Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and 
Brain75
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2024
- Messages
- 2,014
- City
- ~Sterling, Colorado
- Vehicle Year
- 1990
- Engine
- 2.9 V6
- Transmission
- Manual
- Tire Size
- 215/70R14
First off, I am following this guide:
I have a 2nd generation ranger (1990), and am 99% done installing a center roof console (map/compass/temperature) into it. Got everything hooked up except the VSS wire. The guide says it is a pin off the GEM, and the GEM is to the left of the radio inside the dash. Well to the left of my radio is nothing but the instrument cluster, and to the right (assuming right/left reversal) is the climate control cables going off to the side and the glove box (which contains one little mystery item that might be a DRL dummy block).
So I figured google around for location of the GEM - all the results I get are 3rd gen or F150/250.... so I look up the part number for the GEM for mine - no such thing I can find. So I take a deep breath and review the basics... it has a MECHANICAL cable driven speedometer/odometer but there is a 2 wire connector beside it on the same tap on the trans, so that wire has to go somewhere and is probably the VSS...
I didn't put it up on a lift and hunt to death for the neutral or reverse light switch connector etc, cause every search and my own practical knowledge says that VSS and Neutral or Reverse light switch are not married together there.
Any clue where the VSS wire I have off this explorer console should be hooked up to or where the GEM is on a 2nd generation? (I promise I searched google, here, and FTE a bunch before posting).
1st pic - mechanical speedo tap and what I assume is a VSS wire:
to the RIGHT of my radio (towards the passenger and glove box - the 3 cables are: radio antenna and 2 climate control
to the left of my radio (with the radio wires pulled right):
to the left of my radio (with the radio wires pulled left):
I googled a lot of things "how to replace the GEM" and all I got was 3rd gen + but I watched the videos anyhow - it makes sense what the tech article is referencing, but my truck does not have anything like that.
In 1990 they still had the ECC IV computer and ???no such thing as GEM???..
To the left of the heater controls and ashtray is a steel box that has a cluster of lots of wires going into it, a 2nd plastic box that has 10 (6+2+2 connector) wires going into it, and below the ashtray there is another module that has 4 beefy 10 ga wires going into it. Absolutely none of them anywhere are grey with black stripe.
surfing rock auto to find a part number for the GEM only got me the "computer module" is and they are in the driver side footwell right next to the fuse box. (I assume that is the ECC IV)
I stop here and ask for help because the only way to get to that steel box is to take the whole dash out it looks like.
TL/DR - where do I hook up pin #4, the VSS wire, off this explorer console in a 2nd generation ranger?
Explorer Overhead Console Upgrade - The Ranger Station
Index: Removing The Console Mounting The Console Running The Wires Figuring Out The Wires Plug Labels Tapping The Wires 2004 & Newer Wiring Differences Temperature Sensor Compass Adjustments/Calibration Rear View Mirror Wiring Lighted Visor Mirror Wiring One day in July … Continued
www.therangerstation.com
I have a 2nd generation ranger (1990), and am 99% done installing a center roof console (map/compass/temperature) into it. Got everything hooked up except the VSS wire. The guide says it is a pin off the GEM, and the GEM is to the left of the radio inside the dash. Well to the left of my radio is nothing but the instrument cluster, and to the right (assuming right/left reversal) is the climate control cables going off to the side and the glove box (which contains one little mystery item that might be a DRL dummy block).
So I figured google around for location of the GEM - all the results I get are 3rd gen or F150/250.... so I look up the part number for the GEM for mine - no such thing I can find. So I take a deep breath and review the basics... it has a MECHANICAL cable driven speedometer/odometer but there is a 2 wire connector beside it on the same tap on the trans, so that wire has to go somewhere and is probably the VSS...
I didn't put it up on a lift and hunt to death for the neutral or reverse light switch connector etc, cause every search and my own practical knowledge says that VSS and Neutral or Reverse light switch are not married together there.
Any clue where the VSS wire I have off this explorer console should be hooked up to or where the GEM is on a 2nd generation? (I promise I searched google, here, and FTE a bunch before posting).
1st pic - mechanical speedo tap and what I assume is a VSS wire:
to the RIGHT of my radio (towards the passenger and glove box - the 3 cables are: radio antenna and 2 climate control
to the left of my radio (with the radio wires pulled right):
to the left of my radio (with the radio wires pulled left):
I googled a lot of things "how to replace the GEM" and all I got was 3rd gen + but I watched the videos anyhow - it makes sense what the tech article is referencing, but my truck does not have anything like that.
In 1990 they still had the ECC IV computer and ???no such thing as GEM???..
To the left of the heater controls and ashtray is a steel box that has a cluster of lots of wires going into it, a 2nd plastic box that has 10 (6+2+2 connector) wires going into it, and below the ashtray there is another module that has 4 beefy 10 ga wires going into it. Absolutely none of them anywhere are grey with black stripe.
surfing rock auto to find a part number for the GEM only got me the "computer module" is and they are in the driver side footwell right next to the fuse box. (I assume that is the ECC IV)
I stop here and ask for help because the only way to get to that steel box is to take the whole dash out it looks like.
TL/DR - where do I hook up pin #4, the VSS wire, off this explorer console in a 2nd generation ranger?
