I have an overhead console that has 13 wires, came out of a 97ish ford Explorer. I have identified 8 wires from various forums but the other 5 are never mentioned:

White/Blue
Black/Pink
Green/Yellow
Black/Blue - a heavier gauge than the others probably18
Orange/Yellow

If anyone has information on these wires it would be greatly appreciated.

Those sound like they might be the wires for the Autodimming AutoLamps Mirror, an option that was often present in higher trim Explorer's with the overhead console. These are the color codes for the mirror's connector:

white/purple
black/pink
light green/yellow
black
red/yellow

What controls the temp sensor? you just hook it up and it reads the correct temp? I saw the ranger station how to and it said something about a compass/outside air temperature module.

u gotta calibrate the compass when u first install it but thats it. sometimes it will be in the correct zone anyway.

well what about temperature?

No calibration needed, just wire in the temp sensor

Yeah, it should automatically read the correct temp. if not, (says -20*) you've wired something wrong or the sensor is junk

So what is this module I am talking about?

My dad is helping me out and he doesn't understand how the sensor works. Shouldn't there be a computer controlling the temp sensor?

nah just 2 wires from the sensor need to be mated to the two wires on the harness coming from the OHC. i believe its black/blue stripe and black/yellow stripe but i can't remember. haven't done one in a while.

This is what the temp sensor looks like...
It is located just above where the bumper mounts up. under the driver side headlight.




Also... it hasn't been mentioned, but there are many of these consoles out there with sunroof controls. They have a different bracket. I thought I would just post up some comparison pics, I haven't installed it.

Here is the sunroof console, with the smaller bracket. You can see it has a tab on the front of the console where it mounts. This could probably be stuck into the headliner, or bolted directly to the cab I guess.



Here you can see the difference in the bracket side by side, and the tab on the sunroof console. Both brackets mount to the truck the same, but the usual one is longer and has holes for the console to bolt into.



So, just an FYI. Thought I'd throw it out there. Not sure what it takes to get it in sold, but go for it.

Hi, Skip20 here, new member.
"?" I have the great 2011 Ranger w/4.0.
I did all of the Explorer mod's on my 2006 Ranger w/3.0
Would like to do the same on the 2011.
Already here the overhead console & visors. Looking for the garage door opener.
Also the Leather seats & center console.
"?" The wiring for upper console for the 2011???
Anybody know how for wiring colors & loc., of boxes?

95~01 Explorer Overhead Console into a 07~11 Ranger
per the factory Wiring Diagrams manuals

These two wires run directly between the overhead console and the ambient temperature sensor, completely separate from the truck harness:

• Console temp: Dark Blue/White ---> Temp sensor Dark Blue/White
• Console temp: Dark Blue/Yellow ---> Temp sensor Dark Blue/Yellow

These wires at the console pigtail would need to be extended and tapped into the Ranger's factory wiring:

• Console Power: Grey/Yellow ---> White/Blue (white wire with blue stripe - truck radio harness)
• Console Night Dim: Light Blue/Red or Red/Black ---> Blue/White (blue wire with white stripe - truck radio harness)
• Console Maps: Green/Orange ---> Violet/Red (truck radio harness)
• Console Dome: Black/Blue ---> Green/Blue (above truck's factory dome)
• Console VSS: Grey/Black ---> Violet/Orange (pin #1 of the truck's center PCM connector)
• Console Ground: Black ---> truck chassis ground

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Important note #1:
Notice the difference between the White/Blue and the Blue/White wires in the radio harness as listed above. These are not the same and they are not interchangeable.

• White/Blue = white wire with blue stripe
• Blue/White = blue wire with white stripe

Important note #2:
The PCM is in the PS firewall and has 3 connectors. The center connector has the VT/OR VSS wire at pin 1. The #1 pin location is almost always marked on the connector shell with an embossed "1" if you want to bother looking for it. The alternative is to simply find the color code. If it would be easier, the other end of the same VT/OR wire can be found at the Speed Control Servo on the PS inner fender behind the washer fluid reservoir. There are only about 8 wires to deal with at the servo.

Important note #3:
The 2007~2011 Ranger no longer has practical way to tap into the "Battery Saver" feature for use with the Ex console map lights. So, if a map light is wired to a constant hot (Violet/Red as shown above) and it is inadvertently left on overnight, it could kill the battery. An alternative would be to wire the maps to the keyed console power (White/Blue referenced above). Of course, then the maps would only work with the key in the RUN or ACC position. It's a matter of preference.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cutting headliner and installation of the console bracket:
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/296394/3

Great, thank you. I know the 2011 wiring is different from the 2006 I did.

How bout a cruse control?

Where exactly is the VSS Violet/Orange wire you're talking about rwenzing? I've got a picture here of what I see by the windshield washer fluid reservoir:



I'm not sure if you can see it, but from what I can see, there are at least 2 VT/OR wires here. This is directly behind the washer fluid reservoir. There has to be at least 20 wires there as well.

Another question; is the 4x4 control module in my 2010 the same my GEM module?

2007~2011 Ranger:

The VSS VT/OR is at pin #3 in the speed control connector. It is also at pin #1 of the center connector to the PCM in the PS firewall.


There is no GEM in 2004 and newer Rangers. Your 2010 4x4 Module is inside the dash to the left of the radio.

Thanks Bob, I got it now.

I think my temp sensor is dead because the OHC shows OC instead of a temp. I'm going to try a new temp sensor, hopefully that fixes it.

Should the vss be hooked up on manual transmission Rangers? My temp is accurate but never changes, tried multiple sensors since I have a couple consoles.

Yes for both manual and automatic. If the VSS is not connected, the console will see the truck as not moving and may freeze the temp display. For 2007~11, the conditioned VSS uses a violet/orange wire running around the engine compartment from the PCM to the cruise control servo.

I tapped into it on the passenger side firewall. I don't know why mine is sticking. I wonder if I bumped the wire when I was installing my Muth Mirrors. I'm usually very careful but I was working around that area. I made it a purple wire and it's running down with the sirus antenna so it won't be hard to identify.
Thanks Bob!

What is the violet orange wire on the passenger side kick panel? It appeared to enter from the passenger fender and I thought it was the correct one.

Is there a place where I can tap into the VSS wire in the cab? I really don't want one wire running into the engine bay unless that's what I need to do.

According to the Wiring Manuals, from 2007 on, the VSS that you need is under the hood only. It travels almost all the way around the engine compartment to get from the PCM to the speed control servo.

There's more than one VT/OR wires under the PS kick panel at the SJB but those are not VSS.

Thanks Bob! I appreciate the help, looks like I will have to run a single wire to the engine bay. I guess I could run it along the vacuum tubing for the HVAC

This write up is awesome however all of the pictures are no longer there, is there a way to get the picture reuploaded since this thread is a little older I'm not seeing them.

thanks!

Sadly, the original poster would need to reupload any pictures that are no longer showing. This really sucks when pictures are deleted from the host website. If you need any specific info, I'm sure someone can help point you in the right direction. Quite a few of us are running explorer OHC's in our rangers.