2000 Ranger 3.0L. I have a fuse that burns out. The fuse (#26) runs the power windows, dome light, GEM (which effects the speed sensor and therefore automatic shifting when the fuse is blown), and instrument cluster. It does not blow immediately and I am trying to recreate the series of events that causes the fuse to blow.

Can anyone tell me the best way to track down the short? I have the electrical schematics just not sure where to start.

Also, the speedometer seems to not be working. It does not go to zero and when speeding up it jumps by 10 or 15 mph rather than smoothly moving. Could the speedometer cause the short?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

replace the vss/abs sensor on top of the differential. from memory undo the electrical connection there is 1 10m bolt, take the bolt out and pop the sensor out CLEAN ALL AROUND THE AREA VERY WELL. puts some oil on the oring and pop it back in. on the 98, 99 and 2000 the abs/vss in the differential controls the abs and feeds info to the pcm which then screws up the shifting on your auto tranny. Do you have 2wd?

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2004 Ext Cab, 4WD, 4.0, Auto, 154k. (4.0 engine is out of a 2009 Ranger w/96k) ( as of 7/1/2017)

2004 Ranger, Ext Cab, 2WD, 3.0, 5 speed , 4WABS, crank windows, no cruise, Edge 116k.(6/5,2014) (SOLD).
1999 Ford Ranger, Reg Cab, 2.5, 5 speed, 2WD, no AC, 150k (SOLD).

also do you know if you have rear abs or 4 wheel abs. I also suggest to people to check your differential fluid while you are around there.

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2004 Ext Cab, 4WD, 4.0, Auto, 154k. (4.0 engine is out of a 2009 Ranger w/96k) ( as of 7/1/2017)

2004 Ranger, Ext Cab, 2WD, 3.0, 5 speed , 4WABS, crank windows, no cruise, Edge 116k.(6/5,2014) (SOLD).
1999 Ford Ranger, Reg Cab, 2.5, 5 speed, 2WD, no AC, 150k (SOLD).

Thanks. I already changed the ABS Speed Sensor (should have mentioned that). The computer code came up intially and said that was the problem. I may pull that out again and look at how clean it is. I don't think I cleaned the area very well when I install the new one. I'm not sure about which brakes I have. I think just the rear ABS but not 100% sure.

They are sensitive. I also would check the contact on the wire and make sure they are clean. clean the area well around the sensor. if there is junk lifting the senor up it can screw it up. look for damge on the wire also. a damaged wire could be shorting it out.

I also have my own theory that is not backed up by any data. I had an issue with the abs/vss sensors on my truck not lasting. the last time it went out I checked my diff fluid and it was down a quart i filled it up and the sensor has been fine for 6 months.

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2004 Ext Cab, 4WD, 4.0, Auto, 154k. (4.0 engine is out of a 2009 Ranger w/96k) ( as of 7/1/2017)

2004 Ranger, Ext Cab, 2WD, 3.0, 5 speed , 4WABS, crank windows, no cruise, Edge 116k.(6/5,2014) (SOLD).
1999 Ford Ranger, Reg Cab, 2.5, 5 speed, 2WD, no AC, 150k (SOLD).

Thanks again! I'll check the VSS again for junk and also the fluid level while I'm there.

look for a damaged wire on the, some place where it might have gotten squished. plus when did you put the new abs/vss sensor in? when you changed it did anything change? did it work for a week?

* I also vaguely remeber reading something about wire harnesses right above where the fuel filter is on the drivers side rail?. this might not pertain to your truck

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2004 Ext Cab, 4WD, 4.0, Auto, 154k. (4.0 engine is out of a 2009 Ranger w/96k) ( as of 7/1/2017)

2004 Ranger, Ext Cab, 2WD, 3.0, 5 speed , 4WABS, crank windows, no cruise, Edge 116k.(6/5,2014) (SOLD).
1999 Ford Ranger, Reg Cab, 2.5, 5 speed, 2WD, no AC, 150k (SOLD).

I put the new VSS in just last week. When I did there wsa no change. It turned out that the fuse was blown (which I didn't know at the time). For all I know, the VSS was fine and the blown fuse messed up the GEM and caused the shifting issues.
Once the fuse was replaced, everything except the speedometer worked great for a day or 2, then the fuse went out again. Replaced that again and it has been doing OK since (except the speedometer).

when the fuse was blown did the speedo work at all? since you put the new fuse in is the shifting issue gone?. I suggest that the speedo issue has a 99% chance of being related to the abs/vss sensor or the wires that go to it. did you get the correct sensor? what brand?

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2004 Ext Cab, 4WD, 4.0, Auto, 154k. (4.0 engine is out of a 2009 Ranger w/96k) ( as of 7/1/2017)

2004 Ranger, Ext Cab, 2WD, 3.0, 5 speed , 4WABS, crank windows, no cruise, Edge 116k.(6/5,2014) (SOLD).
1999 Ford Ranger, Reg Cab, 2.5, 5 speed, 2WD, no AC, 150k (SOLD).

I don't know if it is always necessary but whenever i changed a sensor I unplug the neg battery cable for 15 minutes to reboot the pcm.

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2004 Ext Cab, 4WD, 4.0, Auto, 154k. (4.0 engine is out of a 2009 Ranger w/96k) ( as of 7/1/2017)

2004 Ranger, Ext Cab, 2WD, 3.0, 5 speed , 4WABS, crank windows, no cruise, Edge 116k.(6/5,2014) (SOLD).
1999 Ford Ranger, Reg Cab, 2.5, 5 speed, 2WD, no AC, 150k (SOLD).

The speedo did not work when the shifting problem was happening. Not sure if they started at the same time however. When we changed the fuse (after the new vss was installed) the shifting problem when away but the speedo is still flaky.

I bought the vss from the local Advance Auto Parts. Not sure of the brand but I'm sure it was aftermarket. It was the same size/shape as the old one.

I would concentrate on that sensor, maybe it was bad, maybe there is dirt around it and it is not sitting properly. check your fluid level in diff. do a search and see how you can check the wires at the sensor. reboot your pcm also.

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2004 Ext Cab, 4WD, 4.0, Auto, 154k. (4.0 engine is out of a 2009 Ranger w/96k) ( as of 7/1/2017)

2004 Ranger, Ext Cab, 2WD, 3.0, 5 speed , 4WABS, crank windows, no cruise, Edge 116k.(6/5,2014) (SOLD).
1999 Ford Ranger, Reg Cab, 2.5, 5 speed, 2WD, no AC, 150k (SOLD).

Got it. I'll do that. I still have the old sensor also so I can see if that is still working and just the fuse is bad. Also check the wiring and diff fluid.

Thanks for your help.