Hi, I have a 99 Ranger XLT extended cab 4X4 with a 3.0 flex fuel motor. The body has about 325 K on it and this motor has about 175 K on it. I have had the truck for about 9 years and it's my daily driver. Most of the time now when I start it the check engine light comes on because my gauges aren't working. The oil pressure gauge reads at zero, the fuel gauge zero, the electric zero and the tach either reads zero or bounces a little. When I start driving they start working normally and the check engine light goes off. The first time this happened I saw the check engine light while I was driving and the first gauge I looked at was oil pressure which showed no pressure and I pulled over right there and shut the truck off. I checked the oil and it was right where it should be. I do my own oil changes with full synthetic and use wix filters. I have gotten so used to the problem that I don't pay much attention which is not a good thing. I don't have any idea what would cause this issue. My cruise control no longer works but it may not be related, or it may lol. If anyone has had this problem or can point me in the right direction it would be much appreciated.

 

Welcome to the forum

Its not the CEL(check engine light) thats coming on, its the CHECK GAUGE light thats coming on, BIG DIFFERENCE in these two lights

CEL comes on with key on, and then goes off after engine starts to crank and then start
CEL will come on after startup if there are Trouble Codes in memory, codes come from engine computer and it has no connection to the gauges on the dash in a 2003 and earlier Ranger
If it is the CEL thats on then get the codes read and write them down, but nothing to do with the dash gauges

I would change the oil pressure switch behind passenger side head to see if oil gauge starts to work again, common failure on the 3.0l

Check or replace fuses 11, 15 and 25, all 7.5amp, in the cab fuse box, they power the dash, if volt gauge shows 0 then fuse is bad or cluster is

The anti-slosh module is plugged into the back side of the cluster(dash) and was a known issue on all Fords, and would cause fuel gauge to read EMPTY
So if fuses are OK then I think the cluster will need to come out

You can use a 1996-2003 Ranger dash to replace yours, plug and play

If you have the cluster out replace all 6 back lights

 

Sounds like the Cluster FlexCircuit+Connectors+Sockets could all use a good Cleaning\Tightening.
Might as well replace all 16 of the T5mm Sylvania 906\912 DutyBulbs & 6 T10mm Sylvania 161\194 BackBulbs,
while your there. More info at
https://2001fordexplorersporttrac.fa...ical_DashLamps
Hope this helps.

 

I will try all of the suggestions thank you. My lights for the gauges are definitely not all working so replacing all the bulbs with new makes sense.

 

If all 6 bulbs are out my bet is a blown fuse or 2