So, I finally got my truck up and running correctly, but the Speedometer doesn't work and the ABS light is on.

Here is some info on the truck:
98 Ranger ext cab 4x4
4" Superlift suspension lift, 3" body lift, 33" tires, manual locking hubs and 3.73 gears
01 Explorer 5.0l 4R70W transmission, AA transfer case adapter and explorer rear axle

When I got the truck, it was barely 'running' with a 97 Ex ECU. The check engine, ABS, 4x4 and OD off lights were blinking/lit. My 01 Ex was just totaled so I started robbing it for parts. I transplanted the PATS to the Ranger dash, added the ohc, vanity mirrors, center console and cleaned up a bunch of stuff (added electronics, extra wiring, spliced transmission harness, nasty **** interior, that sort of stuff).

I didn't drive it when I got it, so I don't know if the speedo was working before or not.

I changed the VSS with the one from my Ex and also tried the Ex gauge cluster, but it didn't change anything. I checked the plugs under the cab (that go to the frame/chassis/fuel tank and the G-force transducer), the plug on the 4WABS module and of course, the VSS plug.

I didn't move the black/yellow wire for the tach to function correctly, so I did that while I was looking things over...for some reason, there was a black/white wire in slot 16 of plug 214. I looked through my notes, but I didn't write anything down about putting it there. I haven't tested it to see if it is a ground (black/white is a ground in the rest of the dash ??). I did look at the Ex harness, and most every other wire matches up, except for that one black/white wire.

The only VSS wire I touched was tapping into the interior plug (behind the dash) for the OHC install.

In the morning, I am going to look it over some more and see if I can find anything obvious. I can also try to check continuity to and from the VSS as well. I need to change the master cylinder to match the disc brake rear axle, so I may try changing the 4WABS module as well. Is there anything else I should look at?

 

First let's go through a few things that you may already know:

• In 98, the Ranger could have been factory equipped with Rear ABS or 4WABS. All 5.0L Explorers were 4WABS only.
• The wiring pinout for the 98 Ranger 4WABS module plug is completely different from that of the 2001 Explorer.
• The signal to the speedometer of the 98 RABS uses a different module and different wire path compared to the 4WABS trucks.
• The speedometer signal of the 98~00 4WABS Ranger and the 98~2001 Ex originates at the rear axle sensor and goes via 2 wires to the 4WABS module where it is corrected for tire size and output as a square wave to the speedo, cruise, PCM and GEM.
• The speedometer signal of the 98~00 RABS Ranger originates at the rear axle sensor and goes via 2 wires to the GEM where it is corrected for tire size and output as a square wave to the speedo, cruise and PCM.

Obviously, the largest unknown here is what the DPO (dreaded previous owner) did while trying to make all of this work together. So, I would check these:

• Fuses 3 and 7 under the hood; Fuse 14 in the dash fuse box (4WABS)
• Fuses 10, 14, 20, 25, 28 and 35 in the dash box (RABS)
• Ground G103 on the driver side inner fender halfway back.
• Ground G101 on the radiator core support near the battery.
• Read the part number of the ABS Module and try to find out what vehicle it was originally from.
• Read the part number of the GEM and try to find out what vehicle it was originally from.
• Do end-to-end continuity checks individually on the red/pink and light green/black between the axle sensor and the 4WABS Module (both connectors unplugged)
• Verify no continuity to ground on the red/pink and light green/black between the axle sensor and the 4WABS Module (both connectors unplugged)
• Do an end-to-end continuity check on the gray/black between the 4WABS Module and the speedometer (both connectors unplugged)
• Verify no continuity to ground on the gray/black between the 4WABS Module and the speedometer (ALL connectors unplugged including 4WABS Module, GEM, PCM, Speed Control servo/module, overhead console and any others you have added.)

If you have a way to do it, a possible shortcut here might be to pull any ABS codes related to the ABS light. Unfortunately, a simple OBDII reader cannot access the ABS codes; it takes a dealer level diagnostic tool for that.




8-cylinder: "Selector" ground configuration:

• pin 8 of the 10-pin: (NOT connected to anything)
• pin 16 of the 16-pin: (wired to chassis ground)

6-cylinder: "Selector" ground configuration:

• pin 8 of the 10-pin: (wired to chassis ground)
• pin 16 of the 16-pin: (NOT connected to anything)

So, the usual way to convert a 98 Ranger from V6 to V8 tach is to remove the black/yellow from position 8 of C216 and move it to position 16 in C214



Black, black/white and black/yellow are all grounds at the cluster connectors.

The fact that there is a BK/WH at position 16 makes me suspicious of what the DPO did there. Maybe, just maybe, he mistakenly moved the BK/WH from position 2 of C215 to position 16 of C214.

And, OBTW, the ground at pin 2 C215 is also THE GROUND FOR THE SPEEDOMETER!!! It would be best to check this out before doing any of that other stuff!

 

I didn't know the 2001 Ex and 1998 Ranger 4WABS were pinned differently, but as I read more last night, I was starting to suspect they were not the same, and was going to check them against each other before I swapped them.

I checked all fuses, and they looked good. I will check them again to make sure. Probably pull each one and even check them with a meter to make sure they are working.

Pin 2 and pin 10 of C215 each have a black/white wire, but I haven't checked continuity on them to make sure they are grounding.

Yes, it is difficult to track everything down and know what was done before I got it. There were numerous wires that had been cut and then butt connected back together. It looks the the 42 pin connector was extended, and every wire on the range selector was spliced. I checked the 42 pin visually and it looked like everything was color for color correct. I changed the trans harness seeing as I had the interior out and could access most of it from the trans hump cover plate.

I will print this out and get to checking...hopefully it is something simple. I will let you know how it goes.

Thanks for the assistance!

 

When you did the rear axle swap did you did you keep the ABS sensor (the sensor on the top of the pumpkin) from the Expo on the axle or did you put the one from your truck in? That would cause the ABS light if you are using the Expo sensor.

 

The DPO swapped axles. I did try the one out of my Ex and it didn't make a difference (both F8 part numbers). I have a sensor out of a 92 Ranger I can try.

 

Ahh, yeah that would be an issue. Umm make sure the sense is setup the same as your truck. RABS and whatever stock, from the factory gear size you have. A 92 probably wouldn't work.

 

So, here is what I found:

Continuity checks:
Red/Pink from sensor to 4WABS-good, not grounded
Lt Green/Black from sensor to 4WABS-good, not grounded
Grey/Black from 4WABS to cluster/GEM/ECU/CC-good, not grounded.

Pin 2 on C215 is grounded. The black/white wire that was in pin 16 of C214 was not grounded...don't know what that goes to.

GEM: F87B-14B205-EE Pick-up Electric 4x4

4WABS: XL24-2C346-AB EXPLORER...same as the one from my 01 Parts truck, so that must be the problem. What can I do? Can it be re-pinned to match the Ex or do I have to find an original one? That would suck!!

 

let me know if you need a RWABS controller I have a 99 parts truck sitting in Renton that may have one still in it.

 

From the worded descriptions, it looks like 18 of the 19 wires SHOULD be directly repinnable. No promises though.

The 19th does not appear to be equivalent.

The Explorer module has one pin that doesn't match:
"ABS Active" (no explanation given but the wording makes it sound like it might be an input from the 4WABS Module to the GEM)
Pin #11 of the Ex 4WABS Module to the Ex GEM
Explorer color code = pink/light blue (not that it matters)

The Ranger module also has one pin that doesn't match:
"4WD input" (this looks like a grounded input supplied by the Ranger GEM to tell the 4WABS Module when the GEM has commanded the t-case to be in low range)
Pin #5 of the Ranger 4WABS from the Ranger GEM
Ranger color code = light blue/black

 

Cool, sounds like I did it correctly then. I just re-pinned color for color and added the pink/lt blue to my GEM (just because, I guess, LOL)

Ranger had 18 wires, didn't have the lt blue/black...nothing was in pin 5 and it still had the factory block-off in it. What plug/pin does the light blue/black wire go to?

Here is a run down if anyone else is interested:

Ranger 4WABS
pin-color
1-light green/black
3-yellow/orange
4-tan/red
6-yellow
7-orange/black
8-large black
9-large red
10-gray/black
11-tan/black
12-red/green
13-orange/white
16-dark green
17-red/pink
18-yellow/black
20-light blue/white
23-light blue/pink
24-large black
25-large yellow/green

01 Exporer
1-orange/white
2-red/green
3-yellow/red
4-yellow/black
8-large black
9-large yellow/green
11-pink/light blue
13-yellow
14-orange/black
16-dark green
17-tan/orange
18-tan/black
19-gray/black
20-light blue/pink
21-red/pink
22-light green/black
23-light blue/white
24-large black
25-large red

Everything seems to work now, with the exception of the OD light didn't illuminate during the test drive, but it did turn on/off the OD.

I am glad it was something fairly simple. I suppose the DPO swapped the module thinking it was required for the Ex rear axle. I am going to swap the mc in the near future as the ranger has the valve on it, and the Ex doesn't...plus the brake lines are all rusty on this POS.

 

The 98 Ranger EVTM shows the Ranger LB/BK going to 3 other places:

Ranger GEM pin 10 C223 (22-pin)
Ranger PCM pin 14
Ranger cluster pin 2 C214

The LB/BK is 4WD only. If your harness doesn't have it, I suppose it's possible that the DPO swapped in a 2WD engine bay harness for some reason. Nothing would surprise me at this point.

I think I heard somewhere that the 4WABS Module in some years uses a different ABS logic in 4LOW. That might explain the use of the wire. I would be inclined to just forget it. Besides, you wouldn't know which pin it would use in the Ex module even if the module could understand it. Actually, I doubt that it could use it since the V6 Explorers used a different automatic t-case and controls compared to the Ranger. The V8 AWD used yet another case that was full mechanical and had no GEM control whatsoever.

Good job getting it fixed.

 

I've heard the same thing about the 4WABS possibly using different logic while in 4 low. Not too worried about it at the moment, heck, it doesn't even go into 4 low right now, but that is for a different day.

You have been a big help! I probably would have figured it out, but it sure is nice to have someone to bounce ideas off of and back me up.

Thank you Very Much!
Ivan