2001 FORD RANGER maintenance

Before driving
Introduction 2
Instrumentation 8
Controls and features 20
Seating and safety restraints 89
Starting and driving
Starting 123
Driving 128
Roadside emergencies 158
Servicing
Maintenance and care 184
Capacities and specifications 240
Customer assistance 249
Reporting safety defects 262
Index 263
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Copyright 2001 Ford Motor Company
Contents
1

3. The fuel cap may not have been properly installed and securely
tightened.
These temporary malfunctions can be corrected by filling the fuel tank
with high quality fuel of the recommended octane and/or properly
installing and securely tightening the gas cap. After three driving cycles
without these or any other temporary malfunctions present, theCheck
Enginelight should turn off. (A driving cycle consists of a cold engine
startup followed by mixed city/highway driving.) No additional vehicle
service is required.
If theCheck Enginelight remains on, have your vehicle serviced at the
first available opportunity.
Light is blinking:
Engine misfire is occurring which could damage your catalytic converter.
You should drive in a moderate fashion (avoid heavy acceleration and
deceleration) and have your vehicle serviced at the first available
opportunity.
Under engine misfire conditions, excessive exhaust temperatures
could damage the catalytic converter, the fuel system, interior
floor coverings or other vehicle components, possibly causing a fire.
Check fuel cap (if equipped)
Momentarily illuminates when the
ignition is turned to the ON position
to ensure your bulb is working.
When this light turns on, check the
fuel filler cap. Continuing to operate
the vehicle with the check fuel cap light on, can activate theService
Engine Soon/Check Enginewarning light. When the fuel filler cap is
properly re-installed, the light(s) will turn off after a period of normal
driving. This period will vary depending on driving conditions.
It may take a long period of time for the system to detect an
improperly installed fuel filler cap.
For more information, refer toFuel filler capin theMaintenance and
carechapter.
CHECK
FUEL
CAP
Instrumentation
11

Anti-lock brake system (ABS)
Momentarily illuminates when the
ignition is turned to the ON position
to indicate a system check. If the
light remains on, continues to flash
or fails to illuminate, have the
system serviced immediately. With the ABS light on, the anti-lock brake
system is disabled and normal braking is still effective unless the brake
warning light also remains illuminated with the parking brake released.
Turn signal
Illuminates when the left or right
turn signal or the hazard lights are
turned on. If one or both of the
indicators stay on continuously or
flash faster, check for a burned-out
turn signal bulb. Refer toBulbsin theMaintenance and carechapter.
High beams
Illuminates when the high beam
headlamps are turned on.
Anti-theft system (if equipped)
Refer toSecuriLockypassive
anti-theft systemin theControls
and featureschapter.
Charging system
Illuminates when the ignition is
turned to the ON position and the
engine is off. The light also
illuminates when the battery is not
charging properly, requiring
electrical system service.
ABS
THEFT
Instrumentation
13

Engine coolant temperature gauge
Indicates the temperature of the
engine coolant. At normal operating
temperature, the needle remains
within the normal area (the area
between the ªHº and ªCº).
If it enters the red section, the
engine is overheating. Stop the
vehicle as soon as safely
possible, switch off the engine
immediately and let the engine cool.
Refer toEngine coolantin theMaintenance and carechapter.
Never remove the coolant reservoir cap and/or the radiator cap
while the engine is running or hot, this may result in serious
burns.
NOTE:This gauge indicates the temperature of the engine coolant, not
the coolant level. If the coolant is not at its proper level the gauge
indication will not be accurate.
Tachometer
Indicates the engine speed in
revolutions per minute.
Driving with your tachometer
pointer continuously at the top of
the scale may damage the engine.
C
H
0 12345
6
RPMx1000
Instrumentation
17

Engine oil pressure gauge
This shows the engine oil pressure
in the system. Sufficient pressure
exists as long as the needle remains
in the normal range (the area
between the ªLº and ªHº).
If the gauge indicates low pressure,
stop the vehicle as soon as safely
possible and switch off the engine
immediately. Check the oil level.
Add oil if needed (refer toEngine
oilin theMaintenance and care
chapter). If the oil level is correct, have your vehicle checked at your
dealership or by a qualified technician.
Battery voltage gauge
This shows the battery voltage when
the ignition is in the ON position. If
the pointer moves and stays outside
the normal operating range (as
indicated by arrows), have the
vehicle's electrical system checked
as soon as possible.
H
L
L
H
Instrumentation
19

To remove the bed extender:
1. Extend the bed extender.
2. Pull the round knobs on each side
of the extender to unlock it.
Make sure the locking clip screws
are loose before removing the
extender.
1. Press the locking clips below the
middle bar on each side and lift the
extender out of the channels on the
ªDº pillar.
To install the bed extender, follow
the removal procedure in reverse
order.
TONNEAU COVER (IF EQUIPPED)
The tonneau cover has been designed to maximize fuel economy and
should be fully installed whenever possible.
The rear panel can be folded in half and secured behind the cab, or the
whole cover can be removed completely from the vehicle.
To avoid damage to the cover, do not operate the vehicle unless
the cover is fully installed, or securely stowed.
Refer toTonneau cover carein theMaintenance and carechapter.
Controls and features
76

How to disengage the automatic locking mode
Disconnect the combination lap/shoulder belt and allow it to retract
completely to disengage the automatic locking mode and activate the
vehicle sensitive (emergency) locking mode.
After any vehicle collision, the front passenger outboard seat belt
system must be checked by a qualified technician to verify that
the ªautomatic locking retractorº feature for child seats is still
functioning properly. In addition, all seat belts should be checked for
proper function.
BELT AND RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY MUST BE REPLACED if
the seat belt assembly ªautomatic locking retractorº feature or
any other seat belt function is not operating properly when checked
according to the procedures in Workshop Manual.
Failure to replace the Belt and Retractor assembly could
increase the risk of injury in collisions.
Safety belt pretensioner (if equipped)
Your vehicle is equipped with safety belt pretensioners at the driver and
front outboard passenger seating positions.
The safety belt pretensioners are designed to activate during certain
frontal or near-frontal collisions with sufficient longitudinal deceleration.
A safety belt pretensioner is a device which tightens the webbing of the
lap and shoulder belts in such a way that they fit more snugly against
the body.
The driver and front outboard passenger safety belt system (including
retractors, buckle assembly, pretensioner assembly with seat and height
adjusters) must be replaced if the vehicle is involved in a collision that
results in the activation of the safety belt pretensioners. Refer to the
Safety belt maintenancesection in this chapter.
Failure to replace the safety belt assembly under the above
conditions could result in severe personal injuries in the event of
a collision.
Seating and safety restraints
95

²This will disable Belt Minder if it is currently enabled, or enable Belt
Minder if it is currently disabled.
7. Confirmation of disabling Belt Minder is provided by the safety belt
warning light flashing four times per second for three seconds.
8. Confirmation of enabling Belt Minder is provided by:
²The safety belt warning light flashing four times per second for three
seconds.
²Followed by three seconds with the safety belt warning light off.
²Once again, the safety belt warning light will flash four times per
second for three seconds.
9. After receiving confirmation, the deactivation/activation procedure is
complete.
Safety belt maintenance
Inspect the safety belt systems periodically to make sure they work
properly and are not damaged. Inspect the safety belts to make sure
there are no nicks, tears or cuts. Replace if necessary. All safety belt
assemblies, including retractors, buckles, front seat belt buckle
assemblies, buckle support assemblies (slide bar-if equipped), shoulder
belt height adjusters (if equipped), shoulder belt guide on seatback (if
equipped), child safety seat tether bracket assemblies (if equipped),
LATCH child seat tether anchors and lower anchors (if equipped), and
attaching hardware, should be inspected after a collision. Ford
recommends that all safety belt assemblies used in vehicles involved in a
collision be replaced. However, if the collision was minor and a qualified
technician finds that the belts do not show damage and continue to
operate properly, they do not need to be replaced. Safety belt assemblies
not in use during a collision should also be inspected and replaced if
either damage or improper operation is noted.
Failure to inspect and if necessary replace the safety belt
assembly under the above conditions could result in severe
personal injuries in the event of a collision.
Refer toCleaning and maintaining the safety beltsin the
Maintenacne and Caresection.
Seating and safety restraints
102