Ford Ranger Problems

Lowering your T6 Ford Ranger can be done cheaply by ordering lowered springs and having a qualified suspension shop fit them as you'll need a wheel alignment afterwards. Also budget for a whole set of new shocks as they'll need to be matched to your lowered springs. This could affect the size of the payloads you can take, as the new springs won't be able to handle the weights the stock ones could. There could also be legal ramifications in your state, so speak to your department of transport before you modify your car.

Reprogramming an un-coded new key for a current-generation PX (2007-current) Ford Ranger can be done at home if your model is an early 2007-2011 Mark 1 model. You simply get your two original keys, sit in the car with the door closed, and then turn each key to position 2 on the ignition barrel (with the red lights showing on the dash), then remove each within 10 seconds per-key. You then insert the new key, turn it to ignition position 2 and remove it within 10 seconds. You can then re-insert the key and start the car. However, if you have a later model Ford Ranger you need to have a Ford dealer program the key to your specific car and this cannot be done at home as it involves communicating with the car’s ECU. Different dealers can charge different amounts to supply and code a key, anywhere from $350 to $1500, so ring around your area. You will need this done to be able to unlock your Ford Ranger without a key.

There are many ways to personalise your Ford Ranger, including kits to lower or lift your suspension, fit large off-road wheels and tyres, change the bumpers and grille for aftermarket (or F150 Raptor-style parts), vinyl wrap over the paint, and more. It all comes down to personal style and what budget you have, so have a look around Google for modified Ford Rangers as there are as many possibilities as there are grains of sand on Bondi beach.

It will have some affect on the speedo – I estimate about 2 per cent – and it will have an affect on the speeds in each ratio. I would recommend you talk to your tyre retailer to determine that full affect of the change.

Ford Rangers are a workhorse commercial utility vehicle first and foremost, popular with Aussies for their ability to take a tonne of payload in the back, and pull tonnes of tow loads with ease. This heavy duty capability comes at the cost of ride and handling compared to conventional cars and 4x4s, as the suspension is set-up to handle heavy loads, not take corners and ride smoothly. Any work done to make a Ranger ride smoother, like replacing shock absorbers, changing to passenger car-style tyres, or replacing springs with softer rates, will reduce the Ranger's ability to handle loads. You should also check any parts are legal to use on the Ranger before fitting them so you don't void your warranty or are defected by police.

To remove the door panel on a T6-generation Ford Ranger you start by removing two screws at the bottom of the panel, then undo the single screw holding the silver door handle cover on. There is another screw behind the cover for the door lever inside the inner section of the door. Unclip the power window wiring plug and remove the door handle, then the door panel can be pried off the metal frame of the door as it simply clips to the door frame.

The two I would suggest are the Ford Ranger and the Holden Colorado.

The easiest and cheapest way to improve the mileage from your Ford Ranger is to concentrate on driving with peak efficiency in mind. Avoiding stop/start traffic, maintaining a constant cruising speed on the freeway, and driving as smoothly as possible will all pay dividends to your fuel consumption. Diesel models also benefit from an improved intercooler, intake and exhaust package in conjunction with a retune of the factory ECU.

It is quite difficult to make a petrol T6 Ranger faster without spending a lot of money. Diesel Rangers (2.2-litre and 3.2-litre), however, have a large range of options, starting with improving the tune in the ECU to optimise the air:fuel ratio (normally 25% increases in power and torque, and 10% improvement in fuel economy), and blocking the EGT system. After that you'll find excellent gains by upgrading the air intake, exhaust and intercooler system (with a new tune to suit the modified parts). After those modifications you're getting pretty wild with turbo and fuel system upgrades. Be mindful to check with your local department of transport to see if these modifications are legal before commencing any work.

The first step in lifting a Ford Ranger is consulting your roads department to find out if it is legal to do so. Then, visit a shop qualified in suspension work to get quotes on the work you want done. Lift kits are available but it is important to talk to the experts to find a kit that suits your needs before you raise your truck up and find it is wrong for your intended use. Also note that nearly all lift kits will be to suit 4WD models and might not suit 2WD ones.