Hi and help w/'87 Ranger 4wd 2.9L/6cyl

[Ladynemo]

Hi all, got an '87 Ford Ranger, 4wd, 2.9L/6cyl, manual tranny I will be asking questions about! Previous owner used and abused it offroad but the engine still sounds good. Only has about 2.5' of exhaust pipe on it! We call her Noisy for obvious reasons.
Current known issues - tach has never worked in the time we've had it, temp gauge just dropped out on the way home and was "reading" dead cold. I know I have a coolant leak, guessing it's the water pump. Odometer claims about 92,000 miles but that could be 192K or 292K! It did sit for several years before we got it running this spring.
What we've done so far: changed coolant, oil & filter, fuel filter, spark plugs, belts, cleaned valve covers and replaced gaskets.
Suggestions for diagnosing instrument cluster? Recommended maintenance? Thinking I should have the timing belt replaced ... is the 2.9L an interference fit engine?
Oh! The combo coolant reservoir/windshield washer fluid tank has no fill spot for the coolant! Is this normal? There's a small metallic cylinder on the top of that part of the tank.
Thanks!
Ruth aka Noisy's Human

 

[Cookie_88STX]

I probably need to do similar things to Cookie! Same issue with the temp gauge, I'll be checking back here for updates.

 

[gaz]

Ruth,

There are 2 ways to service your coolant overflow:

1) you can remove the radiator cap and pour coolant into the radiator very slow. If the radiator is full it will trickle into the overflow.

2) there should be a penny sized hole on the top of the overflow container. it can be serviced through it but slowly, as it is small.

These tachometers aren't very stout, I have tried many times to keep one running, now I install a quality tach.

In regards to why your gages stopped working, I would start at the sensor and work my way to the gage.

***Here are my MOST important words; I have both an 87 Ranger and 87 BroncoII, if you think that you may have a coolant leak, persecute it as these engines WIll NOT TOLERATE COOLING ISSUES!***

Isolate and identify the cause of the coolant leak and don't drive it until you do. Also without your temp gage working, you are asking for it too.

 

[Ladynemo]

Ruth,

There are 2 ways to service your coolant overflow:

1) you can remove the radiator cap and pour coolant into the radiator very slow. If the radiator is full it will trickle into the overflow.

2) there should be a penny sized hole on the top of the overflow container. it can be serviced through it but slowly, as it is small.

These tachometers aren't very stout, I have tried many times to keep one running, now I install a quality tach.

In regards to why your gages stopped working, I would start at the sensor and work my way to the gage.

***Here are my MOST important words; I have both an 87 Ranger and 87 BroncoII, if you think that you may have a coolant leak, persecute it as these engines WIll NOT TOLERATE COOLING ISSUES!***

Isolate and identify the cause of the coolant leak and don't drive it until you do. Also without your temp gage working, you are asking for it too.

Thank you! So, there's a way to remove the odd looking cylinder on the reservoir to fill? Is replacing the reservoir with a new one that has a good sized fill opening an option?
I appreciate the warnings on not letting it get hot, I am not going to drive it until this is taken care of! Where would the sensor for engine temp be hiding?
Anybody ever swap the entire instrument cluster for new/aftermarket? Seeing as my gas gauge is wonky as well....

 

[gaz]

Ruth,

The sensor/sendor for the temp gage is on the top front passenger side of the engine, right above the thermostat housing.

To add coolant to the overflow reservoir, remove the radiato cap, then just add water, slowly, to the radiator itself; it will automatically overflow to it. Also, the radiator cap is cheap and a great idea to install a new one as the seals on them go bad and can cause a leak.

Replacing your gage cluster is very simple but before you do that, try checking for cold soldiers on the back. So far that is all I've had to do to get it working, bar the tachometer.

 

[Ladynemo]

Ruth,

The sensor/sendor for the temp gage is on the top front passenger side of the engine, right above the thermostat housing.

To add coolant to the overflow reservoir, remove the radiato cap, then just add water, slowly, to the radiator itself; it will automatically overflow to it. Also, the radiator cap is cheap and a great idea to install a new one as the seals on them go bad and can cause a leak.

Replacing your gage cluster is very simple but before you do that, try checking for cold soldiers on the back. So far that is all I've had to do to get it working, bar the tachometer.

Thank you! I've done enough with electronics I can handle repairing cold solders. I need to take the dash apart anyway, the "lense" with the labels for the warning lights isn't sitting properly. Previous owner used and abused this as an off road toy I think.

 

[gaz]

Pics, pics ..)

 

[Ladynemo]

Pics, pics ..)

Here's the instrument cluster...

 

[Ladynemo]

 

[Ladynemo]