need advice for a 99 Ranger!

[DirtyRed]

First of all before you read this, please forgive my ignorance when it comes to working on vehicles. I know hardly anything about the mechanics or correct terms when referring to auto repair. That being said, here are my list of problems:

I have a '99 Ford Ranger 4-cylinder with 108,0000 miles on it.

-I recently replaced the spark plugs and in order to do that, I had to remove the silver looking piece to the right of the carbeurator (I'll just call it the air intake manifold). When putting it all back together, I broke one of the bolts and also screwed the gaskets up. The bolt is no problem (I can re-tap it), my problem lies is figuring out what to call those gaskets so I can get them from the store. Can anyone help me out with the right words?

-My check engine light won't go off. It was on before I changed my spark plugs. After I changed the plugs and wires, the light went off for about a day and now it's on again.

-My ABS light won't go off. That light came on before I recently changed my rotors. I had hoped it would go off after I changed out the rotors, but it didn't go off.

-My speedomoter quit working on me (maybe has to do with the ABS light?).

-My valves are starting to rattle and make noise. I changed to from 30w oil to a 40w and it's still making noise. What should I do?

I have a mechanic friend who can help me out with the repairs, but my main problem is that I need advice from all you wise and learned folks to point me in the right direction.

I love my Ranger and don't really want to have to resort to buying a new vehicle.

Any help of advice is much appreciated!

-Thanks!
Ralph

[lance_rowland]

Your ABS light being on and speedometer not working are related. Go to your local NAPA and buy a new ABS sensor (may be called Vehicle Speed Sensor or Rear Diff Sensor). It costs me less than $11. It is located on top of your rear differential. Unplug it, remove a screw, pop the sensor out, put in new one, put screw back in, plug back in. ABS light should go off instantly, as well as speedometer should start working.

[DirtyRed]

Originally Posted by lance_rowland

Your ABS light being on and speedometer not working are related. Go to your local NAPA and buy a new ABS sensor (may be called Vehicle Speed Sensor or Rear Diff Sensor). It costs me less than $11. It is located on top of your rear differential. Unplug it, remove a screw, pop the sensor out, put in new one, put screw back in, plug back in. ABS light should go off instantly, as well as speedometer should start working.

i'll give that a shot. thank you!

[Jack Redd]

I wonder if I have the same problem. I have a '99 Ranger Sport and my ABS light came on a few weeks ago. Not long after that my speedometer started acting squirrly. It registers 0 mph until I get up to about 35 mph and then it kicks in and works fine until I slow down to 35 or below then it goes back to 0. Any suggestions?

[emil1106]

If U don't have any other problem, your ABS and CHECK ENGINE should go off and your speedometer should start working by changing the sensor that Lance is reffering to! It worked for me when I had that problem.

[Jack Redd]

Thanks for the advice. It was the speed sensor. Unfortunately, I couldn't get the bolt off to remove the sensor so I had to take it back to the dealer and get it done. Either the factory torqueing robot got torque happy and gave it an extra twist or some idiot had already replaced the thing once and locked it down good! When I tried to unbolt it all I did was round the edges of the bolt. Everything's fine now - now erratic speedometer and the ABS light went out.