1987 Ranger CEL

velcro7279 · Oct 24, 2009

I have an 87 Ranger, 2.3 SOHC, FM145 5 speed, and 4x4. Just rebuilt the engine in it and after I got it started it was running very rich. I went to pull codes on it, but I thought the CEL was burnt out. Took apart the dash to replace the bulb and where the CEL should be according to the black indicator light cover lens there is no place to put a bulb there. There is not a hole in the printed circuit on the cluster. The black bulb cover in the dash bezel has the CEL in the lower left corner sitting in the drivers seat. Is that where the 87 CEL was located? Maybe the dash bezel or the cluster has been changed from a different year or something? Anyone with an 87, can you tell me where your CEL is in the dash?

Steve

AllanD · Oct 25, 2009

You never had one.

they were planning for it, but never did it for the 49state vehicled.

It does however make it damned convenient when you swap in a later engine and management system which REQUIRES a CEL to operate correctly.

AD

velcro7279 · Oct 25, 2009

Well that kind of stinks in some ways. I know the emission light works. When I took it for the drive it was on intermittently. What does the emission light being on signify? What kinds of things does it tell is wrong?

Steve

OilPatch197 · Oct 25, 2009

Exactly what does that "emission" light mean? I got a '87 with a 2.0. :icon_confused:

Only comes on when you just start, then goes off.

AllanD · Oct 26, 2009

The Emmissions is actually an emissions maintainanc reminder.

It is in no way connected to any emissions component.

It is simply a light turned on by a timer that's mounted above the glove box opening.

The unit is called "Infered Mileage Sensor"

There is a reset button, but the reset is like the function buttons on a factlry clock it's a conductive rubber puch that completes a circuit on the internal circuit board.
Unfortunatly over time exposure to air hardens and oxidizes the rubber and the contacts and they won't conduct anymore and thus cannot reset the unit.

I actually took mine apart and shorted the circuit points wiht a pece of copper the the f'er stillwouldn't reset.

My solution? I remobed the internal circuit board and tossed it in the trash.
then I reinstalled the housing and reconnected the wire to it...

Why? because otherwise the dangling wire interferes with opening and closing the glovebox.

AD

OilPatch197 · Oct 26, 2009

The Emmissions is actually an emissions maintainanc reminder.

It is in no way connected to any emissions component.

A reminder!!!! :icon_hornsup:

heptofite · Oct 26, 2009

still, just because there's no cel doesn't mean you can't pull the codes using a test light.

AllanD · Oct 26, 2009

Mine was original and untouched if you only have a light someone
already castrated it for you... in my truck it has an annoying buzzer
in addition to the light that went off every time you started the truck
until you reset the phucker.

AD

adsm08 · Oct 26, 2009

huh, never knew that. Mine was on and my dad just drove her around until the bulb burnt out. I found it and replaced it a year or so ago and the light is out now. Battery has been replaced a couple times since then tho, guessing that prolly resets her too.

velcro7279 · Oct 26, 2009

AllanD said:
The Emmissions is actually an emissions maintainanc reminder.

It is in no way connected to any emissions component.

It is simply a light turned on by a timer that's mounted above the glove box opening.

The unit is called "Infered Mileage Sensor"

There is a reset button, but the reset is like the function buttons on a factlry clock it's a conductive rubber puch that completes a circuit on the internal circuit board.
Unfortunatly over time exposure to air hardens and oxidizes the rubber and the contacts and they won't conduct anymore and thus cannot reset the unit.

I actually took mine apart and shorted the circuit points wiht a pece of copper the the f'er stillwouldn't reset.

My solution? I remobed the internal circuit board and tossed it in the trash.
then I reinstalled the housing and reconnected the wire to it...

Why? because otherwise the dangling wire interferes with opening and closing the glovebox.

AD

Mine just comes on intermittently while I am driveing. Would that mean that there is something funky with the "infered mileage sensor"? Sounds like it is supposed to stay on after a period of time until it is reset.

When I pulled the codes I used a test light hooked to the self-test out in the self-test plug. Worked fine.

Steve

adsm08 · Oct 26, 2009

if i'm not mistaken (and I usually am) Ford likes to make those kinds things ground side switches. Its highly possible that you have a chaffed wire shorting to ground and turning your light on.

velcro7279 · Oct 27, 2009

adsm08 said:
if i'm not mistaken (and I usually am) Ford likes to make those kinds things ground side switches. Its highly possible that you have a chaffed wire shorting to ground and turning your light on.

That is possible. The underhood wiring on this thing was a mess when I got it. I will probably have to pul the instrument cluster again and trace the wire that comes from the bulb. It is still a work in progress. I guess I will put that on the to-do list with everything else. lol.

Steve

1987 Ranger CEL

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