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  #1  
Old 08-09-2018, 07:05 AM
rzims rzims is offline
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Default there and back again..

Hello all,
So, in 1999 I bought a 1993 ranger xl 3.0 5speed from my father in law. At the time it had 18k miles on it and was in good shape but had been sitting for a couple of years.
I put a new battery in it, got it running, changed all the fluids, detailed it and proceeded to use it regularly for dump runs, lumber store/nursery/hardware runs and it was a champ.
In 2006 my brother in law ran in to some life challenges so I "loaned" it to him with 50k on the odo.
This week, he told me he wanted to get rid of it since it didn't run and he wanted it out of his driveway, so I took it back.

It hasn't been registered, driven or moved since 2016 and is kind of a mess.

Again, new battery, top off the fluids, wash the dirt off and I got her to start up and run and got it back to my place.

I haven't dug in to it yet, but a couple of immediate issues I've noticed that I'll be needing to figure out.

- I released the emergency brake and it rolls freely, but the emergency brake light stays on - assume something is sticking?

- ABS light stays on - assume ABS sensor?

- wipers move, but really slowly - new wiper motor?

- When I washed her off, I noticed there's water on the floor of the cab afterwards - assume drain holes are plugged up?

- Battery won't hold a charge - assume alternator

Overall, she's in pretty good shape body and interior-wise, just needs a good detailing and engine bay cleaning. Tires are old and cracked, but hold air. Fiberglass shell is really faded but no cracking.

Anyway, I'll post pics and keep you posted on the progress. It's a fun little truck and about as basic as you can get with the 5sp, am radio and no a/c
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  #2  
Old 08-14-2018, 09:51 AM
rzims rzims is offline
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Default Re: there and back again..

Well, I had a chance to take some photos last night. The truck is still in really good shape, just filthy and has not been cared for. I actually had to clean moss out of the area between the bed and the edge of the shell.

I spent a few hours last night scrubbing and cleaning. Hit the engine bay with simple green which did a pretty good job. I really need to go after it with some degreaser and a pressure nozzle.
Also need to finish scrubbing the fiberglass shell and get a couple coats of wax on it. It's pretty faded.

I put the battery on the trickle charger and it seems to be charging so we'll see if I really need an alternator or just a good slow charge to get it back up to where it should be.

The emergency brake cables appear to be in pretty rough shape so I'll order new ones which will hopefully resolve the stuck e-brake issue.
I haven't looked in to the ABS sensor yet. Not sure how big a job that is...

Will keep posting updates
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  #3  
Old 08-14-2018, 09:57 AM
RoberticusMaximus RoberticusMaximus is offline
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Default Re: there and back again..

welcome! do you have a multimeter? i'd probe system to see if the alt is putting out voltage pretty quick. i'd hate to see the batter ruin cause of a bad alt.

on your parking brake sticking... sounds like the brake is physically releasing, but the little switch up at the top of the pedal is sticking. i bet it could be freed up by working it back and forth.

good luck restoring it!
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  #4  
Old 08-14-2018, 11:04 AM
dvrich dvrich is offline
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Default Re: there and back again..

Looks real clean for a quarter century old truck.
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  #5  
Old 08-14-2018, 11:54 AM
rzims rzims is offline
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Default Re: there and back again..

Quote:
Originally Posted by RoberticusMaximus View Post
welcome! do you have a multimeter? i'd probe system to see if the alt is putting out voltage pretty quick. i'd hate to see the batter ruin cause of a bad alt.

on your parking brake sticking... sounds like the brake is physically releasing, but the little switch up at the top of the pedal is sticking. i bet it could be freed up by working it back and forth.

good luck restoring it!
I don't own a multimeter, but I'll borrow one tomorrow from the mechanic at work and check it out. Good idea.

I'm not sure the brake is releasing all the way....when I first released it, after sitting for a couple of years, it didn't roll down the driveway. As I put it in gear and started backing up, it appeared to release.
I haven't put it up on blocks yet to see if the wheels turn or there's any friction after releasing...
I'll check the little switch as well....based on previous projects, I'm not usually that lucky, but it would be awesome if it was just that switch

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Quote:
Originally Posted by dvrich View Post
Looks real clean for a quarter century old truck.
Yeah, it's in surprisingly good shape other than being filthy and full of spider webs. The seat has one tear, the dash is pretty good, both door panels are faded and discolored on the top, but all in all, pretty clean.
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  #6  
Old 08-14-2018, 11:56 AM
RoberticusMaximus RoberticusMaximus is offline
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Default Re: there and back again..

might also try shooting some penetrating oil from each side of the parking brake cable where it goes in the cover/sheathing/whatever its called. like how we used to free up the throttle cable on the go kart when we were a kid lol
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  #7  
Old 08-21-2018, 07:48 AM
rzims rzims is offline
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Default Re: there and back again..

Well, after a full day on the trickle charger I put the battery back in and it started right up. Put the multi-meter on it and it's right around 14amps so it appears I won't need to replace the alternator - good news!
Finished scrubbing a couple of years worth of dirt and grime from inside the cab.
The tops of the door panels are faded but not cracked, the seat has a couple of tears..
- Any suggestions on restoring the plastic door panels back to the original blue or do I need to replace?
Also need to work on clearing the drain hole to eliminate the water on the floor - just read a nice writeup here done by one1 which will be really helpful.
Sprayed the e-brake cables with penetrating oil last night and left it to sit....hopefully that clears that issue up.
Now to flush and change all the fluids - oil, tranny, coolant
The worst part of the whole thing will be the DMV appt to register it after sitting for 2 years. I hate the DMV
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  #8  
Old 08-21-2018, 08:09 AM
RoberticusMaximus RoberticusMaximus is offline
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Default Re: there and back again..

in oklahoma, i've been lucky enough to just show up with parts & supplies receipts proving that it was inoperable during that time to avoid penalties. not sure how kalifornia works.
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  #9  
Old 08-21-2018, 08:43 AM
KenHigg KenHigg is offline
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Default Re: there and back again..

Sounds like a brake job might not be a bad idea, including parking brake shoes if it equipped with them. A free parts store scanner service should point you at a particular wheel sensor if that is the issue, keep you from chasing them all. Nice truck -
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  #10  
Old 08-21-2018, 08:55 AM
RoberticusMaximus RoberticusMaximus is offline
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Default Re: there and back again..

i agree about the rear brakes, i was very very pleased with how much better both dynamic & park braking was with all new drums, shoes, cylinders, hardware, and fresh fluid. i barely spend over $100 for all of it too! granted i had 170k miles on them
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  #11  
Old 08-21-2018, 02:37 PM
rzims rzims is offline
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Default Re: there and back again..

Quote:
Originally Posted by RoberticusMaximus View Post
in oklahoma, i've been lucky enough to just show up with parts & supplies receipts proving that it was inoperable during that time to avoid penalties. not sure how kalifornia works.
In California it's not even the fees (ok, it's partly the fees) it's the 4hours of time that it takes to get in and out....

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Quote:
Originally Posted by KenHigg View Post
Sounds like a brake job might not be a bad idea, including parking brake shoes if it equipped with them. A free parts store scanner service should point you at a particular wheel sensor if that is the issue, keep you from chasing them all. Nice truck -
Yeah, that's definitely on the agenda...need to find some time here in the next month or two.....amazingly, adding brake fluid helped considerably too
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