What is this?

[2000RangerXLT]

Here's what I have, a 2000 Ford Ranger XLT ex-cab, 3.0l 2WD. On the core support there are these two boxes that say PRO-TEC Vehicle Protection System. The box on the drivers side has three wires going to it. The red and green wires go to the battery and the white one goes to the box on the passenger side. My question is What is it, and What does it do?

Thanks in advance,

Dave

 

[C_Root]

My guess would be a Cathodic rust prevention system. It uses electrical current to stop rust from happening on the body and frame. Stops the metal from oxidizing i believe.
Croot

 

[camodown]

^^^ x2

 

[master hec0]

i would 3rd that. it was the 1st thing i thought of when i saw those pics

 

[daniel3507]

Ive never heard of one of those but they seem pretty interesting.

 

[2000RangerXLT]

That's what I was thinking as well, but when I looked on the Internet I couldn't find anything like it.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

My guess would be a Cathodic rust prevention system. It uses electrical current to stop rust from happening on the body and frame. Stops the metal from oxidizing i believe.
Croot

Exactly what it is. I have it on my Ranger except they put it on the firewall. I had it installed when I bought my Ranger new, not all dealerships offer it though. I wanted it because I don't like spray-on rustproofing and I thought that thing might do a better job. I know they use a similar thing in construction - they attach it to the rebar in bridge piers and decks to prevent the rebar from corroding.

I haven't been all that impressed with it. In my opinion they should have put one box on the firewall and mounted the other towards the rear of the vehicle.

From now on I'm going to be inclined to do an oil rustproofing after seeing how well it worked with my boss's one dump truck, except we did it the hard way.... pull the lever to dump and PSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!..... !@#$%^&* as we see hydro fluid running out from under the truck and allllll the way down a concrete driveway... lol.

 

[pjtoledo]

counteractrust.com

 

[2000RangerXLT]

Before I go out and screw around with my DVOM, does anyone know how much current this will draw? I did find in messing around with it that it will only turn-on when the truck is off, despite being hooked directly to the battery. Also, it has been unhooked since I bought the truck last September.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Might be something wrong with it, it should be on all the time.

It's supposed to be a really low draw, but I don't remember what the exact numbers are, it's been too long.

 

[GoodOld85BlueBalls]

Just don't lay over the grill when your working on the back of the engine. That thing will shock your pecker off!!!