i noticed a little brake fluid on my master cylender when i changed my spark plugs last weekend my truck is a very late build 2002 though... i think in july or august so hopefully im okay

 

so what are we as ranger owners supposed to do? i use my cruise all the time, and going to a dealership to have it disconnected shouldnt be my responsibility, nor should i have to give up one of my "extras" that i paid for. can i switch it out with one of the new switches that wont fail? or is there any way to put it on a "hot while running" wire? im kinda pissed that i should have to give this up, or my truck will burst into flames.

 

My understanding is that the critical leakage is internal within the switch, not on the outside.

 

I read on a Ford technician website that the replacement switch is a different plug pattern and needs to be used with a replacement connector. The connector is to be patched into the existing harness. This does not change whether the circuit is hot at all times or not.

Again, I have no firsthand knowledge about this. I read it on the Internet and we all know how reliable that is.

AFAIK, the Ranger switches have not yet been recalled. If you do go ahead with some sort of repair, be sure to hang onto your paperwork. There's a good chance that you will be able to recover some or all of the out-of-pocket cost if a recall is issued for your vehicle later.

 

Bob,

You said that you have a book from a 97, and that it isn't wired hot all the time. My new [old] Ranger I have is a 95, and basically they were the same thing from 93-97, with a major change in alot fo things in 95. The 95 is closer to the 97 than a 93-94 is -- so you think I'll be ok?

Thanks for everyone's input on this!

 

Since I don't have a schematic for 95, I would just be guessing if I said it is the same as the 97. Either way, I believe Ford will eventually recall the switch.

 

Rog-o, good buddy!

 

I called my local dearlership last week, and asked them about replacing my switch. This dealership has been pretty good to me, and they never give me hassles about my mods. According to their recall person, the bad switches were in a specific batch and were tracked to specific VIN numbers. Ford firgured out which vehicles those belonged to, and recalled those specific lines to check VIN's. At least according to Ford, they can verify if you have the bad switch by checking your VIN. A dealership can do this, or you can call them directly.

Of course this could all be BS, but it could be construed as extremely negligent BS if this wasn't the truth. Telling users their specific vehicle is safe can get Ford in more trouble than just telling them nothing. I'm inclined to trust them on this one, since there haven't been any Ranger fires from this switch.

 

For anyone who has a 2000 Ranger with speed control:

I received a 2000 Ranger Wiring Manual from an eBay auction today and it shows that the 2000 Ranger is also "hot at all times" to the Deactivation Switch on the brake master cylinder. It appears that the DS was installed only on Rangers equipped with speed control in 2000.

So, here's the summary of power to the DS on Rangers as presented in the different Ford Ranger wiring manuals that I have:

Late 2003 through 2005 (all): Hot in Run only
2001 through 2002 (all): Hot at all times
2000 (with speed control): Hot at all times
1998~1999: No info (I don't own books for these years)
1997 (with speed control): Hot in Run only
1996-back: No info (I don't own books for these years)

Owners of late 2002 Rangers have reported that they have the "hot in Run only" wiring of the 2003 models. I don't know when Ford made that change but for most of the 2002 model year, Ford had it wired as "hot at all times" as shown in the Ranger wiring manual for that year.

 

Bob, I will see if I can grab a book on the '95 years, I should get one anyhow.

 

I've been buying the Wiring Manuals as I find them on eBay but I'm still missing a few of the recent years.

 

bob sir you officially kick ***... thanks man

 

thanks bob for info on wiring of this switch for late 2002 thru 2003. you were correct as always about 2 amp fuse in positon # 6 of fuse panel. my late model 2002 edge has this fuse set/up as well as 7.5 amp in position # *9.
set my little pea picking mind at ease.