School me on the Rat's Brain and OBD1

[Andy D]

Its a 94 4.0. It runs very OK and I would like to keep it that way. The EFI is very much like the Motronic 1.1 in my BMWs. There are at least 2 brains i can use for them. I'm not getting that vibe about Ford brains. What other years and are compatible. Can I use one for an automatic trans even though the Rat is a 5 spd? My last Ford Brain was in a Jeep.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Don't mix and match auto and manual computers, I don't know about years but stay as close as you can to your year.

If you truck is running great I don't know why you are wanting to change computers. They do not go bad very often if you are wanting to stock up on them.

 

[Andy D]

Having a long life is good. See, thats a good thing to know. Thank you 85 Ranger ! I don't have any Ranger parts trucks. I generally have a parts car per driver. I feel like I'm working without a net.

 

[adsm08]

94 is a funky year for the 4.0. There was California emissions which had EGR and sequential injection. Then there was Federal emissions which had no EGR and batch/bank fire injection. If you put the wrong computer in the wrong engine it probably won't run real well, if at all.

If you don't have EGR pretty much any older 4.0 computer will work.

An auto computer will let your truck run and drive, but you will have an check engine light and codes for transmission stuff. It will also have less power because the auto units were de-tuned a bit.

The EEC IV computers are not nearly as picky as newer OBDII stuff. I have a 94 Cali computer in an 94 Explorer harness running a 92 engine with no EGR stuff and no cam sensor. I have all sorts of codes and it stalls right away every 3rd start or so, but once the light comes on it runs like a raped ape.

 

[Andy D]

Thank you. I will have to figure out if the emissions are 49 state or CA

 

[adsm08]

It's pretty easy to figure out. Federal didn't have EGR.