What did you do to your Ranger today? (Part Deux!)

[JoshT]

I’ve been feeling embarrassed and guilty from mocking @JoshT about his suggestion to charge your vehicles with a solar panel. I felt so bad. I actually went out and bought one and I hooked it up to my car the other day.

Well, today, I went out after lunch to check it, and it wasn’t charging! I should know to follow my instincts, and stand my ground on my initial thought!

And then sweet pea smacked me in the head, and said remember this

View attachment 108886

That didn't help, but considering where you live (right down the road from the Rocket Man) I don't think you are really in the use case I was referring to. I may be wrong about that. Either way If it works as I think it would, it's still a maintenance charge that won't be on your electric bill.

 

[sgtsandman]

The 2011 got new front brake pads and rotors (I get to bed them in on the way to work tomorrow morning), rear parking brake cables (both sides were worn through the cable housing, explaining why water was getting in them to freeze), and a complete set of new O2 sensors (it's a good thing I got that thread chasing tool, some of the bungs were pretty rough). While working on the O2 sensors, I noticed the top of the transmission was wet. It looks like it's getting about time to replace those plugs on the top of the transmission. Other than that, the truck is about done for the Spring maintenance. It just needs some new oil and a oil filter change.

 

[rubydist]

Did oil and filter change (Mobil1 high mileage and Motorcraft filter) and replaced a broken front sway bar link. If I ever did offroading in this truck, I would remove the sway bar link, but since it is virtually always on the highway, I like how it corners with the sway bar.

 

[broncc]

I partied too hard and broke it

I went up to the Canadian border to watch the eclipse in totality and have a good time with some friends. It was awesome. I was able to see other planets and solar flares with the naked eye!


I wanted to test out how longer trips would work so I slept inside the Bronco while I was there. It's definitely doable and wouldn't need much more to be a comfortable experience.


The weather was warm but there was tons of snow and mud to get stuck on. The questionable auto hubs and lunchbox were a little too much for the long suffering bearings in either my transfer case or transmission and they are groaning for a rebuild too loudly to ignore.


The muddy roads soaked my air filter and I had to drive home with like 100hp because none of the three parts stores within 90 minutes of driving had a replacement air filter. (Any improvement advice that maintain most of the stock airbox are welcome.)


I'm going to find some NOS Warn manual hubs on ebay because it seems everyone has abandoned supporting this platform.


A bit of random chance in the woods; I met a fellow novelty truck license plate haver from New York.

 

[scotts90ranger]

A little thing to help keep some stuff out of the stock airbox is found on first gen explorers, there's a little piece of trim on the front of the core support to help air go to the radiator but it also blocks stuff coming up from the bottom into the intake... I've stuffed my airbox with snow before but not since I added that baffle thing...

 

[2011Supercab]

Traded it in on a 2023 Tacoma 4x4 V-6 Limited Nightshade Edition

 

[GrandpaSquid]

Installed a warn trans4mer grille guard and winch plate.

1993 ranger 4x4 stx

www.therangerstation.com

 

[sgtsandman]

Did an engine oil and filter change and retrained the TPMS sensors in the tires on the 2011.

 

[CamTheHedgehog]

Did an engine oil and filter change and retrained the TPMS sensors in the tires on the 2011.

I got a TPMS system.... It's called my air gauge in the glovebox.

 

[Dantheman1540]

I think I caught mine on fire, this happened once before over a year ago. I started the truck up with the heater set to on, and smoke immediately pours out the vents. Try changing settings and nothing, rolled the windows and drove the rest of my 5 mins to work the entire time smoke was coming out the vents fairly strongly. I probably looked like I was hot boxing the hell out of it but with campfire smoke instead of dope.

I’m guessing my blower motor has leaves build up in it maybe? Anyone else have this problem ever?

 

[sgtsandman]

I got a TPMS system.... It's called my air gauge in the glovebox.

Yeah but it doesn't fix that annoying light on the dash. Stupid system but I'm stuck with it unless I get something older that doesn't have the system. The system in the 2011 is even more annoying than the one in the 2019. The 2019 can be reset as soon as the tires are rotated. With the 2011, I have to wait until the light gets tripped before I can reset it. Doing it proactively is just a waste of effort.

All because some people were too lazy and/or stupid to check their tires from time to time.

 

[sgtsandman]

I think I caught mine on fire, this happened once before over a year ago. I started the truck up with the heater set to on, and smoke immediately pours out the vents. Try changing settings and nothing, rolled the windows and drove the rest of my 5 mins to work the entire time smoke was coming out the vents fairly strongly. I probably looked like I was hot boxing the hell out of it but with campfire smoke instead of dope.

I’m guessing my blower motor has leaves build up in it maybe? Anyone else have this problem ever?

I've never had it but I have indeed read where people have found leaves in the duct work and the resistor for the fan caused them to smolder or burn.

 

[CamTheHedgehog]

Yeah but it doesn't fix that annoying light on the dash. Stupid system but I'm stuck with it unless I get something older that doesn't have the system. The system in the 2011 is even more annoying than the one in the 2019. The 2019 can be reset as soon as the tires are rotated. With the 2011, I have to wait until the light gets tripped before I can reset it. Doing it proactively is just a waste of effort.

All because some people were too lazy and/or stupid to check their tires from time to time.

My point is, I have a 2003 with no TPMS, my TPMS is the air pressure gauge

 

[scotts90ranger]

I think I caught mine on fire, this happened once before over a year ago. I started the truck up with the heater set to on, and smoke immediately pours out the vents. Try changing settings and nothing, rolled the windows and drove the rest of my 5 mins to work the entire time smoke was coming out the vents fairly strongly. I probably looked like I was hot boxing the hell out of it but with campfire smoke instead of dope.

I’m guessing my blower motor has leaves build up in it maybe? Anyone else have this problem ever?

Most likely mouse nest in the blower motor housing and the blower motor resistor was burning the nest... On my explorers mice like to build nests in the fan, a couple times I've given them the rotary treatment, with no airflow the fan turns WAY faster...

 

[SCOTTY]

Replaced the cooling fan Monday. Was poking around under the hood last week & noticed the fan had quite a
few stress cracks. I replaced the clutch several years back & they weren't present.
Went with Ford on this one (8 blade) because my truck has always cooled well & some aftermarket ones for the 2.9s are kinda scary looking.
Didn't mind paying a little extra either (Fairway Ford, best price, $83.65, TOTAL).

Today, new wiper blades !