2000 Ranger Speedometer is possessed!!! Help!!

[ppeterso2]

Hi,
I have a 2000 Ford Ranger 3.0V6-Manual (Flare sided?)

I am having a fit with some electrical items. My speedometer bounces wildly between 20 and 50 mph (and my cruise control cuts out) when I'm moving and either 1.) turn on the right turn signal (left doesn't cause issues—weird!) or 2.) Just push the brake pedal or just release the brake pedal (speedo works fine while holding the brake pedal down to slow the truck. The ABS light comes on and stays on after 20-30 seconds of driving.

Here's more information:

• First time the speedo when crazy and I replaced the ABS Speed Sensor w/ a Delco sensor and the problem stopped for about 4 months

• Ran through a some high water about a month ago (too late when I saw it) and got an Abs light, no speedometor and pulled a CEL for "Flex Fuel Sensor"

• Replaced ABS Speed sensor AGAIN!! (w/Motorcraft one from Ford)

• Pulled the large multi pin connector (held on by a 10mm bolt) under the driver’s seat (underneath truck) and water and sand came out; Sprayed that connector, the ABS Speed Sensor connector and the Flex Fuel connector w/deoxit and plugged everything back in--reset CEL--let truck sit in sun for 3 days (too busy—drove other car)--started truck and no CEL!

• Everything worked fine and 1 week during a heavy rain the speedometer started acting up AGAIN! Brakes got real stiff, ABS starts pulsing (you can feel it tick under your foot) and the wretched ABS lamp comes on

• Pulled connector under seat again, sprayed more Deoxit, and packed it full of Dielectric Grease and then pulled ABS speed sensor connector and packed it w/ dielectric grease hoping to keep these connectors dry

• Now as it stated at the beginning of this post: No CEL, ABS Light still on, Brakes feel funny just before the ABS light comes on and Speedo works fine until I turn on the right turn signal, push brake pedal, or release brake pedal (it seems to happen at the point of electrical connection). When I do either of these things the speedometer bounces like a VU meter on a stereo.

Well that’s what’s happening—any ideas? Could the grease be causing a connection problem?

HELP!!!—my 40 mile commute sucks now…

 

[LittleBigFoot]

I think you're screwed.

The only responsible thing to do is swap in some old solid axles w/o abs.

Do it. Just pull the bulb like I did.

 

[Original_Ranger84]

But then he will not have a speedometer... seeing as it runs off the RABS.

I had a similar problem with my 99 ranger. I thought maybe it was the sensor as well. Well I pulled the RABS and it was a little dirty so I cleaned it off and put it back in.then i noticed that there was water in the plug its self and I pulled off that plastic wire protector and a ton of water poured out. I figured out when it was really cold and the water froze it would work great, but if the water melted a little bit it would start messing up again.

 

[ppeterso2]

I think you're screwed.

The only responsible thing to do is swap in some old solid axles w/o abs.

Do it. Just pull the bulb like I did.

LOL! Thanks

 

[ppeterso2]

But then he will not have a speedometer... seeing as it runs off the RABS.

I had a similar problem with my 99 ranger. I thought maybe it was the sensor as well. Well I pulled the RABS and it was a little dirty so I cleaned it off and put it back in.then i noticed that there was water in the plug its self and I pulled off that plastic wire protector and a ton of water poured out. I figured out when it was really cold and the water froze it would work great, but if the water melted a little bit it would start messing up again.

Thanks, that sounds like that could be my issue! I'm going to pull the RABS plug and sensor again this weekend. By "plastic wire protector," do you mean the portion behind the rubber boot on the wires that go to the RABS?