Parts identification help

[Mechanical Rookie]

Bowing to the experts here, hoping for assistance identifying some issues.

Vehicle: 93 ranger xlt, 2.3L manual transmission

While changing spark plugs on the exhaust side I noticed a small tube hanging loose near plug 4, I traced it back to a small black box in the front of the engine bay (drivers side near the battery), tried to find a spot to plug the tube back into but no luck. If I knew what the box was, maybe I can figure out where to connect the tube. Image attached

Second, while under the truck. Noticed what looks like a sensor on the casing But the wire has separated and broke off, not sure what this is

 

[Dirtman]

First pic is the evap canister. Its job is to vent the fuel tank in an "environmentally safe" way. The missing hose is either a fuel vapor line, a vacuum line or the actual vent line. Cant tell without a picture of the unplugged line.

The second pic Im not 100% sure but most likely an oil level sensor based on its position.

 

[adsm08]

Second pic is an oil level sensor.

 

[Mechanical Rookie]

Thanks guys,

Oil level sensor (smacks forehead)thanks

The evap canister, I think it's the canister vacuum tube and should connect to a port on the throttle body.....somewhere

 

[fastpakr]

I don't remember where that goes, but does the vacuum routing diagram on the core support give you a hint?

 

[kishy]

I believe that connects, via a short length of rubber hose as a connector, to a metal tube below the throttle body.

 

[Dirtman]

Does your truck run ok? Cause that would be a MASSIVE vacuum leak if it was the line to go to the intake.

 

[Mechanical Rookie]

Gotta get the kid to hockey, will try to find the connection tonight.

Truck not running, think narrowed that problem down to timing belt. While monkeying around with exhuast side plugs, I may have inadvertently disconnected this line, but honestly not sure when that hsppened

 

[adsm08]

That is the connection to the tank. The line to the intake should be fairly small.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

IDK the next time you change the oil test the oil level senser/switch with a ohm meter. It should have continuity when you drain the pan? Maybe it is bad and keeps the low oil light on full time? It should switch either way when you drain the oil.

 

[scotts90ranger]

I've never checked how the sensor works, and don't remember how the similar one on GM engines work off the top of my head, but what I do know is the light comes on when the engine is 2 quarts low on oil... I believe open circuit is light off, grounded is light on...

I definitely use the low oil indicator feature on my Ranger, with the turbo leaking a bunch of oil it lets me know when to refill my perpetual oil change...

 

[adsm08]

I've never checked how the sensor works, and don't remember how the similar one on GM engines work off the top of my head, but what I do know is the light comes on when the engine is 2 quarts low on oil... I believe open circuit is light off, grounded is light on...

I definitely use the low oil indicator feature on my Ranger, with the turbo leaking a bunch of oil it lets me know when to refill my perpetual oil change...

IIRC it is just like all of Ford's other low fluid indicators. There is a float in the pan and when the fluid gets too low the float drops, hits a contact, and grounds the bulb.

 

[tomw]

The vent tube connects to an elbow on the bottom of the intake, immediately after the throttle body if memory serves. If you sort of plop the hard plastic under the curving portion of the upper intake, towards the throttle body, it should almost fall into place near the elbow. There should be a ~1" length of rubber tubing that fits over the elbow and the end of the hard plastic tube.
tom

 

[scotts90ranger]

The low oil light is a little more complicated than that, I think it goes through the computer, it only comes on in certain conditions, only at key up not when the engine is running.

 

[Mechanical Rookie]

Thanks fellas,

Found the little bigger, underneath the throttle body