I have a 96 Ranger 2.3l and having a problem with my odometer. When I initially start the car and drive the odometer ticks as it should. But after anywhere from, from what I seen, 1.5-22 miles the odometer stops ticking. But if I park it and let it sit for a little around a hour or so and start the truck and drive the odometer will do the same it will start ticking then stop. Is it my odometer gear going bad?

 

Yes, it is.

Assuming speedometer is working fine no dropping out.
Odo and speedo share the same signal, if both were effected then wiring or VSS.......... if it is just the odo then most likely issue is the worm gear drive, could be motor, but gear is usual problem.

 

Thank you I have one on order. Do they all come plastic is that why they fail?

 

There should be no stress on the gears and they are all plastic, not sure why they break.
It is not a "common" issue, just a known reason why odo stops but speedo keeps working.

Metal worm gear would just chew up plastic gear, and all metal gears was probably too expensive