Ok so I have an 04 ranger 4x2, got it from someone as a gift, had to dump a ton into it to get it going. Anyway got it running, speedo doesn’t work, cel is on, vss code. I’ve come to the conclusion that this transmission is from I believe 98-2000 because there is no VSS port. Is there a way to wire what I have to make the cel go off so I can pass smog in California?

 

Welcome to the forum

So you have a P0500 code?

There is no VSS port on any Ranger transmission past 1997, just FYI

Manual or automatic?

On 2001 and up, Rangers got an OSS(output shaft speed) sensor on the transmission, 2 wire sensor at the rear driver side of trans
There is also an ISS sensor just above shifter on automatics, that's NOT the OSS
Manuals have a Reverse light switch on drivers side but high up, also NOT the OSS

OSS sensor connects directly to the computer
The computer then adjusts the OSS speed signal for rear axle ratio and tires size, then sends that signal OUT to speedometer and cruise control(if so equipped)


An older manual transmission could be used but not an older automatic, 2001 and up needed ISS sensor which wasn't added until 2001 model automatics

Yes, there are ways to do what you need but need to know if you have a manual or automatic, also which engine??
And I would start your own thread

 

My 99 4.0 ranger had a 9” swapped in the rear by previous owner, jerry rigged a speed sensor pointing at the rear driveline to get it to shift, but need the speedo to work to pass CA smog. I’ve read through the thread and I put in a 95-97 tcase and ran the gray/black wire up to the abs module on the inside of the driver fender and Hooked up the pink and orange one to a ground, and my speedo still doesn’t work therefore I still have a check engine light, please help

 

You should start your own thread

1999 Ranger used the ABS rear axle sensor for speed which is now gone, so ABS light will be on and CEL(check engine light) will be on with P0500 code

1998-2000 Ranger sent the rear axle ABS to ABS Module AND thru the GEM module for speed calibration and THEN out to the computer and speedo, ABS module is not involved with GEM they just shared the signal
Pull out the radio to get access to GEM module

There should be a few connectors on GEM, the 18 pin connector will have a Grey/black wire on pin 1, this wire goes OUT to computer, speedo and cruise(if so equipped)
Cut that wire and splice the transfer case VSS sensor wire to it, bypassing the GEM module
So splice into the ABS wire you ran to ABS module and run that to the grey/black wire you just removed from pin 1 on GEM

A Transmission or transfer case VSS outputs the 8,000ppm signal needed by computer, speedo and cruise, so it can be hooked up direct
The rear ABS sensor was 25,000ppm signal so needed to be converted/calibrated to 8,000ppm by the GEM

You can use different driven gears on transfer case VSS to calibrated speedo for true speed for current axle ratio and tire size, not needed to pass smog but can be nice to know how fast you are going, lol

Just curious, did the ABS light go off after it was hooked to VSS?

 

No there actually was never an abs light on at all

 

Now that's odd with no ABS sensor hooked up to the module

 

There was a jerry rigged on hooked up to the rear axle just not plugged into the housing like usual, they tapped a hole and screwed in the sensor to get it to shift properly, but the speedo still didn’t work

 

That shouldn't have worked for the computer if it was hooked to ABS, unless its an Explorer Computer, explorer wiring did use 4 wheel ABS module to convert 25,000ppm to 8,000ppm needed by computer and speedo
1998-2000 Rangers used GEM Module instead, because they weren't all 4 wheel ABS, it was just an option in those years

 

Then I’m not sure how they got it to work. Shifted fine and didn’t have an abs light.

 

Update, tapped into the gray/black wire going into the gem module (bypassing the gem module) took it for a drive and the speedo worked, fingers crossed it keeps working and my check engine light will go away.

 

Good stuff

Thanks for the update