So I just purchased my 2005 Ranger FX4 last Friday. It has about 30,900 miles on it now. I'm not sure if the dealer has already performed this service, but I'm guessing that they haven't. I have no previous knowledge that they did. Are there any specific items I could check that would denote that it has been performed?

If it hasn't, what should I do for the 30,000 mile service?
- Change oil and filter
- Inspect/rotate tires
- Inspect brakes, wheel ends, cooling system, exhaust system, steering/suspension
- Replace engine air filter
- Replace fuel filter
- Replace cabin filter
- Change automatic trans fluid if equipped with Torqshift (does the Ranger have this?)

Is there anything to grease on this truck? Should I change the automatic transmisson fluid? Is there a transmission filter?

Any other things that I should know?

 

There is no cabin filter and there is nothing that is greaseable. Everything else on your list looks good. I have no idea what torqshift is and yes there is a tranny oil filter.

 

Torqshift is the superduty tranny. Stop reading your owners manual.

 

should you check the brakes... sure why not its used good to know if its doing ok...

i would change the auto fluid personally but thats me.. do an oil change on it. check the air filter.. do a fuel filter..

and drive it..

 

might as well do the rear diff while you're at it, its not hard at all

 

Sounds good, and actually, I was reading directly out of the manual. I have been gone from the Ranger scene for a while and I'm a bit rusty. I knew there was a cabin filter on one of the 3 vehicles I've owned since the Ranger, turns out it was my Honda Prelude : ) Anyways, the rear differential takes an anti-friction modifier since I have the FX4 with the LS correct?

 

You can use synthetic fluid (which I would recommend) and not have to add any modifier.

 

Synthetic is not needed with Clutch pack diff your wasting your money... its only needed on the torsen rearends...

and yes you need the wale sperm i mean fic mod...

 

Maybe it was the Lucas fluid I heard that, idk

 

I changed my plugs too for the heck of it, I bought mine at 22k. (I just run copper NGK plugs, change them out every few thousand). Check your serp. belt as well.

I did a brake fluid flush (fluid was pretty black) at about 40k, also changed the coolant out. Will be doing a power steering fluid change, and atf change here since I'm coming up on 60k....and doesn't hurt that I'll be towing cross-country in 30days either.

 

Three additional things I'd check / change.

Check the transfer case fluid. (I believe it's just mercon or what ever the manual calls for)

Change the PS fluid. I loosen the fitting on the front of the rack and drain the res every 10k miles. It's only a quart of mercon (or what ever the manual calls for)

And here is the one that supprised me. Brake fluid.
I usually change my brake fluid every 50k miles on my cars. But it's usually only slightly discolored. However on my 06 ranger I needed to change the front brakes at only 44k miles. Well, I went to bleed the rear brakes and the bleeder screws were caked up and frozen solid. Once I got them off and drilled out.. I bled the system. I was SHOCKED to see nearly pure black fluid coming out! I bled and bled them until it flowed clear as new. From now on I'll be bleeding at least the rear circut every 20k.

Rich

 

Oil Change
Tire Rotation
Air Filter
Fuel Filter
Trans Fluid Change
(at minumum)

any time i get a new vehicle, before i drive it anywhere but home, i change every fluid and filter. when i got my ranger, i did

Oil Change
Coolant Flush
Brake Flush
PS Flush
T-Case
Front And Rear Axles
Clutch Fluid (DOT3)
Air Filter
Fuel Filter

 

I have the dealership faxing me a invoice of things performed when they received the vehicle as a trade in. Hopefully they did a few things so I will not have to!

 

ya i still wouldnt trust that..

my truck the guy before had the brakes done about 6 months before i got it...

the driver side caliper was hanging up.. all they did was pad slap it..

rear brakes they didnt even look at and there was no material on the shoe's everything back there was a rusty mess...i had the invoice that said they worked on it and it was inspected... it was done at a ford dealer..

 

Look at this document and tell me what else I need to do then! This is what was performed when the vehicle was taken into inventory.

 

Anyone have any ideas?

 

Did you ask them what all they did on some of those?

Like "automatic trans service", it's just kind of generic. Did they flush it or what did they do?


I would just do everthing they didn't.

 

It really comes down to the condition of each thing. Changing fluids is the number one thing you can do to increase life. Everything else is just a measure of condition / wear.

btw, I personally **never** trust a piece of paper from a dealership. They are sales weenies who are in tune with giving "documents" to customers.
It's akin to asking the fox if the hens are being taken care of.

Rich

 

I would go ahead and change the oil with a full synthetic, that won't cost very much. Check the oil filter, brakes, tranny fluid to see if it smells burnt or looks discolored. I would go ahead and change the diff fluid in at least the rear.