I don't believe I've ever seen this done and I was wondering if anyone had any input on this subject. I'm going to be doing a small overhaul on my interior in the next couple of weeks. Basically fixing a couple of things that need fixed since I put in the manual transfer case.

I'm going to be replacing the rubber floor in my truck with black carpet because when I cut the hole in my floor for the transfer case shifter I thought it would be a good idea to do it while intoxicated at 2AM. but it turns out it wasn't such a good idea afterall. I cut my rubber floor a bit to far and the boot/bezel doesn't quite cover the entire area I cut.

I'm going to be putting sound deadening material on the entire cab while I have the flooring out for replacement, and I'll also be installing the twin stick floor plate/inner boot plate.

Now this brings me to my actual question. I would really like to eliminate the restaints control module cover while I'm doing this. I think it would clean up the look a little bit if I could have the 'blank' carpet area behind the shifters instead of the cover.....similar to this pic.



the area in my truck looks like this, only it has a cover of course.



I'd like to move it completely and have that area empty, but I seem to vaguely recall reading somewhere that this module could not be mounted anyway but sitting flat. Am I wrong about this? If I relocate the module am I going to be facing more annoying problems like idiot lights flashing? If thats the case I'll just leave it alone.

Anybody know? thanks.

 

Unlike some prior year Rangers, your 2003 RCM has the impact sensors inside. It must be mounted in the correct orientation and position or it may not work.

 

leave it alone...

 

I thought I'd read that somewhere. Thanks Bob thats exactly what I wanted to know.

Thanks for the help. Very informative.

 

I'm just saying that if you move it chance are that someday when you do slam on brakes it would think it was a wreck and go off... that would be bad... OR you could be in a crash and they do not work at all... I'd suggest getting some carpet and just going over the cover & module...

 

Yeah, for safety I think I would leave it be.

 

Oh that is the restraints module? hmm...

 

I didn't ask if I should leave it alone or not. I asked if it had to be mounted a certain way, and all of you seemed to have missed what I was asking except Bob. Thanks for your input though.

And as for running the carpet over it I won't do that either. The cover looks just fine as it is, I just happen to like the empty area look better.

But now that Bob has directly answered the question I was asking, then yes I will leave it alone.

 

So it needs to be flat ryan? What about mounting it underneath the console? that would only require you to extend the lines a few feet.

 

Interesting idea Beard. The module has like 15 or 16 wires going into it, plus a ground wire so it would take a bit of work to extend it although it might be worthwhile to do it while I have basically the whole interior removed, but I'm not sure if the wires are that length for a reason. The longer the wires are the more resistance there will be. I'm not sure how sensitive the unit is to voltage, if at all. If the length of wires have no ill effect, then underneath the console would be a great spot since theres plenty of room for correct orientation and its also nice and flat.



Maybe Bob will be able to tell me if lengthening the wires will screw stuff up....

 

what do you have covering it now? im curious for when i do my own twin shifter mod

 

i would just put a cover over it like the lvl2's came with.

that or just put the carpet over it and see what it looks like.

 

I have the factory cover from a level II. Nothing wrong with it, I would just prefer to have nothing there at all.

 

The Restraint System is a group of safety devices that carries a very high degree of liability for a vehicle manufacturer. It is sure to have had a ton of design, development and test time invested to ensure that its operation is reliable and happens only under the desired entry conditions.

It is an engineered system and I think it would be risky to modify any part of it. Even if what you did was functionally transparent, you would probably be assuming liability that would otherwise belong to someone else.

 

So basically if I move the unit and it malfunctions I will have no one to blame but myself. Gotcha.

Thanks for the input. I think I'll just leave it alone.

 

does anyone have pics or a part number for this cover from the lvl2's?


scottg

 

2002 FX4 manual or 2003 Level II manual.

 

and thats not attached to the shifter bezel right?



do you have a part number at all?

 

It is a separate piece from the bezel but has a curved recess that is contoured to fit up against the front of the bezel.

I don't have a part number but Ryan (RazorsEDGE) has my old one. On this type of part, there is often an "engineering" part number molded into the plastic that can be crossed to a Ford Parts System part number.