I just bought this truck and it is great, but I have a couple of questions. Did any of the 4 Cyl trucks come with the Tachometer dash option or was this only on the 6 Cyl? Also has anyone tried to retrofit power door locks on one of this trucks. Every car or truck I have owned recently has had power door locks and I am constantly forgetting to lock the passenger door. I would also be great to have a remote.

Cheers Jim

 

I'd look on eBay for a factory keyless entry. I don't think the '97 models came with tachs on the 4cyl. I really don't think they put tachs on 4cyls until 2001+. Correct me if I'm wrong. I put an APC tach in my '99.

 

You can go thru JC Whitney or even buy the factory set-up for power options as it will wire right in.

As for specifics on that stuff, well, I can't tell you since I am the exact opposite of you in that regard. I want no power options, really. Auto tranny is okay when fleeing hurricanes, though. I wish I had one in my Ranger for that occasion...but on came the Camaro for my cruiser toy.


As for the tach swap, you can swap in ANY Ranger platform vehicle tach cluster and it will work. I swapped an Exploder automatic tranny cluster into my 2.3L 5-speed Ranger and swapped the mid section with the speedo/odo and it looks like it came factory, with the proper odo reading and all. I used the blank from my base cluster and swapped out the auto tranny selector thing. Some 4 cylinders had to have tachs, but even if that's not the case, it doesn't matter. The tach gets the correct signal from the computer in any case.

As for swapping the proper mileage in, I hear the post-94 clusters aren't as easy. Find a speedo shop or maybe pray that you can swap the odo unit itself. Tach cluster = plug and play, baby, plug and play!

It breaks down this way:

Rangers: 89-92 then 93-94 clusters swap with no fuss
same for 95-01, I think.
02-later = same

It's been talked about, just search this forum.

 

Oh yeah,

Odds are that on the 95-later clusters, you have to get the cluster programmed to the tire/wheel size of your vehicle. That info is stored in the ABS system on OBD2 trucks. Of course, if you have the same size from the factory as the donor vehicle, don't worry. Otherwise, your tach and speedo will be off.

 

Why would your tach be off because of wheel size? It just measures engine speed, correct? So the tire/wheel size wouldn't really change that.

 

The tach gets it signal from the ECM and the ECM gets it from the Crankshaft position sensor. It doesn't matter what engine the donor vehicle had.
The speedo gets it's signal from the speed sensor, which I think is located on the differential or possibly the tranny. Again, it doesn't matter what size the donor vehicle tires were.
To be exactly correct, a '97 directly interchanges with '96-'97 Rangers, Explorers, or B-Series. With or without tach interchange. You can use clusters from other years, but some of the lights may not be correct. For instance, before I put a '95 Cluster in my '95, I had a '98 in there. The gauges worked, but for some reason the fuel reset light stayed on.
For informational purposes, '95 is specific to '95, '96-'97 are the same, '98-'99 or maybe 2K are they same. From there, I'm not sure.

 

My '97 2.3 5spd XLT came with the tach option.

 

Yeah a lot of those guys bought the 2.3L because they wanted a basic truck, manual, small engine, few options etc. Not to slam anyone who has it, I love the little 4 banger and the truck, period, but I just don't think a lot of them got any options like the tach.

 

My 98 splash has a tach.

Typically tachs come with more loaded vehicles. I have owned a bunch or small trucks, strippers usually don't have them but the better trim packages offer them.

I agree anything that will fit should work, not sure about the speedo. That depends on if it has a spedo running off the trans. If it measures the output shaft it would read ok.
Not sure on yours.

 

Hey everyone, I have a base '95 Mazda B-2300 It's as base as they come except 4x4 and it has a 4cyl, 5spd w/ a tach.