wheel well cover off when this weird float ball thing fell down. What the hell is that thing anyway? Luckily I noticed the wire shielding had worn through, so I wrapped that with electrical tape.

Consolation victory as I put the tire back on.

You should be able to just put a regular ratchet and socket on the one on the passenger side. Easiest access os through the wheel well.

The driver's side is a different story. Even with the throttle body and thermostat housing out of the way, access isn't great. A box end wrench will get in there. A deep well socket, only kind of.

One thing that makes the installation easier, is not not precharge the tensioner. That way you need less force to press the tensioner in there and get it threaded. Just remember to press the gas pedal all the way to the floor to keep the engine starting so you can prime the tensioner while cranking the engine.

The driver's side tensioner also likes to leak. So make sure to inspect it real good with a light and a mirror once you do fire up the engine so you don't fill up the valley with oil. I had that happen to me and needed to crank that tensioner down more so the crush washer would properly deform. That's where the box end wrench comes in handy. That and a can or two of brake cleaner to clean out the valley.

 

[sgtsandman]

oh my gosh, you provided a target rich environment….

I need a day to craft my response to this

I'm sure it will be entertaining. Whatever you come up with.

 

[bilbo]

I totally failed at replacing the timing chain tensioners on my 4.0. The truck was up on jack stands and I just couldn't get the socket to stay on the nut end of the tensioner. The u-joint on the extension destroyed any pressure I could put on it.

I started taking the entire wheel well cover off when this weird float ball thing fell down. What the hell is that thing anyway? Luckily I noticed the wire shielding had worn through, so I wrapped that with electrical tape.

Consolation victory as I put the tire back on.

That's the float switch for the automatic pontoons.