Hello Ranger Enthusiasts

I'm sure many of the frequent users have seen my posts here and there, Yep I'm here for another large (Semi-Large) project. I love my Ranger but I've been longing for power windows, locks, and remote start, ugh! I've never had a vehicle with them and I feel lame without them. I've been doing research for a couple of weeks on here and through Google. This thread by Cody777 is very helpful for OEM power windows and I'm leaning towards doing this. My only issue is attempting to find a whole donor assembly nearby. My local Junk Yards suck because only one I can think of is a U-Pull and its a drive. It'd be a miracle if I could get a whole door with the door panels and hardware for the right price. If I was lucky enough I would be blessed with power locks as well but I haven't found a thread on how to wire up OEM locks. But I could get a conversion kit for less than $100 for the locks. What years for the Ranger would I have to look for for my 2004 Ranger? I think I need the whole door panel and not just the removable trim piece as well because the only Rangers I've seen with power options had the larger grab handle, my photo below will show my door panel with its crappy grab bar that is useless. I may have better luck on Craigslist for OEM parts once I know the range of years specifically.



My Plan B is to use the SPAL Power Window Kit. If I went this route I'd post up a How-To. I've seen many reviews saying the motor fails and starts to slow down. Has anyone here installed them and have had great results for years? The Install seems straight forward and I can mount switches anywhere I want or use a factory switch and door panel if I can locate one. SPAL also has power locks for a reasonable price and I could wire that up to the OEM door panel switches If i managed to find them.

Any more input would be greatful. I'm starting to glaze over looking online for information at this point in time

Thanks,

Rob.

 

I've used SPAL kits for adding power windows to two different F150's, and the results were great for me. First truck got "donated" to my son, who totaled it in 3 months, so I can't tell you the power windows lasted long in it, but I installed the same SPAL kit in my 2005 F150; had them in that truck for over 5 years without a glitch. I plan to install a SPAL kit in my 2000 Ranger one of these days. In Florida, we very rarely roll down the windows, as the A/C is almost always running!

Stay away from the real cheap window kits that look like the SPAL kits; they use a cheap ribbed plastic belt from the motor to the "driven" gear that will snap over time. The SPAL kits use a much stronger belt ribbed plastic, and it will not snap on you.

Also, if your manual cranking windows operate easily and smoothly, then so will the window kits. While you have the door panels off to install everything, make sure your window tracks are nice and clean of all the old grease, grime, and dirt, then relube the tracks with some clean fresh stuff. In buying the SPAL kits, be sure they come with the switches; I see a lot of these kits going for a decent price, but on those, they don't include the winow switches, and they can add another 30 bucks; just be sure before you hit the "buy now" button!