Starter 1990

[Mutt]

So I am trying to order a starter for my Ranger. The door tag say man. 01/90 (1990 model) Open the hood, the tag in front of the radiator says 3.0L motor and both valve covers are embossed 3.0 V6. Everyone is trying to tell me that the V6 motor in a 90 model were all 2.9. What gives? No one seems to have a starter for a 1990 Ranger 2wd XLT with a 3.0

 

[Curious Hound]

Interesting. I would order a starter for a 91 Ranger with 3.0l. Maybe your truck was part of a transition.

3.0l info

 

[Mutt]

heres the starter that is on here now. It mounts with 3 bolts and never had a cover over the solenoid

 

[97RangerXLT]

google the bar code number on it, you might be able to get a direct replacement or at least be able to cross reference the number to what will work with it.

AJ

 

[Curious Hound]

Looks like an aftermarket replacement.

 

[adsm08]

Model years start in the middle of the previous calendar year. Your January of 1990 production Ranger is a 91.

Also, if you look at the emissions label on the core support, it will have a spot that tells you the model year. It will say "This vehicle complies to emissions standards for vehicles model year XXXX" or something like that.

And everyone telling you that there was no 3.0 in Rangers for the 1990 model year are correct. 91 was the first year for the 3.0 in the Ranger.

 

[sheep herder]

Model years start in the middle of the previous calendar year. Your January of 1990 production Ranger is a 91.

Go stand in the corner and read that again.

 

[Curious Hound]

Go stand in the corner and read that again.

That's the conundrum. I thought about model year change. But the dates don't make sense. Then I thought about previous owner doing an engine swap. But he mentioned that all his labels and stickers say 3.0l. So it seems to probably be origjnal 3.0l. That's why I mentioned the idea of an early transition kind of thing.

Anyway, If it were mine, I would buy a starter for a 91 Ranger with 3.0l. Dollars to donuts it will fit and work properly.

 

[G8orFord]

Ummm, if the model year starts in the middle of the year, wouldn't a 91 model have a build date of say 06/90 or similar instead of 01/90?

 

[adsm08]

Go stand in the corner and read that again.

Calendars are hard. Everything I said was correct up to the point I started doing math.

Now, on the other hand, the sticker that has the production date is on the door. If the door was replaced with one of the same color by a PO, we might not know that.

@Mutt, make sure the VIN on the driver's door and the VIN on the dash match.

 

[1990RangerinSK]

Also check the VIN (on the dash). 3.0 will have U as the 8th digit. Hey, @adsm08 which digit is the year? And what would that digit be for a '90?

 

[adsm08]

Also check the VIN (on the dash). 3.0 will have U as the 8th digit. Hey, @adsm08 which digit is the year? And what would that digit be for a '90?

Year is digit 10. 1990 should be coded L. 1991 would be M.

I'd consider the VIN tag on the dash to be more reliable. I have changed doors, and I have removed VIN tags from cabs that were being scrapped. It is much easier to change the door.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Starter for a 91 should work, IIRC, 3.0l motors had 3 bolt starters.

Please do let us know what you find with checking the VIN on the dash against the door sticker