Hello everyone.
I just inherited a 97 Ford Ranger from my brother. It was well taken care of and it's mine now. It has the 4 cylinder engine with the 8 spark plugs. It also has the 5 speed manual transmission. My truck has the standard dash without the tachometer. I would like to install a tach into my truck. I thought about installing an aftermarket tach from Autometer but hesitated. I remembered that Ford loves interchangability!!!! Will a Ford Explorer dash with the optional tach fit into the ranger? Or will the F-150 dash with the tach fit into the ranger? I am willing to take apart the whole dash and install another factory dash scored from the junkyard. I hesitate from the aftermarket tach because I want the factory look and want to stick with factory engineering. If the Explorer dash fits into the ranger dash physically, will the wiring be different? Will there be provisions for tachometer wiring in the ranger? Is there a ranger model that actually came with the tach? Thank you for your help. Scottie at spl@student.umass.edu

 

I was just going to post a simmilar question. I have the same truck as you and was thinking about adding a tach. How do you connect it to the ignition with 8 spark plugs??

 

I hope this helps, stole from Autometer.com. Check out their website.
Ford TFI (thick film integrated)

The green wire from the tach will connect to the green wire with a yellow stripe that is on the coil. This wire may also be either a solid green wire or a green wire with a white stripe.

Ford 2.3L, 3.0L, 3.8L, and 4.0L (through mid 90's, 95 & older usually) distributorless ignition

The green wire from the tach will usually connect to pin 12 on the DIS module, and it is usually a black wire with a yellow stripe. This is usually the IDM (ignition diagnostic monitor) or the EDM (engine diagnostic monitor). (2.3L is = 2 PPR; 3.0L, 3.8L, and 4.0L is = 3 PPR)

Ford RANGERS

Before '93, call us for specific details. For '93 and '94, depending on the size of the motor, you can do the following. 2.3L - off the PCM (powertrain control module) go to pin 4, which is a tan wire with a yellow stripe. Or, go to the ICM (ignition control module) and splice pin 12, which is a tan wire w/ yellow stripe - this is the same for the 4.0L, too, except for the ICM connection, it will be pin 2 instead of 12. For the 3.0L, off the PCM the tach signal will be pin 4, which is a white wire with a pink stripe. Or, you can go to the ICM, and splice into pin B, which will be a tan wire with a yellow stripe. Now, from '95 to present, you can splice into the PCM, which should be mounted on the passenger side firewall. You will need to splice into pin number 48, which will be a brown or tan wire with a yellow stripe, to obtain your engine RPM signal. (2.3L is = 2 PPR; the 3.0L, 3.8L, and the 4.0L is = 3 PPR)

Ford 3.8L and 4.6L MUSTANGS ('96 - '98 only)

Tach output is obtained from PCM (powertrain control module) which is a 104 wire connector, and is located behind the passenger side kick panel. Look for pin number 48, which is usually an orange wire with a white stripe. (3.8L is = 3 PPR; 4.6L is = 4 ppr)

Ford 4.2L, 4.6L, and 5.4L F-SERIES Trucks ('96 - '98 only)

Tach output is obtained from the PCM (powertrain control module) which is 104 wire connector, and is typically located in the engine bay, on the passenger side firewall. Look for pin number 48, which is usually a white wire with a pink or red stripe. This also holds true for most Super Duty and van applications, up through '98. If the motor is a Triton V-10, it will need to be calibrated specially for a 5 ppr to read the correct RPM. (4.2L is = 3 PPR; 4.6L and 5.4L is = 4 ppr)

Just have to know what type of ignition you have.

 

Wow that takes care of that! Thanks a bunch!

 

The 97 Ranger was available with an indash tach as an option. I have it in mine with a 4.0 not sure with the 4 banger. Later, Jay

 

Jay221, what type of Ranger do you have? Is it a 4x4, or a splash model? Do you think that your truck came with the optional tach because it has a 6? Does it have a standard transmission or auto? I would like to know as much as possible about your truck so I can hunt one down and score the dash! If your truck came with the tach, I could convert mine. No, the 4 banger did not come with the tach, or at least mine didn't. Thanks for the info, I'm gonna try to find a ranger like yours to convert mine. Thanks, Scott

 

Mine is a 97 Ranger extended cab XLT 2wheel drive with a 4.0 5 speed Automatic. My owners manual doesn't break it down to what models they did or didn't come in. Later, Jay

 

I beleive that all 4x4s and 2wd with the XLT package get a tach.

 

Mine is an XLT.. no tach

 

I'll have to get the brochures out and see if it's another option package because the 2002 XLT 3.0 and the 2000 SC XLT 3.0 Sport both have tachs.

 

The 99 & 2000 brochure indicates thats a 2wd wouldn't get a tach unless u have the sport package, most 2002s get them.