I would like to switch out the standard instrument cluster with one that has the factory tach. Does anybody know if the wiring harness is the same between the two? Or will it require a lot of rewiring to make the new cluster work?

__________________
Paul G
99 XLT Ranger, 4.0, Extended Cab, 2WD

If it’s out of a truck between 98-03 it’s plug and play, 95-97 while looking very similar have very slight differences but will still plug into your truck.

__________________

Be careful, i propose you check the schematic diagram of both unit

__________________

FORD RANGER 2006 XLT 2WD 4DOOR 2896cc
CD PIONEER SPEAKERS

I'm trying to do this too on my Ranger. It is a 98 2.5 automatic. I really just need a working fuel gauge since mine is dead. I decided it might be a good time to add the tachometer cluster. I've been seeing conflicting stories about what you actually need to do so I haven't done it yet. I see in the factory service manual it says V6 and 4 Cylinder's are grounded different. Then some owner's say if you're swapping you need to get a cluster from a 4 Cylinder for a 4 Cylinder and V6 for V6. Well I have both and it seems the gauge stampings and even the printed circuit board stampings are all the same numbers. So is the only difference in the wiring harness? The 4 cylinder cluster I got actually came from a 98 automatic 2.5 just like mine except of course with the tach. Do I just need to plug it in and that's it? Or is it going to melt something? Seems like the needed wiring would be in the wire harness not the cluster board.

__________________
1998 Ford Ranger XLT 2.5 4R44E Automatic Regular Cab, 4.10 non-limited slip
1993 Ford Ranger XLT 2.3 M5 Manual, Regular Cab, 3.45 non-limited slip

DITTO at the first reply in this thread. Direct swap provided you use a 98-03 cluster.

Follow my how-to on either rolling the new cluster's odometer to your old odom's numbers or swapping your old cluster odom into the new. Obviously throw the new-to-you cluster in first and drive around a few days to make sure all things are functional THEN either roll the new or swap the old.

Linky: How To: change your Odometer when doing a gauge swap...95-03 trucks

These are readily available at the u-pull style yards for relatively cheap numbers. The sought after ones are the 01-03 Explorer Sport and Sport Trac for their white faces and orange needles or the 03 XLT Ranger for their silver faces and orange needles.

98-03 Ranger except Tremor or 03 XLT, 98-00 B-series : black face, white needles, black bezel
01-03 B-series : black face, orange needles, grey bezel
01-03 Explorer Sport or Sport Trac or Ranger Tremor : white face, orange needles, italic font, silver bezel
03 Ranger XLT : silver face, orange needles, italic font, black bezel



It's been done literally thousands of times in the last twenty years.... it's a plug-n-play swap provided a 98-03 cluster is used.

If you don't know, don't answer. "Help" from those not knowing isn't actually help.

As said, use a 98-03 cluster and it is a direct swap. All wires are already there to feed the tach signal. Wherever you're reading all this isn't coming from here or any other VERY niche groups like this.....we typically know better than out side the niche on what is doable and what isn't. Above you'll find my how-to on either rolling the new to match the old or transferring the old into the new. Test the new cluster in the truck for a couple days to make sure all thing function then do the swap.

__________________
'01 XLT disguised as a '03 Fx4 Level II.