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98 ranger speedometer quit working


Whalenjo19

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I got a 98 ranger n the speedometer quit working. I changed out the ABS sensor n it's still not working. Looking for some advice please
 


RonD

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Welcome to TRS :)

Read the codes

See if you get P0500, this means computer is also not getting speed signal

In 1998 - 2000 Rangers the rear axle ABS sensor does double duty, its 20,000ppm(pulse per mile) signal is shared by the ABS system and GEM module
If ABS sensor fails the ABS light will come on, and speedometer would also not work
You didn't mention ABS light so sensor was fine

The GEM module, behind the radio, gets the 20,000ppm signal and then converts it to the Ford 8,000ppm signal for use with speedometer, computer and cruise control
If the GEM was not working for this then you would get P0500 code
You can also try Cruise to see if it works, if so equipped, if it is working then GEM is working for the conversion

If no P0500 then GEM is working so the problem with speedometer is at/in the instrument cluster
Is odometer working?

Odometer and speedometer share the one signal from the GEM
Each has its own electric motor in the cluster
So if odometer is working then could be speedometers electric motor has failed, rare occurance, it can be tested with a AA battery
If neither is working and no P0500 code then signal wire from GEM may be the problem
 
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Whalenjo19

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Odometer is working. Have a feeling it's the connection with the instrument cluster. N thanks for the reply
 

RonD

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So ABS sensor, and GEM module are OK if odometer is working, and no P0500 should be seen

Odometer and speedometer share the one wire connection to the cluster

In 1998 Cluster its the Grey/black stripe wire on Pin 1 on Connector C215

Speed signal is AC voltage, low, under 2volts at high speed, the signal uses a common ground, so grey/black wire is just positive half of the AC sine wave
Not that this matters, the signal is reaching the cluster since odometer is working

I would look on ebay or car-parts.com for a used cluster, 1996-2003 will work, Ranger or Mazda B-series will be plug and play, just to see how much a replacement costs.
It could be a cluster circuit board issue which is hard to track down, or could just be the electric motor
 

Whalenjo19

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Well I haven't had time to go get the codes checked on it. But I took the instrument cluster out, n cleaned up the connections and now the speedometer works, once you get it up to a certain speed. Obviously still has issues. So I should go get a scan done, n go from there, huh
 

Whalenjo19

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Ok I got the P0500 code. So it's GEM module, huh?
 

RonD

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P0500 means the computer also doesn't have the Speed signal from GEM module
So both speedometer and computer have no signal, or intermittent signal

Does the ABS light work?
It should come on with key on(bulb test) then go off
If this happens and it stays off while driving then speed sensor on rear axle is working

So yes, looks like GEM module issue or its connectors
 

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