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How to be sure a 1995-1997 Ranger has a tach?


rarampone

Member
Joined
Nov 19, 2019
Messages
7
City
Portland, OR USA
Vehicle Year
1995
Transmission
Automatic
Hey all,
I'm planning on hitting my local wrecking yard for an instrument cluster for my '95 Ranger XLT. I'd like to know what trim level comes with a tach, or is it the engine that determines that? Pretty sure the XLT would all have a tach, but all the models they list are XL. Some have the 4.0 liter w/auto trans, is it possible that these could have a tach? The yard charges a fee to enter their place, which I assume is taken off the purchase price of any parts bought, so I just want there to be a reasonable chance of their having the right dash before I pay the fee.
Thanks,
Richard
 
I've done it on my '97 which is apparently easier than a '95 as I just relearned... Conveniently I found a post with info on '95 which just requires moving a couple wires HERE. It doesn't need to be from anything specific, I grabbed one from an explorer.
 
I have a stock '97 XLT 2WD with the 4.0L and it does not have a tach. According to the brochure, a tach is standard on all 4x4 models and optional on 2WD XLT and Splash models, at least for the 1997 model year.
 
Oddly enough, a lot of automatics have a tach, which makes about zero logical sense…
 
Oddly enough, a lot of automatics have a tach, which makes about zero logical sense…

As does turning an oil pressure idiot light, into an oil pressure idiot gauge.


Just gotta love the "Instrumentation as Entertainment" design theory . . . :mad:
 
My 97 4.0 4x4 with automatic does have a tach

I had heard somewhere that a 4 cylinder tach may read differently in a 6 cylinder truck and vice versa. not a hundred percent sure on that, but something to consider.

What does it cost to enter the yard? the ones in the Indy area charge 2 bucks, 1 if you are a VIP member (Pull A Part)

AJ
 
I have a 99 xlt 2wd automatic, and it did not have a tach. It drove me crazy, so within two days of buying the vehicle I bought an instrument cluster w/ tach off eBay. I think tachometers are essential whether or not you have a standard transmission.

I have a stock '97 XLT 2WD with the 4.0L and it does not have a tach. According to the brochure, a tach is standard on all 4x4 models and optional on 2WD XLT and Splash models, at least for the 1997 model year.
This fellow is right on, so if the vehicle is 4 wheel drive you can guarantee it has a tach. If it isn’t four wheel drive your gambling. You can always pull a light bulb out of a truck as a part to avoid the fee ;).

As for the oil pressure gauge, I know you can convert it to a real oil pressure gauge very very easily, in fact you have almost everything you need, but you need an oil pressure sending unit with a variable sensor voltage. The part numbers are in the following articles.


 
Around my area, it's best to just go look at them in person because instrument clusters seem to be a hot commodity fir the professional junk yard scavengers. So, whether or not the truck had one when it entered the yard is irrelevant. Chances are the whole cluster is gone.
 
First, let me say that if you’re getting your expertise from me, you may be in deep trouble.

I have a 97 ranger XLT, stick, 2 Wheel Dr., and it did not come with a tach. I read somewhere, I would have thought it was on TRS because that’s my go to, that the instrument clusters that fit in your year model truck are all “plug-in play.“ If you take your old cluster out, and the cluster from the scrapyard fits in and plugs in, it should work properly independent of the engine size or type of transmission. Again, I would really research that and not necessarily believe me, but having played with cars for more than 50 years, that actually makes a lot of sense.

With every respect @scotts90ranger, I believe he was speaking about putting in a universal aftermarket tach. I bought a couple of them on eBay a few years ago, one for my 87 four-wheel-drive 2.9 stick, and one for The Road Ranger (97 4,0 XLT stick 2WD), without thinking about where I would place them. These are pretty small trucks with pretty compact and cluttered instruments and gizmos around the steering column, and I just never put them in, I never figured out a place where they were visually accessible without being visibly objectionable. I don’t wanna get one of those replacement a column covers that will hold one, and there really is not any other good place that’s right in front of you, in my humble opinion.

So my plan too, is to find an instrument cluster that fits that has the tach. I have scanned eBay off and on, but the folks selling them on eBay are way too proud of them. I know if one shows up at my local Pull-a-part, I can get it for a few bucks.

BTW, there are three Pull-a-part locations in Atlanta. If you walk in off the street, it’s two dollars to get in. It’s not deducted off your purchases. I am a VIP, but I don’t remember what I had to do or pay to get that, but I’m pretty cheap so it couldn’t have been much. The VIP gives you other benefits, so if you scrounge a lot, it’s worth it. You also build points that gets you something or other, but you have to remember to show your card when you’re checking out.

You can also rent golf carts at our locations, $5.00 first hour, and I’ll tell you that’s the best five dollars I’ve ever spent in my life. A couple times I’ve used them for a couple hours, and with the VIP card, you get your deposit back except the five dollars. I don’t know if that’s actual policy, but that’s what they do when I go.

I think if you google “change 97 Ranger tach instrument cluster” for about 10 minutes, you could find what I was looking at a little while ago.

keep us posted how it works out.
 
Sort of an aside to the tach issue, but IIRC I've read '95 was the last year with a functioning oil pressure gauge, where installing a real sender would make the gauge work.

So if I'm remembering correctly and you grab a tach cluster from a '96+ donor, you lose the option for a working oil pressure gauge.
 
My 97 4.0 4x4 with automatic does have a tach

I had heard somewhere that a 4 cylinder tach may read differently in a 6 cylinder truck and vice versa. not a hundred percent sure on that, but something to consider.

What does it cost to enter the yard? the ones in the Indy area charge 2 bucks, 1 if you are a VIP member (Pull A Part)

AJ
Thanks for the reply. My local Pick n Pull charges 3 bucks so no big deal. I found an Inst. cluster from a '97 exploder that when I got it home, found that the circuitry was different from mine. I measured the resistance across the temp gauge from that one and it was considerably different from mine. There are some other differences, such as a couple of diodes that mine doesn't have so I didn't try swapping the temp/fuel gauge. So I'll take it back and get store credit.
Richard
 
Sort of an aside to the tach issue, but IIRC I've read '95 was the last year with a functioning oil pressure gauge, where installing a real sender would make the gauge work.

So if I'm remembering correctly and you grab a tach cluster from a '96+ donor, you lose the option for a working oil pressure gauge.
You are right on, all you have to do is add a sender with a variable sensor voltage, and by pass the resistor at your oil pressure gauge, but on my ‘99 the resistor does not exist, I think it is built into the gauge.
 
For the same pinout on a '95 I think you will have to find a '95, the link I posted I believe points out the wires that move around.
 
First, let me say that if you’re getting your expertise from me, you may be in deep trouble.

I have a 97 ranger XLT, stick, 2 Wheel Dr., and it did not come with a tach. I read somewhere, I would have thought it was on TRS because that’s my go to, that the instrument clusters that fit in your year model truck are all “plug-in play.“ If you take your old cluster out, and the cluster from the scrapyard fits in and plugs in, it should work properly independent of the engine size or type of transmission. Again, I would really research that and not necessarily believe me, but having played with cars for more than 50 years, that actually makes a lot of sense.

With every respect @scotts90ranger, I believe he was speaking about putting in a universal aftermarket tach. I bought a couple of them on eBay a few years ago, one for my 87 four-wheel-drive 2.9 stick, and one for The Road Ranger (97 4,0 XLT stick 2WD), without thinking about where I would place them. These are pretty small trucks with pretty compact and cluttered instruments and gizmos around the steering column, and I just never put them in, I never figured out a place where they were visually accessible without being visibly objectionable. I don’t wanna get one of those replacement a column covers that will hold one, and there really is not any other good place that’s right in front of you, in my humble opinion.

So my plan too, is to find an instrument cluster that fits that has the tach. I have scanned eBay off and on, but the folks selling them on eBay are way too proud of them. I know if one shows up at my local Pull-a-part, I can get it for a few bucks.

BTW, there are three Pull-a-part locations in Atlanta. If you walk in off the street, it’s two dollars to get in. It’s not deducted off your purchases. I am a VIP, but I don’t remember what I had to do or pay to get that, but I’m pretty cheap so it couldn’t have been much. The VIP gives you other benefits, so if you scrounge a lot, it’s worth it. You also build points that gets you something or other, but you have to remember to show your card when you’re checking out.

You can also rent golf carts at our locations, $5.00 first hour, and I’ll tell you that’s the best five dollars I’ve ever spent in my life. A couple times I’ve used them for a couple hours, and with the VIP card, you get your deposit back except the five dollars. I don’t know if that’s actual policy, but that’s what they do when I go.

I think if you google “change 97 Ranger tach instrument cluster” for about 10 minutes, you could find what I was looking at a little while ago.

keep us posted how it works out.

Mount the tach on the hood. A drill and some dry wall screws should do the trick.
 
Mount the tach on the hood. A drill and some dry wall screws should do the trick.
I mounted mine to the A-pillar in my F-150, which actually works pretty well because most of when I’m watching it, I’m moving slowly forward or reverse fitting the truck in somewhere so it is handy being right by the drivers side mirror.
 

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