Question : I bought a 2003 ford ranger xlt 3.0 that the previous owner put a 2001 3.0 ranger motor in the truck runs ruff shifts funny so I investigated the motor doesn’t have all the sensors hooked up so I found out the pcm and wire harness are from the 2003 motor that was in the truck originally but the original harness is different from the 2001 harness and doesn’t have all the sensor plugs. So I went to a u pull auto and got a pcm out of a 2002 put it in and truck wouldn’t start I was going to go back tomorrow with the correct tools and remove the harness from the same motor I got the pcm and remove the 2003 harness from the motor in my truck and replace with correct harness . Is this the correct way to go about it ? Can you use a 2001 motor and harness and a 2003 pcm? I don’t understand why the starter won’t engage with the 2001 pcm is there something different with the ignition switch and pcm from the other year the pcm plug is the same

 

1st off if the truck is an 03’ than u should use the wiring harness that goes with the truck, now as far as the sensors and all, u need to use everything that the 03 ‘ originally used.... sensors and wiring 03’ .... As far as any difference in an 01’ to an 03’ 3.0 I have no idea........perhaps somebody with more knowledge on differences between the yrs of motors will reply..Good Luck

 

1st off if the truck is an 03’ than u should use the wiring harness that goes with the truck, now as far as the sensors and all, u need to use everything that the 03 ‘ originally used.... sensors and wiring..... As far as any difference in an 01’ to an 03’ 3.0 I have no idea........perhaps somebody with more knowledge on differences between the yrs of motors will reply..Good Luck

 

 

I suggest using the 03’ harness, because the truck was built with said harness for that year...What u need is all of the sensors that belong on an 03’. The heart or engine should be the same, but for it to run properly u need to use all sensors from said year... The only thing that different here is the motor itself...head,block. Any sensors that are different from replacement motor need to be swapped out with proper one for an 03’

 

 

I would make sure u have all the same sensors as the 03’ intake, Changing the harness to an 01’ is just gonna create more issues........but have at it! Does the check engine light come on when it’s running? U need to have all the same sensors on the 01’ motor , that the original motor 03’ had in order for this thing to run properly..........The Ranger was and is a good truck problem is some people working on them!