A Couple of Observations About my Ranger

[Steve]

I noticed that there is no splash guard (plastic inner fender insert) on my truck. I was looking in the wheel wheel - front driver's side fender - and could see the steering box and assorted other items in the engine compartment. All were completely exposed.

I phoned the dealership and asked about this. There are bolt holes but no guard in place. The service manager said that they stopped putting them in two or three years ago. Something about power steering cooling. Weird.

The other thing is that, on the XL model, there are no mud flaps. The wife commented that you could really hear the stones bouncing around in the wheel well.

Two "spinny" comments!

[fordtough.ca]

One way to fix the stones noise is to get it sprayed using sound or rust proofed compound
I don't know if thats what you are looking for but is an suggestion

[CanadianRanger]

Steve, I have an 08 Sport. Your post made me go look. The front has a liner from the front of wheel to back, but it is open around the shock and I can see the motor. The rear has some sort of inner rear splash guard, behind and above the rear wheels. And rear mudflaps only.

[Cooker]

I have an 08 FX4 and mine has a rubber type flap on the driver side inner wheel well covering the motor.

[mitchbtu]

Steve that sounds a bit weird to me, I would phone another dealership and get a 2nd opinion.... I would think that the wheelwell area being exposed would promote more rusty parts in the engine compartment....

[redbull2008]

i've got an 08 ranger and it doesn't have a piece in the wheel well area, My uncle told me his 02 mazda B3000 had that piece but his 08 doesn't.

[RuggedRanger15]

maybe its just an xl thing

[Steve]

JC Whitney and some other places have that splash guard listed. 2008 Ranger front left fender. I don't get it either. For $25 US, I'll buy one. :icon_sad:

I had to tighten my antenna. :icon_sad:

The rear mud flaps don't have a place on which to attach. The fender has no frame or area where you can mount one, like there was on my 2000. Another aftermarket thing. :icon_sad:

Today I noticed that the a/c seems to be on when I select 'vents and floor'. It should be outside air coming in I thought. A/C cool, instead of muggy and warm. Does anyone else have this? :icon_confused:

Lest anyone think I'm being picky, these are things that are different from my 2000.

[CanadianRanger]

Steve, there are brackets (basically 1/4" rod) that hold the rear mudflaps in place.

[mitchbtu]

The AC is also used to dry the air before its sent into the passenger compartment, this may be why its coming on the way it does...

[Cowboy Dave]

First, what the service manager said about the spash guards sounds like bunk to me. Particularly the "they've been making them that way for a few years now" comment. I have yet to hear/read any Ranger owners raise concerns about their PS overheating. I would call another dealership and get a second opinion. And if the second dealership says that it should have a driver's side spash guard I'd pull the pin on having the first dealership doing any work on your truck. Had something similar happen with my Level II. The dealership/factory neglected to put the passenger side gap guard on. Well, it's on now.

Second, about the AC. This is how Ford climate control works in Rangers(and other models, my father's 97 F-150, for instance) and they've been like this since at least 96. If you have 'Panel' selected then you just get fresh air through the fan. No AC at all. However, if you have anything else selected - 'Panel and Floor' or 'Floor' - then the AC comes on if you have the temp on cold. It's not full AC alone, more like partial AC. Don't ask me why Ford has their climate control rigged like this, but that's how it is. That being said, I rarely have AC selected on my climate control. Still, it does affect your mileage a bit. So, if you don't want your AC motor running at all, you have to have 'Panel' selected. There was a thread about this over at Ranger-Forums.com a while back.

Can't help with the mud flap mounts though. I would say that they should be there, just like your splash guard should, but this might in fact be an XL thing. Don't know for sure.

Cheers,
D.

[Steve]

Thanks for all the responses.

The splash guard was removed in 2006 apparently. I started checking other trucks. They aren't there. It's now an aftermarket thing. :icon_mad:

I'm relieved to hear that the A/C works that way. It's set up the same way that International trucks are. The air is dried out before entering the cabin. This is good for the winter or when you need to de-fog your windshield.

[blueranger]

I went to the dealership when I noticed that the air coming into the cab was A/C cold even though I did not have the A/C selected and I was told that your A/C compressor runs constantly and that the air coming in passes by the door that covers the a-coil when you do not have A/C selected and gets cooled that way. I was not too happy to hear that as it is unneeded wear on the A/C compressor and a loss of fuel economy. I wonder if you can get a electric clutch for the A/C compressor in the aftermarket. The A/C is working overtime right now but I will look into it before winter.
Kim

[Steve]

If you don't want your a/c running, either turn the selector knob to "Off" or do as Cowboy Dave suggested - select "panel" on your dash.

I thought that Mythbusters busted the myth about a/c affecting gas mileage?

[Randman]

THE 2005 RANGER HAD A CHANGE IN THE LEFT FRONT (DRIVER SIDE) INNER FENDER SPLASH SHIELD USAGE. AS OF JOB #1 FOR THE 2005 MODEL YEAR, THE LH INNER FENDER SPLASH SHIELD WAS DELETED IN PRODUCTION TO IMPROVE AIR FLOW UNDER HOOD TO THE A/C CONDENSER. THE RH SHIELD IS STILL INSTALLED TO REDUCE SPLASH NEAR THE ENGINE AIR INTAKE. RANGER VEHICLES BUILT AFTER JOB #1, 2005 SHOULD NOT HAVE A SPLASH SHIELD INSTALLED ON THE LH SIDE.