First Crash in Simi Valley of 2009!

[1987rangerxlt]

What an honor. I turned the corner and was blinded by the sun and the truck hopped the curb and hit the telephone pole.

I tell the gas station attendant and ask them to call a tow truck driver but they just act dumb. So, I start knocking on doors in the neighborhood since I didn't have the cell phone with me and the gas station attendant calls me back.

A cab driver is the first to arrive. When the cops show I tell them the story. A hit and run takes place at the other end of the gas station and I'm left with just the tow truck driver. He takes me home and I can't even get the hood open. The hood is not damaged and I'd like to keep it that way. The right front bumper is bent and the right fender is trash.

Any tips on getting the hood open? I did pull the release under the dash board but can't unlatch it.

 

[Danger Ranger 89]

Well you can do it two ways you can unscrew the bolts on the latch and pull the hood up or you can pull on the cable underneath the hood. I got my hood open by taking a 8mm socket if i remember correctly and unscrewing each screw on each side and then the latch will come up with the hood.

 

[1987rangerxlt]

Well you can do it two ways you can unscrew the bolts on the latch and pull the hood up or you can pull on the cable underneath the hood. I got my hood open by taking a 8mm socket if i remember correctly and unscrewing each screw on each side and then the latch will come up with the hood.

Okay, I'll try that as soon as I call the insurance agent just in case they want to look at it first.

Thanks

 

[1987rangerxlt]

Lost Screw! and won't start.

So, I got the hood open by taking those 8mm screws out (thanks for the tip) and everything looks okay. The light pole just ripped the outside of the fender off. No engine damage!

When I pumped up the tire it leaked at the inner seal so I had to hit the rim with a sledge hammer and it now holds air.

The engine cranks but won't stay running so I'm thinking there might be a fuel cut-off switch to prevent fires. I also had picked up all the pieces on the ground and had the headlight screws that allow the direction of the light to be adjusted but one of them disappeared!

So, if someone can help me with the fuel cut-off switch and an idea to replace the headlight screw, I should be able to get around until I can get a new fender.

 

[1987rangerxlt]

Found it!

I looked at the technical library here on the ranger station and found where the fuel cut-off switch ("inertia switch") was located on a Bronco II http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/InertiaSwitch.html

and it is in the same place on my Ranger.

I pressed the button down and the truck started right up!

Maybe I should just take the headlight out and drive it as a one-eyed bandit.

 

[1987rangerxlt]

Need Fender, grill, screw.

I posted in the "Wanted" section here on the ranger station for the fender, grill, and a screw to adjust the headlight.

I'm almost complete.

 

[1987rangerxlt]

Protect the insurance company

I thought I would try to help the insurance company by collecting witnesses because the police are going to try to blow the whole thing out of proportion and get the money for a new telephone pole even though it is okay. I went around and got the name of some witnesses so that the insurance company can defend themselves.

I guess I'll go out back and try to fix my Ranger so that the hood latches. Should I remove the bumper before pulling out the fender?

 

[1987rangerxlt]

Won't turn past straight!

Since the car was dropped off in the driveway by the tow truck operator, when I moved it into the backyard (under it's own power) I didn't have to make a left turn. But now that I have it in the backyard and am trying to position it so that I can pull out the dent I see that the wheel won't turn much past straight ahead. It does turn right.

Any ideas? Tie rod end? The inside of the right front wheel was dented and it wouldn't hold air until I pounded it out.

 

[Psychopete]

There's not much that could keep it from turning. I'd either jack it up and take off a wheel and see if the problem persists, or crawl under the truck and have someone turn the wheel while you're looking for what it's getting bound up on.

Is it 2wd or 4wd?

Pete

 

[1987rangerxlt]

Crash

It's a 4wd.

 

[1987rangerxlt]

New Power Steering Pump

I looked under the truck while someone else turned the steering wheel and noticed that the power steering pump seems to have the spindle gearing pulled out a little.

That's my best guess so I'll see what's available at the parts stores and online then get a new one.

 

[1987rangerxlt]

Power Steering Pump

The online place that I went to has one for $64 + a $25 core charge that I can pick up here in town.

So, I'm off to the store!

 

[fordboi415]

Power steering won't prevent you from turning its just an asist to help, I would take the wheels off and look at everything cuz you never know what else could be damaged or broken

 

[1987rangerxlt]

Thanks for the tip!

Power steering won't prevent you from turning its just an asist to help, I would take the wheels off and look at everything cuz you never know what else could be damaged or broken

You saved me the work of taking the old pump off for no reason. When I looked under the truck I could see the spines of that "arm" and thought that was part of the pump but couldn't see the similarity between that and the new pump in the box so I started to look at the pump from under the hood and that gear down below and realised they were'nt the same.

What is that arm with the splines that connects the steering to that bar that connects the wheels together?

 

[fordboi415]

The steering shaft, is that what your talking about?