What to do first? Upgrades

[MemphisRanger901]

I just inherited a 1996 Ford Ranger from my Grandmother. She is no longer able to drive and I needed a new vehicle as my 05 Taurus was on its last leg. My grandfather bought this new and he was a meticulous man so I know while he had the truck it was well taken care of. He passed and my Grandmother has been driving it for a few years to get to town and things like that. It has about 130,000 miles on it, but very "easy" miles. Never been taken on any long trips that I know of. To my knowledge the only real repairs that have ever been done to it is the transmission was rebuilt about 2 years ago.

It runs very well. The only thing wrong with it now that I know of is the gas guage doesnt work.

What type of fairly easy upgrades could I do to keep this truck running the way it did when my Grandfather bought it? Anything up to around $200 at a time.

Also,can anyone tell me how to go about fixing the gas guage?
1996 Ford Ranger
2.3-Liter 4-Cylinder

Thanks in advance,
Ryan

 

[adsm08]

Welcome to the Funny Farm man. I don't remember the official newbie instructions.... something about beer, stool, and low-flying BS.

Gas gauge issue is probably a bad sender. Replacing the pump is the fix for that, but I'd make sure the gauge itself works first. Unplug the pump and jumper the level sender wires together, if the needle pegs out at the top, you need a new sender.


Next time you change the oil, get it good and hot, pour a gallon or so of diesel fuel into the oil, leave it sit for an hour, then drain it and change the oil as normal. Lots of short trips and sitting can allow sludge and varnish to build up in the lower portions of the engine. The diesel will break it up and let it run out with the oil.


As for upgrades, you have a pretty stout little truck already. Good reliable, time-tested engine that doesn't have enough power to break anything. If you have an auto, a lot of guys will tell you to swap in a manual. Just get a big aux trans fluid cooler and it will last forever.

 

[Funnyman141]

Welcome to the forum!
Adsm08 pretty much covered it, I would also run seafoam it while your at it, but that is just me. if you use the search function it'll bring up a few threads on how to do it.
best of luck

 

[hoosier1104]

Welcome to our little slice of Ranger heaven on the internet.

Mods is all a matter of opinion and opinions are like ass holes, everyone has one. Do the research and make informed decisions.

Gas gauge - Adsm08 has a pretty good grasp on things so I would listen to him.

 

[straycat]

I just inherited a 1996 Ford Ranger from my Grandmother. She is no longer able to drive and I needed a new vehicle as my 05 Taurus was on its last leg. My grandfather bought this new and he was a meticulous man so I know while he had the truck it was well taken care of. He passed and my Grandmother has been driving it for a few years to get to town and things like that. It has about 130,000 miles on it, but very "easy" miles. Never been taken on any long trips that I know of. To my knowledge the only real repairs that have ever been done to it is the transmission was rebuilt about 2 years ago.

It runs very well. The only thing wrong with it now that I know of is the gas guage doesnt work.

What type of fairly easy upgrades could I do to keep this truck running the way it did when my Grandfather bought it? Anything up to around $200 at a time.

Also,can anyone tell me how to go about fixing the gas guage?
1996 Ford Ranger
2.3-Liter 4-Cylinder

Thanks in advance,
Ryan

'05 on it's last legs? I dought that unless you crashed it. So you get an older ride??

 

[MemphisRanger901]

'05 on it's last legs? I dought that unless you crashed it. So you get an older ride??

It was purchased used. On the contrary, I have not crashed it, but was having to spend more money on fixing things that kept breaking than I wanted to.

Also, as I stated, I inherited the truck.

 

[Ryannn]

Leveling kit? Head lights, Tail lights? Couple off road lights? Change out some ignition componets..? It just really depends on what youre wanting to do! and Welcome!

 

[MemphisRanger901]

Welcome to the Funny Farm man. I don't remember the official newbie instructions.... something about beer, stool, and low-flying BS.

Gas gauge issue is probably a bad sender. Replacing the pump is the fix for that, but I'd make sure the gauge itself works first. Unplug the pump and jumper the level sender wires together, if the needle pegs out at the top, you need a new sender.

Can i replace just the sender or do i have to replace. Pump as well?

 

[adsm08]

If you can come up with just a sender, that is certainly an option. The farther back you go the harder they can be to find without a pump attached.

The way that I look at it though, if you are gonna go to all the trouble of dropping the tank, you might as well do the pump while you are in there.

 

[adsm08]

'05 on it's last legs? I dought that unless you crashed it. So you get an older ride??

I own an 87 and an 88 that are both ready to go out and drive 150,000 miles right now (except that the 87 needs gas).

Today I worked on an 05, a 98, and an 03 (in that order) that I wouldn't drive to work and back. Newer doesn't mean better.