I have a 96 2.3 ranger and I took the OHC out of a 98 explorer to do the OHC swap. After following the article from therangerstation, I reconnected the battery but it would not maintain power. I had to fidget with the terminals to keep power on and every time the power went back on I would hear a click. All interior lights would turn on except the radio and new console. I am currently looking back at all my connections. I am not 100% certain that I have a good ground for the ohc power, could that be causing my issue? Anything helps.

 

Just trying to get stuff straight, your post isn't very clear

You have a 96 Ranger that had a 2.3 in it

Did you put a 4.0 OHV (overhead valve) or a 4.0 SOHC single overhead cam) in your truck ? because the 98 Explorer had both types of 4.0's in it

 

Sorry for the vagueness, I put the overhead console from an explorer in the ranger.

 

Check your ground and also check the fuse for the radio.

 

checking the ground now, it was previously grounded poorly to the painted body (dumb move I know) I am moving it up to the mounting bracket for the console. I’ll check the fuse too, thanks.

 

I think I fixed the ground because power is on when the doors are open, but every time I go to crank it over the power cuts out. Anything I need to look at? The truck runs fine with the console disconnected. Please help this idiot

 

Seeing that you disconnected your battery, and have to fidget with the terminals, I'd say you have a loose or dirty connection at the battery.

 

Cleaned the battery terminals with a wire brush and the truck has no more issues with the console disconnected.

Below are the pictures of my connections



-black and light blue wire from ohc harness to the black and light blue dome light wire
-light green and orange ohc harness wire to light green and orange dome light wire

- red and black wire to the light blue and red
-grey and yellow spliced to the yellow and black for the constant power
-grey and black harness tapped to the grey and black wire for the VSS

- ground wire (I am not positive on this, but other people said that they used it)

I believe the connections are all correct, but correct me if I am wrong. I am also going to test to see if the console will power up tonight by bench testing it.

 

These are from my notes when I installed it in my 2011

Black................Ground

Gray/yellow..........Key on power
Lightgreen/orange....Constant power
Red/Black............Dash lights

Gray/Black...........VSS

Black/lightblue......Dome Light

I don't have the wiring diagram for a 96 Ranger, so I don't know what color wires to connect to.

I just know I got the "Key On Power", "Constant Power" and "Dash Lights" from the back of the radio.

 

This helps a lot. I think the constant power is incorrectly connected.

 

2011supercab, please tell me where I can locate the VSS wire bundle so I can tap into the gray/black wiring. I too have a 2011 Ford Ranger super cab Sport and have installed. 2003 Ford Explorer OHC and need to wire the temp. Gauge to work properly. John

 

Connect at the SJB.
The center connector has the VT/OR VSS wire at pin 1

 

Thank you! SJB IS SERVO JUNCTION BOX correct? Which is in the engine bay near the cruse control system?

 

NO,

SJB, (smart junction box) is inside cab behind passenger kick panel.

 

Michael, thank you so much the picture is worth a thousand words 🤙