My 1996 Ford Ranger 4x4 (TRS-2) Re-Build

[Uncle Gump]

You can use a test light... or an ammeter in series between the negative battery cable and the negative battery terminal.

 

[bobbywalter]

is that minder critter thing for oil change and hours still part of the system?....

there were a few things there that the standard fuse pull methods may not find....

i think some sort of alarm was in there....you have tons of wiring for the lights ect...

the obd port may be active....seen that before. gem module pulling current too...

 

[Jim Oaks]

I finally decided to look for the parasitic draw on my Rangers battery. This has actually been a problem for a very long time, but ignored it because I usually disconnect the battery when it sits for a while.

Well, no more!!

​

Take a screwdriver and push your door latched closed so you can leave it open. Otherwise, the dome light will be on. You may want to do it on both doors so you can get in both sides without interfering with the test.

This looks like a mess, but I disconnected the (-) cable and used some jumpers with alligator clips to connect my multimeter between the (-) cable and the (-) terminal on the battery.

With the dome light off and nothing on meter showed that the battery had a 0.28 amp draw.

​

You cannot start the test here. Some people will start pulling fuses looking for the reading to drop, and blame it on the fuse for the instrument cluster. You have to wait a good 45-minutes for the battery saver mode to kick in.

After waiting and checking back, the amps had dropped to 0.12 amps.

I believe the normal acceptable range is 0.01 - 0.07. This is where people will start pulling fuses and relays trying to find the faulty circuit.

For me, I got lucky. I decided to start with the accessories that I had added to the truck. There are a couple of relays that operate my off-road lights. Upon pulling the fuse to the second relay, my amp draw dropped to 0.01.

​

Stupid relay.

 

[Curious Hound]

Nice job. I need to do this job. I’ve been leaving a charger on it when parked long term.

 

[Jim Oaks]

After being gone for 2-weeks and not having started the Ranger for 3-weeks, I was actually surprised when I turned the key and it started. It normally wouldn't last a week.

I've been gathering up some parts to go inside of the Ranger. Here's a view of some of them:

​

You're looking at:

(4) 12-volt outlets
(6) Quick charge USB ports
(1) Midland GMRS Radio
(6) Switch box (I have new legends for it)
(1) CB antenna bracket
(1) CB Antenna Spring
(1) TRAM GMRS NMO Antenna
(3) Wiring Harnesses

As you can see, I have a project coming up. But where am I going to put all of those outlets, and why so many??

 

[Uncle Gump]

Why so many? lol

I guess it's better to have one more then needing one more.

 

[Curious Hound]

why so many??

1. Charge the phone
2. Charge the GoPro.
3. Charge camera batteries
4. Charge a friend's vape device
5. Charge a laptop/tablet
6. Charge a GPS device
7. Charge a flashlight.
8. Extra

 

[Jim Oaks]

LED 3RD Brake Light:

My 3rd brake light / cargo light was looking pretty dull and crappy, so I replaced it with a new LED 3RD Brake Light I found on Amazon for $26.88. For that price I figured it wasn't worth trying to polish this one.

​

The new LED brake light came with an adhesive foam gasket.

​

3-Prong plug to match the Ranger.

​

The light is held in with (2) Philips head screws. It was a little dirty behind the old 3rd brake light. LOL

​

Comparing the plug on the new LED light to the one from the factory light.

​

I had remove the paper backing from one side of the gasket and applied it to the light, and then removed the backing from the mounting side once I was ready to install it.

​

Even came with these rubber washers for the screws.

​

Quick and easy! Now I can't wait for it to get dark to see how much brighter the cargo lights are compared to the crappy factory ones.

 

[Curious Hound]

Nice! I might need to do that to my Ranger AND the Fun50. Let us know how you like the brightness.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I put drop in replacement Leds in for the cargo lights in my ‘150 and love them @ericbphoto

 

[Curious Hound]

I put drop in replacement Leds in for the cargo lights in my ‘150 and love them @ericbphoto

I have one in mine. But that price for the whole fixture sounds pretty good.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Why so many? lol

I guess it's better to have one more then needing one more.

The radio has a USB charge port too...

 

[Shran]

Two of my wheeling buddies have that same radio - I think you're going to like it a lot. I would have bought it too but it wasn't out when I was buying a radio and I ended up with a VHF/UHF one of some random Chinese brand, similar to Baofeng... it is also pretty nice and I can key in frequencies instead of channels. That is my main complaint about those Midland radios, they only do channel mode, which is really a non-issue if you only talk to people on GMRS channels.

 

[Jim Oaks]

​

Been working on a new console I'm making out of plywood. Nothing fancy. I add a new CB my son bought me and the Midland MXT115 GMRS radio.

The GMRS radio will fit in the palm of my hand, and comes with a quick disconnect mount, cigarette plug, and a magnetic mount antenna. They're $150 but they put out just over 2x the power of a CB, and everything is included. You don't have to tune the antenna like you do on a CB. The downfall is you need a license. I think they're $70 for 10-years and cover everyone in your family. No test, you just buy the license. I got a package with (2) portable radios included so I can talk to my passenger/spotter when they're out of the truck.

Now that I have the console together I need to take it back apart and paint it.

 

[Curious Hound]

I think somebody misses the cockpit of his police cruiser.