Water in fuel light

[jim77144]

Hey guys. I just purchased a 96 Ford ranger as a project truck for me and my son. I've never seen a gas truck with a gas in fuel symbol on the dash but this one has this issue. A friend of mine said it might be bad gas. I've searched everywhere but I can't find anything that is similar to my issue.

We've drained the fuel and changed the fuel filter but the light is still on.

Can anyone tell me what's causing this? Is there a way to reset the light on does it reset once the problem is resolved?

Thanks
Jim

 

[2011Supercab]

Not sure what that cluster is out of, but I don't think it's an American Ranger, or at least that part with the oil pressure/volt gauges.

That should be where your check engine light is,

Picture from 96 Ranger Owners Manual.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Thats strange.

If it wasnt an american truck/cluster wouldnt the speedo be in KM/h?

Hook a code scanner to it.

 

[ericbphoto]

That seems like a feature that would be on a diesel truck. Not sure they were selling diesel Rangers in 96. But I don’t think so. Might be a used cluster from a Mexican truck.

 

[jim77144]

@2011Supercab that makes sense. I have some check engine codes that are coming up with my scan tool but no check engine light. I was thinking the bulb was out for the check engine light but it could be that someone swapped the cluster and connected the "water in fuel" light to where the check engine light should be. We're finding lots of things on this truck have been "customized" and not in a good way lol.

@rusty ol ranger yes very strange. I did hook a scanner and there are codes. I think the cluster was replaced and that light is in place of the check engine light.

@ericbphoto thata exactly what i was thinking. I've only seen this on diesel and usually relates to the water fuel separater.

Thank you all for the help. I need to change the dash cluster out anyway because some of the gauges are non responsive and some of the bulbs are burnt out.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I found this.

No mention of a diesel engine. (Or 4.0L)I looked on FB marketplace in mexico for rangers and some had MPH and some had KMH.

Im just curious why it has that light. It wouldnt possibly be from a bit later model FFV ranger would it?

 

[jim77144]

View attachment 104997

I found this.

No mention of a diesel engine. (Or 4.0L)I looked on FB marketplace in mexico for rangers and some had MPH and some had KMH.

Im just curious why it has that light. It wouldnt possibly be from a bit later model FFV ranger would it?

That's interesting. Yes its very possible that dash is from something else. I replaced an 02 sensor on this truck and found that one of the previous owners spliced in a gm plug and o2 sensor!! What the heck lol. I had to splice in a new ford o2 connector pigtail in order to use the proper o2 sensor.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

That's interesting. Yes its very possible that dash is from something else. I replaced an 02 sensor on this truck and found that one of the previous owners spliced in a gm plug and o2 sensor!! What the heck lol. I had to splice in a new ford o2 connector pigtail in order to use the proper o2 sensor.

To my knowledge though that cluster was only used in rangers and explorers. Unless they got tapped to be used in a mail truck or something along those lines