When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
A friend recently acquired a 1999 Ford ranger and you guys quickly assisted helping us sort out a starting issue. 👍 Yesterday he called and said the truck, while on a recent drive would not go into overdrive.
I'm not sure the engine size but it's the four cylinder and of course with an automatic.
The problem was easily fixed, I discovered a wiring harness on the side of the transmission was so loose you could wiggle it with very little finger pressure.
I pulled the plug out and observed 16 pins on the transmission side and they looked nice and clean. I went ahead and plugged the cable back in again and this is where my question is.
The cable connector feels firmly in place now but there was no click. Almost every connector I've ever seen has a little tab and when the connector is pushed fully on there's a little click and you will have to pull on something to release that cable connector.
There's nothing I can see visible here for the connector to snap onto. It's just pressed in place and I see nothing that would lock physically lock it in place.
Is there some sort of a c-clip or something that's supposed to be there to secure it? The two arrows mark pins that look like they should be coupled by some sort of a connector. One pin is on the harness, and the one on the right is the pin on the transmission connection. It just looks like something is missing.
Last edited by RandyWL; 06-18-2023 at 01:29 PM.
Reason: Typo
The truck side was also the same and looked like this one: ??? I can't find a picture of the truck side plug ???
But it should have a tab on each side that locks into the buttons on each side of the transmission connector
That's what I figured. There's a sort of gap between those two pins and it looks like something should be locking them together.
I found like you, the only images I have seen are of the transmission side like you showed.
Well maybe I'll do some dielectric grease on the seals, then slobber on some JB weld after I push the connector in place.
Not sure I would use a permanent fix like that, lol
Can you put zap strap thru wires on the truck side and wrap it around the back side of trans connector
Wires would keep it from sliding off I would think
Or 2 of them
Not sure I would use a permanent fix like that, lol
Can you put zap strap thru wires on the truck side and wrap it around the back side of trans connector
Wires would keep it from sliding off I would think
Or 2 of them
Next time I stop over, I'll look at the connector more closely and figure something out ....not involving JB 😁
If I had a 3D printer, I could make a piece that would lock those two pins together.
It's been this way for many years, I'm guessing. We'll figure something out.
Does this look like the problem? Looks to be a crack or where something broke off.
I switched out my connectors back in 2011, and I don't remember it being too difficult. The problem is finding a new one to replace yours with. I was lucky the guy who posted the pictures had one and was willing to send it to me.
"The pictures in this thread aren't that great"
....yeah, stick to your day job. 😁😁😁
It's hard to get some cameras to focus but I kind of get the idea. Is that thing like a horseshoe or three sided clip that snaps on, over the top of the connector in a saddle configuration? I bet I can make something that would do the same thing and just hold it on with a zip tie.
I really appreciate you taking the time to help out. I'm going to stop over later this week or maybe on the weekend and take another look at it, measure the pin distance and possibly make something, some sort of bracket to lock those pins together. Doesn't look overly complicated. I'm pretty good at doing MacGyver stuff.
I switched out my connectors back in 2011, and I don't remember it being too difficult. The problem is finding a new one to replace yours with. I was lucky the guy who posted the pictures had one and was willing to send it to me.
Well, I measured and made a couple templates, then made a square bracket out of stainless. It wraps all the way around the plug, but holds itself in place with just spring tension. You can see the two pins protruding through holes in the stainless on each side of the plug.
Conception to reality, about 3 hours, most of it measuring and test fitting.
06-18-2023
