Hi all I have a 2000 ford ranger that I just completed my 5.0 2wd swap and it drives amazing, compared to the 3.0 in it before. I am currently having a few issues I havetwo codes right now P1729 and P0500. verified the computer was removed from a 2000 ford explorer 2wd. Also read in another thread that I just have to tap into a grey/ black wire and run it to pin 58 on the engine harness if that's true. I am also looking for info on how to change the tire size since I upgraded to 31x10.50x15 wheels and my speedo/ odometer are off and want to fix this. All help is greatly appreciated, I have tried to use forscan, but no luck.

 

Yes, in a 2000 Ranger the GEM Module behind the radio has the Speed signal OUT that goes to speedometer cruise and computer, a grey/black stripe wire to all
The Explorer used the 4WABS module for speed signal

So yes, splice/tap the GEM, speedo or cruise's grey/black wire and hook it to grey/black wire on pin 58 of new computer

OK, problem with the 1998-2000 Ranger is that the GEM is where tire size, RPM-revolutions per mile, is used to calibrate speed OUT
And you needed a Ford New Generation Star (NGS) Tester to "talk" with GEM
1983 to 1997 used speed gear so easy to change gears
2001-2011 used Computer so you could use Forscan to calibrate

Its the pesky 1998-2000 that is the problem, and a Ford Dealer may calibrate it for you but.......................they may say no, but would for sure charge you if they did, and if it didn't work they would still charge you because its a Modified Ranger

So what's a fellow to do?
you can get a speed signal interface, like the SGI-5E or SGI-100BT(newer model)
These can be hooked up at the GEM because it has the IN speed signal, and the OUT speed signal wires
IN comes from rear axle ABS sensor at 25,000PPM(pulse per mile), the Ford system uses 8,000PPM, so the GEM converted IN 25k to OUT 8k with tires size RPMs
The SGI-5E does the same thing but its adjustable so you can calibrate to any size tire

There are other speed interfaces on the market, this is the only one I have used and it worked fine, totally different application but on a Ford

Need 3 wires for speed, IN, OUT, ground
Then 2 wires for "key on 12v" and power ground

 

Ok so I did the wire splice from wire 1 on the gem module and connected it to pin 58 in the explorer computer. I'm still getting a p01729 with no p0500. I know that the computer came from a 2wd explorer since I pulled it from the junkyard myself. What else could cause this code. Also getting new codes now of p0136, p0141, p0156, I have installed new downstream o2 sensors in both banks. I also checked both fuses for the heated oxygen sensor elements and those check out fine. I used a test light on the bank 1 sensor 2, but I don't know what wire colors go to power, ground and information to the pcm. If I could get any help with these issues that would be great as I am getting close to the CA bar referee and can't have an codes in the pcm to pass. I also have the p1000 code, but I'm guessing that one is showing since all the other codes are popping up.

 

P0136 02 Sensor Circuit Malfunction (Bank I Sensor 2)
P0141 02 Sensor Heater Circuit Malfunction (Bank 1 Sensor 2)
This is the same sensor so 99.9% a wiring harness issue

P0156 02 Sensor Circuit Malfunction (Bank 2 Sensor 2)

Sensor "2's" are the downstream sensors
Bank 2 Sensor 2 is only found on Dual Exhaust systems

Circuit malfunction usually means a broken wire in side the sensor or in the harness
141 could also mean bad fuse for heater but there would be multiple O2 "heater" codes since they share heater fuses

I will upload the 4 wiring diagrams I have for 2000 Explorer V8, have to do in 2 posts


P1729 4x4L Switch Error <<< can't even guess on this one if Computer is from a 2WD vehicle????
Maybe after fixing the harness it will also go away

Yes, P1000 means Computer was unplugged from power long enough to lose its Memory, so needs 2 or 3 drive cycles to retest emissions system, and it can't complete all the tests if Downstream O2s are not working

This is the Ford Drive Cycle tests: Ford Motor Company Driving Cycle

 

These are the other 2 diagrams for the 2000 V8

 

Well took the harness for the transmission apart and found a few wires broken and open, fixed those and seems to have fixed the o2 sensor codes. I still have the p1729 code coming up though which like I have said the computer and even the harnesses came from a 2wd explorer and my ranger did not have this code till after the swap. I've looked online, on mustangs they say its cluster related and on other vehicles they say its transmission problem related. The p1729 code is the only code showing now besides the p1000 code which should go away after the system hits the reset mileage. Anyone have any ideas as to what would cause the p1729 on a 2wd setup.

 

P1729 would be from GEM module, but I wouldn't think a 2000 2WD Ranger GEM would set that code
The GEM sees NO GROUND on pin 22 when transmission is NOT in Neutral, then sees a ground when in Neutral, to allow shifting to 4low
If that wire was shorted to ground full time I could see it setting that code

Not well versed on GEM software, maybe that circuit is still active on any GEM, 2wd or 4x4, don't know

As far as I know the PCM has no 4WD functions, in any year Ranger or Explorer, the GEM or a separate 4WD controller had all the 4WD functions

Below is the 4WD wiring for 2000 Ranger
The red/white wire from transmission DTR is the Neutral detection circuit

 

Could a bad neutral safety switch or transmission range sensor cause a p1729? If I'm looking to check for an open ground in the wiring would I just probe the red/ white wire?

 

Also the p0500 code came back today, even with the jumper wire to the gem module. The speedometer works still, going to install a conversion device soon for the larger tires I have on the truck. Any other causes of the p0500 code? Checked the neutral safety switch and it was slightly out of alignment, fixed that so we will see about the p1729 code. did'nt find any broken wires in the transmission harness and didn't have these issues with the 3.0.

 

P0500 is only from engine computer, not GEM


P1729 4x4L Switch Error
This code can be generated by GEM so could just be a mismatch in wiring between models
It is odd, not sure why its generating that code in 2WD GEM and PCM

 

I’m in CA too and trying a legal swap aswell.
I have. 2000 XL 2wd 2.5L 5speed coil suspension and a 2000 2wd donor. I am a little further behind as I’m strapped for time right now.

Have you gone to a ref yet? Or called them to see if they would let you even do it. One road block I came in to is the ref was telling me that since my truck is LTD1 and the 5.0 Expo is LTD2 that the swap is a no-go, even though the guidelines are not written that way and they could not provide me any further citation of why I cannot do the swap.

PM me if you want to take it private.

 

I haven't ref yet, still trying to diagnose the p1729 code and the p0500 code before I take the vehicle in for inspection. When I explained to the guy on the phone about my swap he didn't mention anything about it not being able to be approved. He said I had to do everything from a list he sent me.
1. Copy of your vehicle registration
2. We need to know the year, make, and model of the donor vehicle where the new engine came from and we need to know the engine size.
3. We also need a copy of a Ford dealer invoice showing that the engine control module has the correct program for the engine installed.
4. If you have the donor vehicle identification number, please send it.
5. Additionally, we need proof that all OBD monitors have completed and that there are no trouble codes.
This is what I received after talking on the phone with the ref, he also said their can be no error codes in the pcm or else that is an automatic fail.

 

I also have no clue what they mean by LTD1 and LTD2.

 

Rond Would you happen to have the wiring diagram for a 2wd explorer 2000 and a 2000 ranger 2wd wiring? Where can I get the wiring diagrams from? I also swapped out the neutral safety switch with a new one and the truck wouldn't start at all. I placed the original one back in and the truck started no problem. I also verified that the shifter cable and the neutral switch were perfectly aligned.

 

You need one of these for the 2000 Explorer: https://www.ebay.com/itm/2000-Ford-E....c100012.m1985

And one of these for the 2000 Ranger: https://www.ebay.com/itm/2000-FORD-R...-/143501672450

These books are "free", or cheap, because you can resell them when you are done using them

P0500 is from the explorer computer's Pin 58 not being hooked up to 2000 Ranger GEM speed signal
On Explorers pin 58 was the speed signal from the 4 wheel ABS unit
Rangers used speed signal from GEM pin 1 in 18 wire connector
Both wires are grey/black stripe
You need to spice the two wires together, tap the GEM wire, as its runs to speedo and cruise which you still needed, lol, well speedo for sure

P1729 4x4L Switch Error
very very odd code, might be because one of the PCM wires has been connected in error, i.e. engine PCM harness connectors are plugged in to Ranger harness but a wire needs to be re-pinned

 

SO oddly I have already done the wire splice from pin 1 on the gem module to pin 58 on the ecm and the code is still showing. I ordered the speedometer calibration device SGI-100BT today. The transmission harness and the harness from the ecm to the transmission bulk connector have been checked and no broken wires. Perfect thanks for the links I will look into them tonight, hope to get this truck ready to go CA referee.

 

Sorry I got the abbreviation wrong.

So, the swap guidelines say that you can not move a “heavier duty” engine in to a lighter duty car. For example you could not use a F150 5.0L for a ranger swap as the F150 is a medium duty and ALL rangers are light duty. The duty rating is based on GVWR.

This sub classification of LDT1/2 is based on “loaded weight” (curb weight plus 300 lbs), which is different than GVWR. Light-duty truck (LDT) 1 if loaded vehicle weight (LVW) = 3,750; LDT 2 if LVW > 3,750. There can be LDT2 rangers but they are probably 4.0 supercab 4x4s.

However, both LDT1/2 roll up under the Light duty truck rating of less than 6000 GVWR.

Anyways, the ref and I got into it on the phone. Nothing was resolved, the ref basically closed our call with my truck was LDT1 and my donor was LDT2, and since LDT2 can pollute more than 1, that would not be in the spirit of the swap to put a dirtier engine in. Everyone I’ve shown the relevant pages in all the guidelines side with me.

I also asked on a FB ranger V8 swap group and I have not found someone with a recently issued sticker yet.

 

Also, out of curiosity did you swap the charcoal canisters, or other EVAP stuff, that’s pretty relevant for ref inspection from my understanding.

 

All the evap stuff has been swapped over from an explorer to my ranger, so no problems there. I do know that a guy near me sold his 5.0 swapped ranger like 5 months ago with tags on it, so he passed the ref, I wasn't able to talk to him though. Yeah my ranger was a 3.0 2wd ranger xlt with the ext cab so I have no clue on the ldt1 and 2, the guy I talked to didn't say anything about it being incompatible based off the ldt.

 

sorry to derail, your original post, I have not found anyone also trying to do a BAR inspected swap recently.

When I spoke to the ref they did not mention that. Do you know what it is exactly and how to get it?

I have the title from my donor in my name but this is the first I herd of this one.

With a legit engine change BAR sticker?

 

yes so basically they want the vin number from the donor vehicle to confirm that it matches what you are trying to change the smog to if that makes sense. It allows them to pull up the smog info for that year vehicle and what to look for emissions numbers wise and what had to be changed in order to approve the swap. Correct I believe the other guy in my area that sold his truck had that sticker since he had current registration and smog had already been done for the buyer. Yeah doing a bar referee kind of sucks to a point, this is my second one I'm doing. I did one 7 years ago in my camaro, so I have a general idea on what they are looking for. The guy I talked to also said after I sent in all that information in and it got verified I would then be setup for a date to go in and have the ranger tested.

 

That is good to know it is possible.

Sounds like I am good, to my knowledge my donor VIN passed its last smog, and I am in possession of a physical title in my name, although I have already junked the rolling shell and the title through a salvage yard. I had no space to keep the roller anywhere.

I will have to keep tabs on your thread and progress.

I think, the ref I spoke to was just trying to discourage me, as most swaps probably don’t pass and are a “waste of their time”.

I have another question for you, did your truck have PATS already? Or what did you do about PATS?

 

So my truck had PATS already in it, the only rangers that didn't have it were the 4 cylinder vehicles. You have two options I believe you can either try to find someone who does custom tuning and have them delete pats from the computer. The other option is to install PATS into your ranger, here is a member I found from this site that installed pats into his non pats ranger.
https://www.ranger-forums.com/8-cyli...llation-48794/
When I did my last swap the inspectors weren't that versed in my vehicle, and they weren't really all that thrilled to have to do a referee on my vehicle. I passed the visual inspection and the electronic test they do, but failed the smog portion due to the wrong file in the ecu for a different vehicle. Lets just say the lead inspector was not very happy about that with me. Funny though got it fixed with the help of a local dyno tuner, who found out it had the wrong engine file in the ecu for a truck engine and not a camaro, after this was fixed I went back and passed the smog portion and the same guy was all happy. I would also say know where all the emissions stuff is and evap and all that, because like I said earlier the inspectors couldn't find a lot of stuff on my other swap, even though it was all mounted in the stock locations.

 

Could the p0500 and the p1729 codes be related since the pcm isn't getting a reading apparently based off the p0500 code and that would cause the computer to not know when to shift the transmission based off speed, rpm and throttle position? Could a bulb be out in the cluster and cause the p1729 due to insufficient voltage, since the gauge cluster was from a different ranger with a tachometer? I looked at the wiring harnesses for both a 2000 ranger, explorer and a 2001 explorer and all the wiring for the transfer case/ 4x4 is the same.

 

When I spoke to the Ref they said I would need the ECU rom verified at the dealer and that they did not have the ability to verify that, is that accurate from your experience?

I know about custom tunes, I came from the Subaru world where I know how to permanently delete codes and force readiness monitors on with the open source editors, but changes to those parameters usually messed with the checksum on the rom file and you get caught right there for the verification.

My long term goal was to make the truck manual again if I got a sticker and edit the rom, so I have been looking into Ford rom editing already.