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03-23-2010, 11:26 AM
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Learning to use the forums
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 11
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Dumped the Toyota, got a Ranger
Yep - I am a Xenophobe, and always had Fords. The Ranger always looked good to me, and has an excellent reputation. The Toyota got good mileage and rode like a Beemer, but a stupid power steering hose was $250, and a blown gasket was ten times that! Sayonara!
So we got this creampuff - a 2003 4 litre four door with everything. Thirty two thousand miles, and not a scratch or mark anywhere. Just perfect!
Fifteen point seven miles per gallon! Half of that is freeway driving, by folks who drive like your grandmother. After a thousand miles, the transmission was replaced for $3500 - fortunately under warranty, but still . . .
There is no switch to turn off the air conditioner - the only way to turn off the cruise control and still remember the 65 mph setting is to flash the brake lights. The gear shift has a rubbery feel I have not felt since high school and my 1950 convert. Neither of us has driven a vehicle with a steering wheel shifter for over a third of a century, except for rental cars. My 1965 Mustang convertibles get better mileage.
My wife says "back to Toyota" - my gut says - how did my favorite auto manufacturer get so far behind? We drove the equivalent size Toyota coast to coast with a boat behind it and got 25 mpg.
It is still a beautiful truck, and we are going at it with an open mind, but still wondering about a vehicle that looks so perfect losing a transmission at 33K. What's next?
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03-23-2010, 11:36 AM
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Road Trippin' King!
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 5,007
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Re: Dumped the Toyota, got a Ranger
Welcome to the FRF!!! Post up questions in the tech forums. It sounds like your truck has issues, I have a 97 with the 4.0 OHV and you have the newer SOHC version that is way better than my engine. I can get 21 mpg out of mine. You won't beat a Yota for mileage but you will get a better truck, at least in most of our opinions here lol
Oh and let's see some pics of the cream puff
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97 Ranger - 4.0 V6 auto, 4wd, 31x10.5x15s Wild Country XTX Sport All Terrains, Warn locking hubs, Pioneer deck with iPod attachment, Snugtop Topper, K&N filter, scan gauge II, Hella 500 Lights, More parts coming, waiting for the paycheck to get bigger!
Truck built in loving memory of Norm Howard
Outcast Racing
PNW Crew!!!
Afterhours Clan!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by aaron_ariens
I think Henry just shit himself
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Radness
Its kind of like that carnival game "Whack A Mole" but with guns! Haha
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03-23-2010, 11:58 AM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 597
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Re: Dumped the Toyota, got a Ranger
Welcome to FRF! X2 on the pics.
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1999 3.0 XLT 2WD
3" Performance Accessories Body Lift| 3" Susp. Lift (Coil Spacers w/Blocks in the rear)| 33x12.50 Big Foot X/T's| 70's Style Blade Wheels| Pro Comp ES 3000 Shocks| Fabbed front bumper w/ 4 130W KC Daylighters| Black grille| Cherry Bomb Glass Packs| Fabbed rear bumper w/ detachable tire mount| Stock 3.73 gears.....for now| Auto Trans.
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03-23-2010, 11:58 AM
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NO H8.
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,435
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Re: Dumped the Toyota, got a Ranger
Welcome to FRF! I think your going to have a way better truck, and a way better community for Rangers.
Who knows what the previous owner did to that poor tranny.
x3 pics!
__________________
2001 Ford Ranger XLT 3.0 V6 Automatic.
1995 Acura Integra LS
PNW Crew!
http://www.facebook.com/aaron.ariens
Quote:
Originally Posted by richarddhoward
Lol, Aaron: "I only text with trees, it makes it hard to text while driving though, I have to keep running the truck into trees to text!!" EPIC my friend. Lol
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03-23-2010, 12:04 PM
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Ranger driver since 2005
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,847
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Re: Dumped the Toyota, got a Ranger
Welcome to FRF! You're going to have more fun with the rangers as there are a lot of cool things people have done to them as you can see on this site.
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03-23-2010, 06:47 PM
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Learning to use the forums
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 11
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Re: Dumped the Toyota, got a Ranger
Thank you. I would be happy with the 17 mpg that others report. I will check. As far as photos are concerned, this one looked brand factory new to me. There was not a speck or a scratch anywhere, and even the bed liner was pristine. It simply could not have been a repaint - I looked at all the rubber molding, the door jambs, the engine compartment, everywhere. If you wanted a picture, a 2003 Ford brochure would just about do it. Even the carpets were spotless!
Is there a way to stop that dinger from driving me nuts? I leave the key in the ignition while at the airport, so my neighbor can move it if he wants. And a way to lower it so my wife can lift the potting soil bags into the bed without lowering the tailgate?
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03-23-2010, 06:53 PM
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How Low?
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 139
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Re: Dumped the Toyota, got a Ranger
Welcome to FRF!
__________________
1999 Ford Ranger
XLT Reg Cab 2WD
2.5L 5Speed
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03-23-2010, 07:02 PM
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NO H8.
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,435
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Re: Dumped the Toyota, got a Ranger
Quote:
Originally Posted by bob44
Thank you. I would be happy with the 17 mpg that others report. I will check. As far as photos are concerned, this one looked brand factory new to me. There was not a speck or a scratch anywhere, and even the bed liner was pristine. It simply could not have been a repaint - I looked at all the rubber molding, the door jambs, the engine compartment, everywhere. If you wanted a picture, a 2003 Ford brochure would just about do it. Even the carpets were spotless!
Is there a way to stop that dinger from driving me nuts? I leave the key in the ignition while at the airport, so my neighbor can move it if he wants. And a way to lower it so my wife can lift the potting soil bags into the bed without lowering the tailgate?
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Well, the dinging should not happen when the door is closed.
__________________
2001 Ford Ranger XLT 3.0 V6 Automatic.
1995 Acura Integra LS
PNW Crew!
http://www.facebook.com/aaron.ariens
Quote:
Originally Posted by richarddhoward
Lol, Aaron: "I only text with trees, it makes it hard to text while driving though, I have to keep running the truck into trees to text!!" EPIC my friend. Lol
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03-23-2010, 10:15 PM
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Old man driver.
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 14,894
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Re: Dumped the Toyota, got a Ranger
welcome to FRF, Bob!
__________________
2001 Ranger Edge 4x4 (sold)
2006 F150 Lariat 4x4 (sold)
2007 Explorer XLT (Destroyed by Deer on highway)
2014 Explorer XLT (inherited from parents)
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03-24-2010, 03:22 PM
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...............
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Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 23,399
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Re: Dumped the Toyota, got a Ranger
Welcome to FRF
__________________
2005 Edge
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03-25-2010, 12:29 AM
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Ranger Enthusiast
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 6,831
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Re: Dumped the Toyota, got a Ranger
Welcome to FRF!
Quote:
Originally Posted by bob44
Is there a way to stop that dinger from driving me nuts? I leave the key in the ignition while at the airport, so my neighbor can move it if he wants.
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Yup, but it requires some savvy, here is the how-to: http://generation-edge.info/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2224
As the above users mentioned, the cheaper and easier solution is to just close the door.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bob44
And a way to lower it so my wife can lift the potting soil bags into the bed without lowering the tailgate?
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Take a look over here: http://www.fordrangerforum.com/lowered-suspension/
Also I highly recommend you create a signature with information about your truck.
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04-08-2010, 04:23 PM
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Learning to use the forums
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 11
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Re: Dumped the Toyota, got a Ranger
So, Tom - the radio is out, and the proper connector is identified. Do I just pull downward, or is there a lever or catch that needs to be slid to the side before the connector is removed.
Greg's description is beautiful, and further looking confirms that removing the negative terminal is a really good idea before starting with the splice.
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04-08-2010, 05:18 PM
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Ford Ranger Owner
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 51
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Re: Dumped the Toyota, got a Ranger
Thank you for buying American and supporting American Company'sthe trans problem just isn't limited to your FORD RANGER.. my 2003 F150 supercrew 2wd 5.4 had 42k when I bought used for $12,000... great deal right??? WORNG!!! 1 month later was on freeway and trying to pass and hit the gas at 70 and trans felt like it dropped out onto 275N. .. limped back to dealer and the trans was toast... FRENCH TOAST!!! all the bands were fryed.. main spring broken and 3 and 4th gear had melted together... $2500 to fix but I had GOLD CARE coverage... covered by my $100. deductable.. I went to used car manager and had it out and asked why the car fax showed a trans flush.. I informed him that I work at MI TRUCK as a dinger and I did a side job at a collision shop and he told me "so what" I reminded him that a trans flush was only used to slow down problems so car sells quick... I went to the person who sold me trk and asked for my $12,000 back... ME and him went and had lunch with dealer owner and dealer got my keys and took care of the $100.... I just truned 90k on trk and did a trans flush for warranty company... trk runs tip top expect the steering gear is leaking.. tryed bars leak helps but not stopped!.. since I owned trk I have put all new front end suspension.. joints.. tie rods ends.. shocks.. 4 rotors, pads, wheel bearings... can't wait for exhust to drop so I can put on 3 inch exhust...
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94 Ranger Splash.. Jet Black... 4.0 V6... stick...2wd
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04-09-2010, 11:34 AM
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Learning to use the forums
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 11
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Re: Dumped the Toyota, got a Ranger
I did the dinger mod - it was trivial, except for being able to actually get my big meathooks in there to twist the wires.
Only problem is, it did not silence the seat belt ding. Is there another wire that needs to be moved to stop that? I do have the insistent dinger silenced - the one that goes absolutely nuts if you drive off without fastening the belt - but not the one that insists you buckle up before engine start. Even airplanes do not have such obnoxious noises, and in those the belt must be fastened by law before engine start.
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