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RCM relocation       #: 1682
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 Posted: Sun Jun 23rd, 2019 10:37 pm
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JAMMAN

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 I really always thought this was a bad and dangerous idea until I found the one on my 99 expo. Same looking module as the ranger. It was on a mounting plate under the passenger kick panel. The "forward" arrow was there pointing forward duh. So I'm thinking the module can be mounted vertically as long as the arrow is pointing forward and it is bolted firmly to the body.

I know the normal people are going to start chiming in and say NOOOOOOOOO but can anyone find (I looked) an article that says the ranger one was specifically designed for horizontal mount and the expo one is designed for vertical mount? They have different part numbers of course but the same connectors and the same large arrow that needs to point forward.

The reason is to eliminate the hump in the carpet going under the vent so it looks better without a cup holder that I don't need. There are 2 studs coming out of the framework for the right kick panel I'm going to check the expo tomorrow and see if those are the studs the RCM is attached to.



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 Posted: Mon Jun 24th, 2019 10:01 am
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 Not 100% someone else may want to add to it. But I'm pretty sure the RCN is vin specific. I would say relocation is possible as long as you dont have to extend any wires. Splicing may change voltage readings causing an inoperative system. But the full length expo console covers up everything



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 Posted: Mon Jun 24th, 2019 10:41 am
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JAMMAN

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 Which I cannot find a decent one in light gray. But I decided to go flat anyway.



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 Posted: Sat Jun 29th, 2019 01:11 pm
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Scrambler82
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 "Go Flat"... meaning No RCM ?

What about the RCM Cover from an FX4 ? I think you were looking for one.

What did you do ?



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 Posted: Sat Jun 29th, 2019 04:09 pm
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 I have the RCM cover from the FX4 now, thanks to V8level2 for seeing it on e-bay.

I have pretty much decided to leave it there and use the cover, not because I think it won't work mounted vertically but because I don't want to run wires for it. I think the carpet looks better flat under the lower vents, fell in love with the look on a 98 I used to own. 98 had a different crash sensor system.

I still haven't made a decision on "use the expo carpet" or wait till I can justify the 200 bucks for a new carpet and padding. I could go with just carpet but the padding makes it so much quieter.



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 Posted: Sat Jun 29th, 2019 05:11 pm
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chris

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 How much space is there UNDER the tunnel?

Could you make a sunken box to carry the RCM so its top was level with the tunnel?



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 Posted: Sat Jun 29th, 2019 10:13 pm
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 I could have relocated it to under the right kick panel, there are actually studs to hold the bracket that the expo has, and I have the bracket. There is a huge space between the kick bracket and the plastic cover just like the expo.

I'll probably do that, I did put the expo carpet in tonight and  man did it deaden the road noise. The expo carpet pads are twice as thick or at least noticeably thicker than the ranger carpet pads. The carpet I am considering temporary till I can buy the "real" carpet.



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 Posted: Thu Sep 12th, 2019 09:16 pm
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sheltonfilms
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 JAMMAN wrote:
I could have relocated it to under the right kick panel, there are actually studs to hold the bracket that the expo has, and I have the bracket. There is a huge space between the kick bracket and the plastic cover just like the expo.

I'll probably do that, I did put the expo carpet in tonight and  man did it deaden the road noise. The expo carpet pads are twice as thick or at least noticeably thicker than the ranger carpet pads. The carpet I am considering temporary till I can buy the "real" carpet.
It actually used to be on the right kick panel until 1999 where they moved it to the trans tunnel. RAPS module was in the rear of the cab until 2000 where it moved to the kick panel. 

As long as the arrow is forward I don't see an issue. The only time tilting a airbag unit is an issue is if there is a rollover function of the unit so it has to know the "roll" of the vehicle. I don't believe the rangers of this time had this. Have no idea about later gens.



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 Posted: Fri Sep 13th, 2019 08:07 am
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 Ty, from what I saw the bracket mount is still there, and there is enough room to put a small pony between the kick panel and the frame. I have all the bracket now from a 99 expo and the plug if I screw the old one up.



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 Posted: Fri Sep 13th, 2019 01:25 pm
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 watching with interest!!:coffee

Last edited on Fri Sep 13th, 2019 01:25 pm by 410customs



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 Posted: Fri Sep 13th, 2019 02:20 pm
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 99~05 Rangers had an RCM that contained both the crash sensor AND the safing sensor internally.

Explorer RCMs of that era had an internal safing sensor and crash sensors that were external to the RCM.

To me, that says that these restraint systems are not directly comparable.

I don't know enough about the inner workings of the RCM to say how changing its orientation could impact the correct operation of the airbags. And for that reason, I would avoid relocating the RCM and/or turning it on its side.

Manufacturers spend a ton of money and test crash numerous vehicles before the Restraint System is judged to work properly. Modifications MIGHT work but I wouldn't want to crash my truck or have an inappropriate air bag deployment to find out.



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 Posted: Fri Sep 13th, 2019 04:32 pm
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JAMMAN

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 I wasn't replacing the ranger RCM with the expo RCM, just using the bracket. Being that the crash sensor and safing sensor are internal on the 99-05 RCM's wouldn't that actually support the moving working as long as the forward arrow was the same direction?

That is the exact purpose of this thread, I'm not condoning in any way making a safety device un-safe for aesthetics just attempting to determine if it really matters. It will not be moved if it does matter but so far nobody knows that for sure.

Funny thing, sheltonfilms helped me determine this truck actually had an explorer RCM in it when I first bought it. It has since been replaced with a 2000 ranger RCM and in the correct location.

I'll try to find the thread it was interesting.



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 Posted: Fri Sep 13th, 2019 04:40 pm
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JAMMAN

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 Here's the thread, shows the old codes, the old RCM and the one I put in it.

https://ford-rangers.com/forum54/1297-1.html



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 Posted: Fri Sep 13th, 2019 07:43 pm
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 JAMMAN wrote:
I wasn't replacing the ranger RCM with the expo RCM, just using the bracket. Being that the crash sensor and safing sensor are internal on the 99-05 RCM's wouldn't that actually support the moving working as long as the forward arrow was the same direction?
Yes, I understand that. My point is that I don't know how or if tilting the Ranger RCM might change its behavior.  Until I could get that info, I would not try it.  My opinion FWIW.



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 Posted: Fri Sep 13th, 2019 10:23 pm
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JAMMAN

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 Dude I'm right with you on that one, never said I wasn't. I just feel the need to know things that others would seriously wonder why. You should see the monsters I create at work :)



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 Posted: Sun Sep 15th, 2019 12:00 pm
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JAMMAN

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 I have sent this question to 3 so far vendors that "reset" RCM's I figure they know the insides better than anyone. I'm sure they will be squeamish about liability issues as everyone seems to be these days.

(different subject but ties in)
I sent a support E-mail to intellitronix on an oil pressure gauge I have asking if they could put "PSI" on the bottom display instead of "OIL" since I was using it as a fuel pressure gauge.

The tech that must have been based in india (so bad he was typing with an accent) in all caps did not answer my question but yelled at me telling me I was using the product in an unsafe manor. Though his butt was covered it is still on the vehicle reading the fuel rail pressure just fine.



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 Posted: Mon Sep 16th, 2019 12:23 pm
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 One has returned my query, and has said as long as it is affixed to the body or frame and the arrow is pointing forward it will trigger when the vehicle is hit in the front.

I still wouldn't do it until at least one more statement from a repair facility. Wish I had the money to mount one sideways and run it in to a brick wall. Unmanned of course.

But it does make sense. I have a spare from an expo that I do not know the origin of, maybe time for disassembly and a section of the sensor might be as clear as mud after that.



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 Posted: Mon Sep 16th, 2019 04:53 pm
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 How about wiring it up, turning it sideways and tapping it hard against something - if OK it will trigger.....?



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 Posted: Mon Sep 16th, 2019 04:57 pm
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 As long as destroying the airbags isn't involved. If I'm going to destroy airbags then the entire vehicle goes! Crash test dummies ordered. LOL



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 Posted: Mon Sep 16th, 2019 04:59 pm
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 AOC says she is in, haven't heard from Pelosi and Schumer yet.



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 Posted: Mon Sep 16th, 2019 08:52 pm
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 JAMMAN wrote:
AOC says she is in, haven't heard from Pelosi and Schumer yet.
Air head express



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 Posted: Tue Sep 17th, 2019 12:07 am
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 RC car and a JY air bag? 1/4 scale experiment....lol



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