1996 Ranger Windshield Wiper System

[MEZLAW]

What is with the 1996 and older rangers when it comes to windshield wiper transmission parts? How much difference can there be? I'd like to rip out everything and install new but everything I find is for 1997 and newer! What's the difference?

 

[RonD]

Welcome to TRS

Be more specific
Mechanical parts or electrical parts

1995 to 2003 used GEM module for the electrics, a few fuses and relays
Mechanical parts are another thing altogether

 

[MEZLAW]

Windshield wiper transmission is mechanical, it's the part that connects the wiper motor to the left and right pivots. Electrical is a whole different issue which I may get into in a different post.

https://parts.tedbritt.com/oem-parts/ford-wiper-transmission-kb3z17566a

BTW.......thank you for the welcome!

 

[RonD]

Those parts will be wrecking yard parts most likely.
When vehicles start pushing 25 years old there are not alot of factory parts left and 3rd party just don't make them unless they think market would be big enough

Try car-part.com

Select "wiper linkage" and then LH or RH doesn't matter
It will show near by wrecking yards that have at least one "Parts Truck" that will work for 1996 wiper parts
You can then call and see what other wiper parts they may have

And I am seeing only 1995-1997 as being a match to 1996 wiper for parts

 

[MEZLAW]

Thanks for replying.
Those parts will be wrecking yard parts most likely.
When vehicles start pushing 25 years old there are not alot of factory parts left and 3rd party just don't make them unless they think market would be big enough

I understand what you're saying and it will most likely be the only solution, but I'm tying to find out if I replace everything including the motor, can I use the newer equipment. I don't see a significant difference between the 96 and 97 at first site. Maybe it's just where the new parts will not work with my wiper motor. Maybe I can find a "newer" (97,98,99) junked Ranger and take out the whole mechanism to see what the real difference is. I'm trying to avoid junkyard parts but I'm not sure I will be successful. I will report back when I have a solution to use the newer parts.

 

[RonD]

Never read of someone doing that, so can't say one way or the other

It would be good info if it was possible, but I am thinking probably not doable or Ford would not have redesigned it

1997 was last year of 2nd generation(1993-1997)
1998 was first year of 3rd generation(1998-2011)

1st gen was 1983 to 1992, BUT.........body change in 1989 to 1992 is often "called" 2nd Gen, but its really Gen 1.5, lol, if you want to call it something different

 

[1990RangerinSK]

Never read of someone doing that, so can't say one way or the other

It would be good info if it was possible, but I am thinking probably not doable or Ford would not have redesigned it

1997 was last year of 2nd generation(1993-1997)
1998 was first year of 3rd generation(1998-2011)

1st gen was 1983 to 1992, BUT.........body change in 1989 to 1992 is often "called" 2nd Gen, but its really Gen 1.5, lol, if you want to call it something different

Oh, you're gonna get banned for that, Ron!

 

[scotts90ranger]

The generations get all screwed up... for 20 years I've known second gen as '89-92... but the same inner bed was used from '83-11, same basic dash from '83-88, then '89-94 and '95-11, same bedsides from '83-92 then '93-11 (aside from little adders and tail lights), same basic cab from '83-92 then '93-97 for regular cabs and '93-11 for extended cabs other than the 3 or 4 door variants... It gets much more complicated than that like the dash rewiring in mid '92 and I'm sure the next dash went through several iterations... I ignored that dash for a LONG time and now I technically have 4 rigs with it...

Anywho, I kinda wish I knew more about the wiper system in my '97 as it has a mind of it's own sometimes... sometimes the passenger wiper parks on the windshield trim, others it parks 3" up, the linkage is tight... same with the drivers side but less pronounced... maybe a dirty rheostat in the motor housing, but haven't looked...

 

[bobbywalter]

you can make it whatever you want it to be.

I like the 96 up stuff better and have been considering installing those in my 88. Mostly because finding 88 stuff is hard and I want flip up wipers for winter.

 

[bobbywalter]

And bailing wire with universal grommet is holding my arm links to the transmission with 3 inches of slack on the drinker side....

 

[RonD]

1983 to 1992 same size and suspension
1993 to 1997 larger body same suspension
1998 to 2011 different suspension and fuel system

2019 to ?? larger body and different suspension, 4th generation

You guys crack me up

 

[bobbywalter]

There are 3 generations in America in the eyes of ford.

Birth to 97 ttb. tib


97 to 11. sla

19 to.....

 

[scotts90ranger]

What I was getting at is it doesn't really matter, I'm with Bobby on this though and that is the sole reason I got a '97 for a daily driver, I wanted TIB... All the other random stuff changed willy nilly... Ford used the new dash for one year, then implemented OBD II for "some" models, then went away from cable speedo's about a year after that, then extended the regular cab 3" the next year, then the next year added a 3rd door to some extended cabs, a year or so later added another door to some extended cabs, then a few years later made the rear part of the frame unbolt for some unknown reason... I'm sure there's logic in there, but I think the Ranger platform was just the Guinea pig for some stuff and they just winged it... I'm still calling '89-92 second gen though, strictly from habit...

 

[bobbywalter]

Yeah....we will decide. That's what I told them...

Gen 4 to me was frame modularization....and door bars....and gen 5 was sla.