I just got an instrument cluster with the tachometer to install in my '93 Ranger. There is a sticker on the cluster which says "4.0 LITRE ENGINE ONLY". Of course, I have a 2.3L....

Is this unit gonna work out for me? I assume the only difference is the tach being set up for 6 cyl instead of four? If that's the case, can that be corrected/adjusted? If not, I guess I have a cluster for sale/trade!

I was planning on swapping the speedo/odo unit for my existing one...

I believe this unit is out of a '91 Ranger...

 

I would think if the cluster says 4.0 ENGINE ONLY then its probably not gonna work with a 2.3.

 

I'm not sure about the '93, but my I put a instrument cluster from a '95 Explorer 4.0L in my '95 Ranger 2.3L. It works fine.

 

I put a 94 4.0L Exploder cluster (with auto tranny indicator) into my 94 2.3L Ranger...

I did not recall seeing the 4.0L only sticker, but mine works just fine.

I can only say try out that cluster and if it doesn't move at all, bring it back. I guess.

Unlike GMs, Ford tachs get the tach signal from the computer, so the tach reads right no matter which engine is involved in your truck.


You do know how to swap the speedometer to keep your original mileage, right? It's in the Haynes as well...very very easy!

 

Well, I plugged it into my truck, none of the gauges moved... fuel, temp, anything... got a few lights though...

Wonder if it's just altogether wrong unit, or what...

Yeah, swapping the speedo would be rather easy.

 

I took an instrument cluster out of a 94 Ranger 4.0 5 speed and put it in my 91 3.0 auto with a bad tach, all the gauges went wild. I pulled it out and just changed out the tach and it worked fine. The one difference you will have if you use a tach from a 4.0 in any other motor is that your redline on your tach will be marked wrong.

 

Wrong redline... That makes sense! Doh! Didn't know about the tach signal being supplied from the computer though...

So, it sounds like this gauge cluster SHOULD have worked.... wonder if there is something wrong with it... I'll have a closer look at it...

 

Look for water damage, that is what was wrong with my first cluster. Had a huge fiasco with the salvage yard over a refund but I eventually got it.

 

What were the signs of water damage? Anything obvious?

 

Well, I should have known better, but the Explorer the cluster came out of had a busted windshield, no doors, and no front clip. The reason it didn't work was it was blowing fuses everytime I hooked up the battery. I opened the cluster and found some rust on the backside of the gauges, on the little metal covers that protect the back of the gauge workings. Then I put two and two together... broken windshield, no doors, and rust. Water Damage. It turns out that the speedometer was shorted out, so I replaced that with my original one. I am still using everything from the tach cluster except for the speedometer.

 

Ah, I see... I didn't get any blown fuses, but none of the gauges registered anything upon starting the engine. The tach didn't even budge...

Both electrical connectors snapped right in, but that doesn't mean they are wired the same. I have seen identical looking clusters for an F-150 of the same vintage. Is there any real difference in the clusters between Ranger/Explorer & F-150 for the 91 - 94 model years?

 

I suppose that there is the chance that the cluster you've got has been in a wreck and some connection inside snapped...let me check out my old non-tach cluster really quick...

You know what, if you have a voltmeter, hook that cluster up without the gauges installed...just pull them off and see if you are getting current to the connectors.

Let us know if you get juice to the cluster that way.

As for the wiring, the Ranger and Exploder should be the same for a given year, though I can't use a 91-92 Ranger cluster I can use a 91-94 Exploder cluster.....I think that's the tricky thing to this swap.

F150s started using digital odometers in the early 90s, so I'm not sure what's all different to that assuimng any wiring changes. You can use the gauges, though, you seem to be on to that point.

 

Also, compare the circuit boards on the back...yeah, all those brownish looking lines on the back of both clusters. I'd be shocked if they are so far off that this cluster won't work, but who knows.

 

The fuse for power supply to the gauges isn't blown, right? Does the old cluster still work fine?

 

I pulled the cluster completely apart; all traces on the circuit board look good visually, although I haven't checked them beyond that yet. I also checked my Ford CD - although Standard vs Sport clusters are mentioned, there isn't enough detail to determine that they are or are not interchangeable. Seems like they are, but...

I will pull my standard cluster out of the truck in a little while and compare the two closely. Perhaps I will check continuity between connector pins to various gauge and light terminations to see if the two units are wired similarly.

Anyone have facilities to look up the various Ford part numbers to see what the cluster assemblies are supposed to be? It's a little hard to read the sticker on this one, but it looks like it's F12F-10889-JA. The sticker also definately says 1991 Ranger...