I have a '99 Ranger 4X4 with the automatic and Flexfuel motor. I bought it in 2003 with about 32k miles. Now, I have about 110k miles on it. Besides doing the usual expected maintenance, I have replaced the following:

Oil pressure sensor

Fan motor resistor

DPFE sensor after P401 code showed up.

The ABS acted up and it always seem to be activated. Pulled ABS fuse. Might have been the wheel speed sensors.

Just had the rear spring shackles replaced after they rotted out badly.

Power steering is loud.

The oil pan is also beginning to disintegrate.

Transmission always has had a small leak from above the transmission pan.

I'm wondering what I should be looking at changing out as p.m. before I could get left along the roadside. Has this been a usual life story of '99 3.0L Ranger?

 

check steering rack for leaks and flush/refill power steering fluid.

Have you dropped the transmission pan and replaced the transmission filter? and fluid?

Coolant shoud have been flushed and replaced.

Consider having a mid-season undercarriage wash done on a regular basis.

Locate and fix trans leak.

I've got a 99 3.0L automatic with 145,000, just minor repairs, needed a resister replaced in the blower motor, locksmith repair to the passenger side door keylock, turn signal switch will turn on the wiper unexpectedly haven't fixed that yet, fuel guage was reading 1/4 tank when it was empty, dropped tank and seems to be working after checking sender resistance and re-install. Steering column inside the engine compartment boot broke, that was a hassle replacing.

 

g_k50, on your acting out multifunction switch, read through this letter Ford sent the Dealers & Owners back in 2000.
If the VIN # says it was made in the right factory & this recall hasn't been done, you may be able to have the multifunction switch replaced by the Dealer at no cost. There wasn't a time limit in my letter!!!!
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/2...on-switch.html

For those in cold country & regularly driving on salted roads, I like g_k50's idea to keep the under carriage cleaned off, maybe under hood also, on a timely basis.

On the ABS question, could be the front wheel sensors or their electrical connector, or maybe the tone ring or sensors are fouled up with rust or debris.

If you've been having other problems with say, erratic speed-o, tranny shifting, cruise control dropping out, or not wanting to take a set, add the rear differential mounted ABS speed sensor or it's wiring or electrical connector, to your suspect list as all of those other systems use the rear ABS speed sensors PID to do their thing, so if it's corrupt, it'll affect those other systems too!!!!

Back in 98, I had good luck adding half a can of Seafoam Trans Tune to my 94 Taurus power steering reservoir, driving it until my shudder problem cleared, then pulled the pumps return line at the cooler to drain the reservoir & plugging it, added a scrap piece of hose to the cooler, the other end in my catch bucket.
Then refilled the reservoir with the remaining half can of Trans Tune & new fluid, disabled the fuel pump & flushed the system with couple of qts of new tranny fluid, while a helper cranked the engine & I kept the P/S pump fluid level topped up . This cleaned up the P/S innards & stopped the shudder & as a side benifit the pump has been quiet since!!!!
Several years ago I added a Magnefine filter in the P/S pump return line & thats helped keep the shudders away, that would return very 2-3 years. Cleaning the system & keeping fresh fluid in it has kept the pump quiet since 98.

More thoughts for considertion.

 

do you do maintance
air filter, fuel filter, pcv, coolant and heater hoses,t-stat, vacuum hoses, differential and transfer case fluids, serp belt, plugs and wires.

 

Thanks for all of the input!

I had the transmission fluid and filter changed twice so far. I do a complete tune-up every 30-40k miles. Yeah, I've been pretty good with that stuff. I've had vehicles since 1981. Staying on top of those maintenance items really helps in the lomg run.

This is my first truck and 4wd vehicle. I'm just a little more interested in the Ranger and 4wd specific stuff that I should be focusing on. I understand that Rangers of my vintage don't have the best 4wd engagement system.