Which Ranger?

[Eschman]

I am looking for a small truck and like the Ranger but dont' know anything about it. F150 is super product so maybe Ranger has similar blood. I am looking in the 98-2001 year ranges and looking for advice on manual vs automatic or any other options to look for, avoid, bad years, mechanical issues to wear out. What does XLT mean. I'm also looking at 90-125K mileage range. Any significant service interval in there to watch out for or get dealer to do? I'd like a shell too. should I buy one with a shell or is it easy/cheap to find a matching shell for an older truck? Thanks a ton. (newbie) Chris Esch -- Eschman

[Pablo-UA]

okay. about XLT.... all you need you will have - power windows, climat unit with A/C, power locks.... the biggest cabine in the USA is extended cabine with jump sits. Crew cab is available in Europe and Russia only.

Engines: for US market in the '98-2001 there were offered: 2.8/2.9 Cologne (V6,OHV), 3.0Vulcan (like in aero ore taurus), 2.3DOHC (this is European style engine, the same 3.0 hospower, but at higher engine speed, not good low end torq.), 4.0 OVH is like a 2.9 but biger and the best 4.0 SOHS, this is good engine but more expencive to maintane and repare. To change spark plugs is the nightmare.

I have 4.0 SOHC, but I wanted 3.0... 4.0 was offered in very good shape and cheapper then 3.0. So I drive 4.0 with 5R55E tranny.

Trannies: M5ODR1 - good tranny for.... car. with 2.3 ore 2.8/2.9/3.0 V6 is reliable wnought on 2WD truck. with 4.0 ore with any 4wd application... torq. capasity is issuficient and OD gears fail. So with bigger engine I advice to get auto.

4R44E and 5R55E are electronically controlled versions of a4ld. 5st auto is software thing, od used with 2nd and 3d. thise trannies are popular and may easily be swaped ore rebuilt if you'll have some problems.

[Pablo-UA]

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ford had an idea to provide 2.5 and 3.0 duratorq in the USA. good common rail engine, but... this fuel system is not popular in NA and may be dealer will have some fun understanding why hight pressure circuit looses pressure.... )) LOL had some pain with CRD engines. Here Bosch offer common rail system with MS7 computer with cummins engine. So Dodge will get some pain with new system.

[g_k50]

1999 Ford Ranger XLT 4x2 Super Cab
3.0L EFI-Flex Fuel
V6 150HP
White Black/Grey interior

Make sure you get all the maintenance records, Ford calls the automatic transmission fluid good for life, unless it has severe duty. Then it's change/flush at 30,000 miles. At the mileage you're looking at you should either confirm that the fluid has been changed by dropping the pan and changing the filter or plan on doing it yourself. It requires Mercon V Fluid, about 4.50 at Walmart per quart, so it's pricey. Took me about 8 quarts to refill after draining the extra cooler that's installed, replaced with a Ford Filter and gasket, 75 dollars.

Should have the radiator fluid changed by 125,000, and check the rack and pinion steering for leaks at the boots or signs of repair.

There's a rubber boot on the lower steering column that covers a U-Joint that has deteriorated on my Ranger. Can't get a replacement from Ford, have to improvise, 200 for a replacement shaft, so yeah it's pricey. That's the Ford price of course not JY.

Check the fuel gauge there's been an issue with mine reading 1/4 when it stops pumping fuel, I haven't determined yet if it's not that the pump is set too high in the tank. I'm still troubleshooting that issue.

Check the transmission indicator, mine broke at the screw adjustment and it's a pain in the A to change it so it reads right, simple 5 dollar part breaks but Ford wants 30 for the whole assembly that I have to take the dash out to replace. The indicator is on a linear spring that moving the lever pulls against, there's a screw adjustment below the steering column that allows the indicator to read the right transmission position when properly adjusted. When it's broken the spring pulls the indicator too far so that it reads 2nd when you're actually in drive. Doesn't affect the operation at all but it's a defect that you can point out to decrease the price of the truck.

[johncfox]

Originally Posted by Eschman

I am looking for a small truck and like the Ranger but dont' know anything about it. F150 is super product so maybe Ranger has similar blood.

I am looking in the 98-2001 year ranges and looking for advice on manual vs automatic or any other options to look for, avoid, bad years, mechanical issues to wear out. What does XLT mean.

I'm also looking at 90-125K mileage range. Any significant service interval in there to watch out for or get dealer to do?

I'd like a shell too. should I buy one with a shell or is it easy/cheap to find a matching shell for an older truck?

Thanks a ton.

(newbie)
Chris Esch -- Eschman

XLT just means cloth seats and carpet instead of rubber flooring. I believe a/c is also standard on the Xlt. Power windows and locks are options so the xlt may or may not have them. The 4cyls, 3.0, and 4.0 ohv are great engines. The 4.0 sohc engines are well known for cam chain tensioner failure which will cause complete engine destruction. I have replaced numerous 4.0 sohc engines that only had 75-120k miles on them. They corrected this problem on the 2003 models and newer. The auto transmissions are known for issues but most are caused by lack of maintenance. The manual trans. are good as long as they arent run low on fluid. There are rubber shift rail plugs which can dry out and leak causing problems. The fix is to replace the rubber plugs with metal ones.


Unless you find a cheap truck it will likely be cheaper and easier to purchase a truck which already has a shell. Finding a used one that is painted to match will be difficult and they are very expensive to buy new.