Wrong part? Wire nuts? Brakes???

[BigBearTinyTruck]

Hello fellow Rangerites! First time posting here so I hope this is all okay.
I recently bought a 2000 Ranger XLT with the 3.0L V6/ 5-Speed combo, 4x2. The truck has obviously had a hard life, and I bought it as a nostalgia project (same trim and colors as my first truck) to give it an easy retirement just taking me 5 miles back and forth to work every day.

I'm wanting to do everything right while fixing it, and that means reversing some dicey repairs made by the previous owners. Attached to this post is an example of this on the brake master cylinder:

This master cylinder is pretty crusty so I was planning on replacing it regardless - but to do this I need to buy the proper end to this sensor, which I believe is the brake fluid level sensor. While searching for a new master cylinder I noticed that none of them looked like this one, specifically with this connector. Moreover, no connector labeled as brake fluid sensor connector that "fits" my ranger matches the one on here. Given the wire nuts, I'm assuming it was a quick and dirty or good ol' boy repair where they got a part that worked, and just chopped the connector off to hard wire it like this when it didn't fit.

Another thing I'm concerned about is that there's only two wires showing, where as all the replacement brake fluid sensor connectors I've seen are 3 wire.

I suppose I'm left with a few questions:

Is this the brake fluid level sensor connector or some other sensor?
If this is the brake fluid level sensor, were there two alternate types that had different connectors?
Any tips for replacing this part? I've done it on older F150's before so I wager its the same, but I'd love to hear any tricks!

If you fellas need me to take any more pictures of this part from different angles I'd be happy to take em

 

[sgtsandman]

With as old as these vehicles are getting, your best bet is probably going to be going to a junk yard and cutting out a pigtail for the connector you want. While there, you can see what the connections look like, how they are connected, and if what you have is even the right connector.

You could probably check with the dealer and online for a repair pigtail but you won’t know for sure what it is all supposed to look like. You’ll still need to compare with another Ranger or two to make sure you have it setup correctly.

 

[2011Supercab]

I'm not 100% sure, but I think it's for the cruise control, to disengage it when you step on the brakes, I think it's a secondary backup type switch so if the one on the brake pedal fails it will still release the cruise.

Easiest test would be to remove wire nut separate the wires and see if the cruise still works.

 

[19Walt93]

Welcome to the zoo.
At the dealer we had access to replacement wiring pigtails, I'd check first before junk yarding. Maybe bring your new master with you for match up purposes.
A couple observations: the brake fluid looks like it desperately needs to be flushed out and changed and any wire nuts you find should be removed. I either solder and heat shrink wire splices or use heat shrink butt connectors if I can't get at them to solder. Wire nuts don't belong anywhere on a vehicle.

 

[BigBearTinyTruck]

Welcome to the zoo.
At the dealer we had access to replacement wiring pigtails, I'd check first before junk yarding. Maybe bring your new master with you for match up purposes.
A couple observations: the brake fluid looks like it desperately needs to be flushed out and changed and any wire nuts you find should be removed. I either solder and heat shrink wire splices or use heat shrink butt connectors if I can't get at them to solder. Wire nuts don't belong anywhere on a vehicle.

Glad to know I had the right idea in mind haha, I was baffled seeing wire nuts under the hood but hey if it worked this long I guess I can't knock it too hard. Will definitely be soldered and protected when I fix it.

I'm not 100% sure, but I think it's for the cruise control, to disengage it when you step on the brakes, I think it's a secondary backup type switch so if the one on the brake pedal fails it will still release the cruise.

Easiest test would be to remove wire nut separate the wires and see if the cruise still works.

This has gotten me the closest, and makes sense to me - I can't find any part reference through official ford part sites but looking it up returns a power steering pressure switch that looks like it was reused here, and the connector is an exact match. And thus, thankfully, the pigtail.

I really appreciate the help fellas, and if anyone knows for absolute sure I'd still love to hear it

edit: Looks like we're reusing this one boys... (link)