Exterior Semi-Tech General discussion of exterior for the Ford Ranger.

Ranger vs Explorer Pwrd Mirrors ???

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Old 05-06-2010
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Ranger vs Explorer Pwrd Mirrors ???

Are the Mirrors on the Ranger and the Explorer the same animal ?

They look so close, wonder what years might swap.
 
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Old 05-07-2010
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The triangular part that bolts to the door will not swap because the angles are different. This is definitely true from 93-on. I'm not sure about 91~92.

2002~2005 power mirror glass will swap directly between Ranger and Explorer/Mountaineer. I have heated Mountie mirror inserts in my factory 03 Ranger PM housings.
 
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Old 05-07-2010
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BOB!!! PICTURES OF HEATED MIRRORS!
 
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Old 05-07-2010
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The Ex/Mountie insert looks identical to the factory Ranger part except for the "heat" symbol etched into the glass. The rounded glass that I used will not fit the squarish 2006+ mirror housing.
 
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Old 05-07-2010
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Someone on RPS has swapped the ex mirrors with the courtesy light onto a ranger. He didn't use the ex triangular mount, just the mirror housing. Said they just slide up and off, and slides back down on the ranger mount. I tried getting one off at a junkyard. I got it off the ex, but destroyed the housing in the process.
 
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Old 05-07-2010
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Originally Posted by rwenzing
The Ex/Mountie insert looks identical to the factory Ranger part except for the "heat" symbol etched into the glass. The rounded glass that I used will not fit the squarish 2006+ mirror housing.
damnit! i want heated mirrors so bad! it's -40 here in the winter
 
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Old 05-07-2010
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Originally Posted by drppdyllwrngr
Someone on RPS has swapped the ex mirrors with the courtesy light onto a ranger. He didn't use the ex triangular mount, just the mirror housing. Said they just slide up and off, and slides back down on the ranger mount. I tried getting one off at a junkyard. I got it off the ex, but destroyed the housing in the process.
Here's a picture of the pivot inside the 03 Ranger PM. It looks like it may be possible to remove it and swap mounts but I haven't tried it myself. I don't remember for sure but I thought some years had a heated and mushroomed over pivot that would make disassembly more risky.

 
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Old 05-07-2010
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Originally Posted by --weezl--
damnit! i want heated mirrors so bad! it's -40 here in the winter
Check some other Ford models from the same general year range. Maybe there's something compatible that can be adapted to your 07.
 
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Old 05-07-2010
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i'm thinking i'm going to have to... but it's almost summer, so by my count, i've got about 3 months to get it figured out :D we have short summers

edit (sorry for the jack) found that 06+expo limited's come standard with heated squareish mirrors
 

Last edited by --weezl--; 05-07-2010 at 05:45 AM.
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Old 05-07-2010
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Never mind the heaters, I would like the Explorers mirrors for the puddle lamps.
 
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Old 05-07-2010
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I agree, I will put the Mirrors on the JY List and see what I can come up with.
I guess mainly we need to know if the Housing of the Explorer Mirror will attach to the Base of the Ranger Mirror.
Then we can look into the wiring side of this thing but I for one don’t think the wiring will be a big problem.
 
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Originally Posted by rwenzing
Here's a picture of the pivot inside the 03 Ranger PM. It looks like it may be possible to remove it and swap mounts but I haven't tried it myself. I don't remember for sure but I thought some years had a heated and mushroomed over pivot that would make disassembly more risky.
the guy took the hole housing off the triangle mount. i got one off at the junkyard, but it required a rubber mallet, and it destroyed the bottom of the mirror. but i got it off!
 
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Originally Posted by rwenzing
Here's a picture of the pivot inside the 03 Ranger PM. It looks like it may be possible to remove it and swap mounts but I haven't tried it myself. I don't remember for sure but I thought some years had a heated and mushroomed over pivot that would make disassembly more risky.

This Ranger Pic looks like it just have to push in on the clips and slide the head off.
Now is the interior of the Explorer Mirror the same and will it fit the Ranger Base ?

Can anyone answer that, “Does the Explorer Head fit the Ranger Base”?

thanks
 
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Old 05-07-2010
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The interior mechanism of the 2002~2005 Explorer power mirror is exactly the same as the mechanism in the 2002~2005 Ranger power mirror. I believe that the main housings are interchangeable between the two groups but that the triangle mounts are different. I have not personally swapped housings and mounts to check for compatiblity though.
 
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Old 05-07-2010
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That’s that I will look for both parts at my next JY Run to verify.

Thanks, Bob
 
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Old 05-07-2010
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Originally Posted by Scrambler82
Can anyone answer that, “Does the Explorer Head fit the Ranger Base”?

thanks
that's what i've been saying. there is a guy on rps that has done it. he did it mainly for the puddle lights if i remember correctly.
 
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Old 05-07-2010
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Originally Posted by Scrambler82
That’s that I will look for both parts at my next JY Run to verify.
This may be helpful at the yard to allow a look inside.

Glass insert removal method, 2002~2005 Ranger/Explorer/Mountaineer:
Originally Posted by rwenzing
2002~2005 Ranger mirror faces are easy to change. I popped mine off in a few seconds for these photos.

Just rock the mirror to the full "UP" and "IN" position to expose a gap under the bottom.

Then insert a flat blade screwdriver in the rectangular opening under the plastic mirror base from the bottom. GENTLY twist the screwdriver to pop the glass carrier off. Takes about 15 seconds once you know how:





Here's what the inside of the housing looks like with the mirror popped off. Notice the two slots at 3 o'clock and 6 o'clock where the anti-vibration springs ride (This is the DS mirror with 2 springs; the PS mirror only has one):





This is the back view of a heated Mountaineer mirror but the original Ranger mirrors look similar. You want to pry where shown, NOT at the other rectangular opening that you can see near the lower edge of the mirror:



When reassembling, be sure to line up the two anti-vibration springs in their slots (one spring on the passenger side). Then just use even pressure to snap the mirror back onto the adjustment platform in the housing.


More info here:
http://www.muthco.com/techsupport/pdfs/21000790.pdf
 
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Old 05-08-2010
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Originally Posted by drppdyllwrngr
that's what i've been saying. there is a guy on rps that has done it. he did it mainly for the puddle lights if i remember correctly.
I looked for the thread and couldn’t find it, funny, searched on mirror, mirrors, ex mirror, how to’s, I am not good with the search.
Thanks for the info but if you happen to have the link it would help out.


rwenzing,
Thanks for that, I had read it a while back but forgot about it.
 
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Old 05-08-2010
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Is the mirror glass removal procedure the same for the signal mirror glass? I have installed the signal mirrors and I don't remember seeing a slot to stick a screwdriver in for glass removal.
 
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Old 05-08-2010
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Old 05-09-2010
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Old 05-23-2010
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Found a set of Explorer Sport Mirrors with the lower lights.
I took them wiring and all just need to do switch the mirrors.
I was thinking about adding heat and directional LEDs but the price is high.
 
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Old 05-23-2010
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Originally Posted by Scrambler82
Found a set of Explorer Sport Mirrors with the lower lights.
I took them wiring and all just need to do switch the mirrors.
I was thinking about adding heat and directional LEDs but the price is high.
What year Explorer mirrors did you use?
 
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Old 05-24-2010
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Originally Posted by edog
What year Explorer mirrors did you use?
’01 Explorer Sport was the donor vehicle.
’03 EDGE is the receiver but not yet.
The Heads should just pop onto the existing mounts but I will only know for sure when I do it.
 
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Old 05-24-2010
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Nice, keep us posted on whats happening.
 


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