FYI IT DOES NOT MATTER IF YOU DO OR DON'T USE CRUISE CONTROL! YOU COULD STILL BE IN DANGER!

Ford has been investigating 3.7 million pickups and sport utility vehicles because the cruise-control switch was linked to engine fires. Now it is learned that the switch is on at least 6 million additional Ford vehicles.
No engine fires have been linked to the cruise-control switch in the additional models yet, but the models in question are the 1992-2002 years of the Explorer, Econoline van, Mercury Mountaineer, Ford Ranger, Windstar, and Explorer Sport Trac.
The switch is question was made by Texas Instruments and was discontinued midway through the 2002 model year and replaced by another manufacturer.

Full story

 

i have a switch even though i dont have cruise control but i dont know if mine is the one made by TI since it is a late 2002 model

 

According to the article they switch mid 2002 so if that's true I could guess you don't have the problem but you could always call Ford to ask.

 

My build date is 8/2002 so I guess I'm probably good.

 

I guess i am cool since mine is a 2003. How would I find my build date just for fun.

 

the build month is on the vin sticker on your door jam... not sure on the day of the month though

 

It's on the sticker that has different specs on the drivers side b-pillar. Open your door and look at the pillar. It's usually at the upper left corner (looking at it oriented to reading it properly) of the sticker.

Edit: Ya' beat me, Billy!

 

He's a quick one...

 

 

On a 2001~2003 Ranger, there is a Deactivator Switch even if you don't have speed control. It is an input to the ABS module as well as the speed control. You'll see it on the front of the master cylinder with brown and black/yellow wires going to it.

It appears that Ford changed two things late in the 2002 MY. One was the switch vendor as noted above. The other is how the Deactivator Switch gets its power. Earlier trucks have power to the switch at all times. After a midyear change, the switch was assigned to a different fuse that is powered only when the ignition switch is on.

So, 2003-on Ranger should be in good shape along with some of the later 2002's. But you need to verify that with the dealer to be sure.

Other Ford vehicles and Rangers from other years have a variety of switch configurations. Some have NO switches and some NC. Some switches are hot all the time, some have keyed B+.

IMO, This won't be over until Ford recalls all of the suspect switches.

 

i agree but i dont see this happening for a while

 

Mazda B-Series affected?

 

Well crap, mine was built late March of 2002... Who do I talk to about this?
-- B

 

Call your dealer. It's a recall item so it shoudn't cost you a dime. They should schedule a time for you to come in and get it taken care of.

 

AFAIK, Ford has not recalled Rangers for this.

 

2004 are safe aren't they?

 

Nope..it is FOR SURE going to blow up if you replace more than 1 alternat....uh oh...TY RUN!!!!

hehe...according to the news story the manufacturer changed in 2002 so you should be fine but I'm no official source..

 

Sorry, my bad! I thought that's what was being said and I didn't follow up on it myself.

 

Depends on how you drive it, Ty...

 

very funny Both of you :P

My driving is not hazardous to my truck but tow trucks sure are lmao

 

That's for Ford to say but you should have a different switch part number, a dedicated fuse for the switch and power off with key off - all of which sound like good things. That's if your truck is equipped with speed control.

If you do not have speed control on a 2004+, it is quite possible that you don't have the deactivation switch at all.

 

No I dont have cruise control so hopefully no deactivation switch either thanks :)

 

glad i aint got this problem

 

on the only 2005 i have seen there is no switch so i would think the 04's without cruise are okay as well

 

Looks like I'm okay...

The way it was originally posted, looked like 92-02 models.