Hey, y'all. Thanks for letting me join the Ranger Station forum. I will probably be asking for some tips along the way, and offering up my own experience. I just recently got a 99 Ranger XLT, 4.0, Extended Cab 4x4. It is my second Ranger. My other was a 2000 XLT, 3.0 Ext, Cab, Stepside 2WD. I had a weak moment one day, and traded it for an Explorer. That won't happen again! I currently live in Concord, NC, near Charlotte Motor Speedway. I'm a Die-Hard Ford Guy, having 5 Blue Ovals & a Mercury between us. I'm also President of the Ford Owners Association of The Carolinas. Anyway, thanks again!

 

Welcome to the forum

4.0l OHV engine is a good one, used from 1990 to 2000 in Rangers
As is the 1999 Ranger chassis, 3rd generation, 1998 to 2012

1999 Ranger 4x4's used PVH(pulse vacuum hubs) on front axle, a goof by Ford engineers, it happens, lol.
Anyway they only used them from 1998 to 2000, and some 4.0l models got the 2001 Live Axles starting as early as 1999.
If you still have PVH and you will being using, or depending on, 4WD then you will want to look at switching them over to AVM/Rugged Ridge manual hubs, thats the only model that will fit the 1998 to 2000 front axle

2001 Ranger 4x4s, and up, all got Live Axles up front, always locked hubs

1999 was also the first year of PATS in Rangers with V6 engines, PATS = passive anti-theft system
In the key is an RFID tag with a unique number, when you turn the key to RUN an antenna(transceiver) around the key cylinder "reads" the RFID tag number
PATS Module above Glove box compares that number to the 3 key numbers it was programmed with at the factory
If there is a match the PATS module sends the "OK to start" to the PCM(engine computer)
If no match then PATS Module doesn't do anything and PCM will never turn on the fuel injectors, or fuel pump.
PATS Module and PCM are also "married" at the factory, so if you have to change either, only a Ford Dealer can "remarry" the new part.

1999/2000 Rangers have type B PATS, separate module, in 2001 and up Rangers got type E PATS so PCM had PATS built-in, no separate module, 4cyl Duratec Rangers also got PATS at that time

Some years also had a Starter Motor interrupt, so if no Key match then start motor would also not work.

So you MUST HAVE a spare WORKING PATS key
If you only have 1 working key and you lose it you will be paying a tow bill or a mobile locksmith with Ford software to come out to make you a new key and ADD IT to PATS modules memory.

Most locksmiths have the Ford software, they can plug in to your Ranger's OBD2 port in the cab and add new RFID tag numbers to memory
And doesn't cost that much if you come to them, if they have to come to you then it costs, lol.

PATS keys can also be CLONED, locksmiths can do that as well, it is less expensive
BLANK Ford RFID tag keys are available, they can be imprinted with your WORKING key's RFID tag number, so same number on both keys, or 3 keys, a CLONED key.
Then cut to match doors and ignition

Nothing bad or "illegal" in cloning keys as long as you have proof of ownership, same thing locksmiths want when cutting any keys, when locksmith cuts any key using another key as the pattern he is "cloning it" RFID tag or not, lol


FORD = First On Race Day

Found On Road Dead = Chevy, yes they don't know how to spell at GM either, idiots, lol.