First of all I want to say thanks for solving one problem. The door ajar light and dome lamp question was answered already from browsing through the forums.
Now for the big question.
I bought a 2000 flareside 4x4 ranger(3rd one I've had) a few months ago. When I test drove it I heard what sounded like a spark knock and thought it was the normal for a ranger and I could fix it a few different ways, no biggie. After I had the truck for a few days I noticed the pinging I heard was not a spark knock. Although it sounds like a bad spark knock it wasn't. I drove the truck around listening to this rattle, I tried to see if it was related to the engine by coasting, no change in the rattle/pinging/knock. I tried accelerating, no difference. Then I tried braking, turning, cruise control,,, no difference in anything I have tried.
Here are the symptoms:
The noise only occurs at or above 35mph. It makes no diff if I am flooring it, or coasting-in or out of gear. Braking does not change the sound. The only way the sound changes is if the truck speed slows to less than 35mph, then you can no longer hear it.. I do need to mention that the faster I go above 35mph is that the pinging/knocking/rattle gets more and more noticeable the faster the truck goes. I have had a ford mechanic listen to it, he had no idea what the noise was or where it might be coming from. I have looked over the truck for loose items that might cause this, nothing loose. I have looked at the fluids in the gear boxes and front and rear ends, nothing abnormal. This noise does not SEEM to be affecting anything, the truck drives pretty much like a ranger. Oh yes , one more thing the noise is heard, in 2wd or 4wd(although I have not had a chance to put it in 4wd a whole lot, only for testing).
Any help would be appreciated, I'm lost where to look.

 

Welcome to FTE! That is a strange one. How about putting it up on jackstands and see if you can hear it. Also might try removing the belt long enough to test it. Let us know what you find.

 

Welcome to FTE!!

I would start looking at bearings and front hubs, thats my guess. What engine and tranny?

 

its a 3.0 flex with a 5 speed manual. I think Im just going to give in and let the shop have it. It has baffled me long enough, unless anybody else has had this problem and might know what it is.

 

Update for those who need to know.
I took the ranger down to the dealer and left it for a day and they found that the noise is coming from the transfer case. There is a TSB about this that states that some rangers 1999 and up may have a metalic pinging rattling noise that comes from the transfer case at highway speeds, so they tested it and sure enough, its a faulty transfer case. The fix is to replace the transfer case with another model for that/those years. That extended warrenty I bought better cover this or I am going to be ((*&$^%#%^.