Hello all, I am having an issue with my speedometer on my 96 Ranger xlt. Here is what happened this morning: I let home to go to walmart. On the way I noticed the speedometer was still laying on 0 mph but all other gauges were working fine. After doing my shopping I started back home. Speedometer still read 0 mph until I had driven about a mile and it started working again. It gives the correct speed as I checked it with my gps. In reading it looks like it could be a speed sensor or possibly a lose connector on the back of the cluster.

Would appreciate any suggestions or ideas.

 

In a 1996 if its the speed sensor(on the tail shaft of transmission, 2WD) then computer will have a P0500 Code, have it checked
P0500 means no speed signal at the computer

Also does the Odometer stop working when speedo does?
If its a wiring issue then BOTH would stop working, they share the same 1 wire connection on the back of the cluster

But speedo and odo each have their own electric motor on the cluster, if speedo motor was going bad then odo would still work

 

RonD---I will check out the odo later today and get back to you. I hope it's the sensor as I really don't cherrish the thought of pulling the cluster, but if I must, I will.

 

RonD---Just checked and the odo and trip meters are both working.

 

Well you didn't say when speedo is not working?

So if speedo is not working and odometer IS working then speed sensor is fine, problem is in the cluster, speedo motor maybe

Its probably easier to swap out the whole cluster, 1995-2003 Ranger clusters are interchangeable, plug and play, odometer is the big deal, hard to roll back or forward
Also if you have a tachometer, or want one, then 4cyl or V6 matters, but its just a change of one ground wire on the cluster wiring, not at all hard to do
All Rangers were wired for a Tachometer, just the cluster was different, tach or no tach

 

RonD---I'm going to need to do another check on the first part and determine if the speedometer and odo are both working at the same time. I don't drive the truck every day so it may be a few days. Also, this southern california heat kills me, drains the strength right out of me, so I don't go out unless I have to. The next 4 days are supposed to be between 102 and 108 degrees. I will check it out if I can gather the strength and get back to you.

 

RonD--Drove the truck 6 miles yesterday making several stops. Speedometer, odo and trip meter all worked all the time. I have an OBD meter and will check to see if there are any error codes showing. If the issue occurs again I will just replace the sensor (easiest) and go from there.

 

In 1996 its the sensor on the transmission NOT rear axle
And give the gear a good look, make sure its tight on the shaft

VSS looks like this in a 1996 Ranger: https://www.therangerstation.com/tec...s_withgear.JPG

Gear is removable, you transfer it over to new VSS

 

RonD--Over the past couple of weeks I have noticed that the speedometer will not rise from "0" until I drive a little ways which I think indicates it will start working after the tranny warms up.
I went by my O'Rielly auto parts this morning and told the guy I wanted a speed sensor for the 1996 Ford Ranger XLT. The sensor he sold me does not look like the one you showed me. The one I got does not have a gear on it, just some sort of magnetic pickup. I guess the best thing to do is take the old one off in the morning and if it does not match the one I bought I will get on my 3 wheel scooter and off to O'Reilly's I will go.

 

Well trans temp wouldn't effect any year's speedometer, doesn't work that way, sensor temp maybe, but thats a stretch

You need the one in picture for a 1995-1997 Ranger
Can look like this without the gear attached: https://cdn.1aauto.com/partimage/TRS...9ef5bc_235.jpg

In 1998-2000 Ranger used the rear axle ABS sensor for speed, looks like this: https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon...._AC_SX425_.jpg

This is NOT what you want, 2001 and up used similar but on transmission, OSS sensor

 

The all black one is the one I got. Should have taken the old one off before going to parts store. I will take the old one off in the morning and take both back to the parts store. If changing out the sensor doesn't fix the issue then the next step is replace the cluster AGAIN! If I do replace the cluster I will get one with a tach this time.

 

RonD---I just removed the speed sensor from the side of the tranny and removed the worm gear (see photo). As soon as the parts store opens I will return the one I bought and get the correct one. Will come home and install the new one. Will keep an eye on the needle for several days to see if the issue is fixed. If not, replace the cluster again.
This be the one.

 

Yes, that's the one, and it looks like it has been changed already, not all black, so this may have been a problem to previous owner

You can use a VOLT meter set to AC Volts, and use a drill to spin the shaft, should see under 3vAC that varies as you change drill speed, the speedometer doesn't use the voltage, it uses the Sine wave of the AC voltage that goes from + to - voltage, so its a pulse count, Ford uses 8,000PPM, pulse per mile as the speed synchronize number
If AC Volts suddenly drop to 0 at lower RPMs of drill that would indicate a problem with that sensor

Give the 2 wires for the VSS a good look, no frays, one of the wires, usually pink, should show as a ground, the other is the pulse signal, system only uses 1/2 the Sine Wave, the + side

 

RonD---I went several days and each day when I pulled out the speedometer worked as it should. This morning I pulled out and for about a half block the needle stayed below "0". Then it popped up to the speed I was actually going (20mph). Do you think the needle might be sticking in the "0" position? Would it be worth pulling the cluster and lubricating the needle shaft? I do have a gps installed on the dash and could go by that as all other gauges are working fine. It also appears the odometer and trip meter are working correctly.

 

I wouldn't think the needle, could be the speedometer's electric motor, never tried to swap one before, general speaking a "used" new cluster is best

 

OK, I will think about that.

 

I’ve took out my cluster & the gear was not broken. Both of my odometer n speedometer aren’t working. I then took off the speed sensor on my rear diff lock but it was not broken but i replaced with a duralast sensor But still nothing is working.. any help? 98 ford ranger 4x4 v6 3.0.

 

Please start your own thread
Go here, click on 'NEW THREAD"

 

Could be the speedometer motor? That and and computer module are about the only things left.
Hopefully, RonD will respond, he is pretty sharp on this stuff and has helped me a bunch.

 

Yes start your own thread next time

Welcome to the forum

In 1998-2000 Ranger the GEM module converts the speed signal

BUT............................if GEM wasn't working you would have a P0500 code in the computer AND CEL(check engine light) would be ON all the time

Since there is no reported P0500 code then rear axle sensor is OK, and GEM Module is OK
So that leaves wiring to cluster, IF................BOTH Speedo and Odo are not working, speedo/odo share the ONE speed signal wire from GEM

Wouldn't be speed or odo motors since each has its own motor

Wiring or "pin" on the cluster plug is the issue

 

thanks alot guys, no check light is on. i started my own thread

 

RonD--Thought I would post an update to my speedometer problem:
I changed out the speed sensor at the transmission and had the tranny flushed and a new filter installed. The truck shifts much better now and I had one instance of the speedo needle staying at "0" and it jumped up in place after a block. Haven't had an issue since and I have driven the truck at least 20 times.

Thanks for all your help and advice.

 

Good stuff

Thanks for the update