Here in WA some cars are more than a car to get around. They’re instruments of work, business partners and admission passes to adventure. They are part of the landscape, caked in Pilbara red dust, or working through the tight laneways on a Perth work site. The Ford Ranger sits squarely at the top of that list. It’s the undisputed king of new-school ute, a machine designed for hard yakka and weekend getaways.
But what of the workhorse that can no longer run the race? And for more than a decade, WA Auto Parts has been finding out. We believe even when a vehicle has been taken off the road one of its most valuable parts can go on to have a second life. Being a Perth-based quality supplier of used and second-hand auto parts, we are just extraordinary because when other see a wreck we may see the potential and value.
Today we’re cracking the back on how that process works. Come on out to the yard and as you can see we are very excited to welcome our most recent arrival – a 2016 Ford Ranger PX MkII. This isn’t an obituary for a written-off ute; it’s the birth story of hundreds of low-price, high-quality parts that will keep other Rangers on the road for years to come. Welcome to the guaranteed lowest prices in town on a phenomenal range of goods.
The Assessment: Not Just a “Wreck”
So, this Cool White Dual Cab Ranger didn’t drive to the stand on its own. Courtesy of [Mod Edit by Cal] Scroll Parentsmodel 12 It was a statutory write-off to us due to being the innocent victim of a rollover. To the layperson, the buckled roof and pillars spoke a terminal tale. But for us, this is where the happy-hour treasure hunt starts.
Our lead tech, Dave grabbed his clipboard and started his systematic walk-around. A vital first step of a job learned from years of taking everything apart, from Japanese Kei cars to American muscle. It is automotive autopsy — a process of deciding what can be saved and given new purpose.
“The roof’s a goner, obviously,” he said, and began taking notes. “But look lower down.” He passed his hand along the driver’s side doors. “Straight as a die. No impact here. Glass is good, mirror’s intact.”
He continued his circuit. The front end? Untouched. The potent 3.2L turbo diesel engine reclined beneath ‘em as if they were a passing thunderstorm. The rear tub has a few scratches in the liner — evidence of an honest working life — but the tailgate was straight (its handle did its job) and there was even a reversing camera, still perfectly positioned. The inside of the messino was in great shape, sheltered from the worst of it.
This initial assessment is everything. Provides us with the ability to look past the damage, and form an excellent perspective on remaining life of the car. This Ranger wasn’t just a hulk; it was also a hoard of real Ford parts, and our mission was to strip them with the respect and diligence they had earned.
The Drivetrain: Harvesting the Heart
As a Ranger owner, the beast of your vehicle is the revered 3.2L P5AT 5-cylinder turbo diesel engine. That is after all why so many people buy these utes—its low-down torque, its reliability, and its towing muscle. Getting a healthy one is our primary goal.
Before any spanner turns the engine bay it’s where the work really starts. We connected our state-of-the-art diagnotic reader to the OBD-II port, looking for DTCs stored in your engine’s ECU. The report was clean — an excellent sign.
Next, the crucial test. We drained the fluids, hooked up a tiny gas reservoir and turned the key. The big 3.2L lit up at the first turn of the key with that classic 5-Cylinder burble. We fired it up, brought it to temperature and Chapter II Listen2 close listeneing for any egregious sounds of discontent, watching the tail pipe for smoke and a steady idle. It performed flawlessly. With only a tad more than 112,000 km on the clock, this engine was barely broken-in.
The automatic 6-speed transmission was tested with the same severity. We tried everything, Drive, Reverse, Sport mode—and every shift made was smooth and for a purpose. We also inspected the 4×4 system and shifted the transfer case into 4-High and 4-Low to ensure it worked just as well.
We gave the go-ahead only when all of these tests were cleared. We then have to remove the wiring harnesses, fluid lines and mounts with our mechanical team. The rest of the engine, gearbox and transfer case was hoisted out cleanly. This turn key, tested and warranted drivetrain is now just waiting to be a solution for that person looking at either a catastrophic engine failure or the high cost of rebuilding their transmission saving them thousands of dollars.
Beyond the Engine: Saving the Good Bits
Now that our mechanical heart is out of it harm’s way, we focused on the rest of the car. An udern ute is a maze of wires, toughened panels and luxury interiors, and we’ll harvest them all.
The Tub, Tailgate, and Exterior Panels: The ute tub is one of the most frequently dented structures on a Perth worksite. A new one from the dealer can make your eyes water. This Ranger threw up a straight, well body complete with factory plastic liner and tie-down points. The tailgate, which they removed and will pop into the works just fine. The four sequences of doors were unbarred, all intact. You can buy them in complete form (glass, regulators and speakers) or bare shells should you wish to retain your own window gear.
The Tech and Interior Comforts: Today’s work ute is a rolling office. This particular Ranger was an XLT, and it featured the desirable SYNC 2 multimedia setup. The 8-inch touchscreen, which served as the command hub for navigation, audio and phone calls was tested and removed with its modules. This is a very popular upgrade for owners of lower spec models with the standard radio.
- The interior itself was immaculate. We salvaged:
- A full complement of seating: Clean, supportive and rip-free.
- The steering wheel: All of the cruise control and audio buttons work.
- Whole dash assembly and Centre Console: A large number of items from air vents, switches through to console bin and lid etc.
They are ideal parts for updating a tired interior that has had a few too many dusty boots and spilled coffees in it.
Wheels, Suspension and Brakes: Original full set of Ford XLT alloy wheels were replaced. They had the usual scrapes, but they were straight and sitting on respectable all-terrain tyres. And even the suspension in its standard form (front struts and rear leaf springs) was fabulous for any owner wanting to put his hacked-up ute back to stock condition.
The Outcome: From One Ute Came a Thousand Solutions
The process is now complete. The stripped-out carcass of the white Ranger, which has had all its value removed from it, will be depolluted by our responsible end-of-life disposal partners ready to be recycled. But its legacy is now lining our shelves, archived and available.
From one written-off car come hundreds of unique solutions. The engine in question is going to revitalize another Ranger. The straight door will repair a crash victim’s ute. The SYNC 2 screen will add some modern tech to the older model. It’s precisely why we run WA Auto Parts. It is the most sustainable, cost-effective and smart way to keep Western Australia moving.
We are wreckers of all makes and models, with plenty of parts available for your car, whether it’s an older car or a new one at our yard. This Ford Ranger is a beautiful example of the we treat and prepare each of our vehicles.
Parts We have for Sale on this 2016 Ford Ranger PXII
In search of a Ranger part? We currently have 100s of quality parts available in stock for this car and other cars. This Ranger is a source of some key parts:
- Whole Engine: P5AT 3.2L Turbo Diesel with Warranty.
- Drivetrain: 6 Speed Auto Tranny, 4×4 T-Case, Front & Rear Diffs.
- Inside: SYNC 2 Head Unit, All of the Seats, Steering Wheel And Console.
- Exterior: All 4 Doors, Tub/Well Body, Tailgate, Side Steps and the Tow Bar.
- Wheels: 4 Genuine XLT Alloy Wheels.
- Mechanical: Alternator, Starter Motor, Turbo, A/C access, etc.
- You don’t want to pay full price for new parts. Now here’s the real deal, laboratory tested and guaranteed for pennies on the dollar.
For pricing, availability or other parts you require, call a team with 15 years of experience serving Perth. Call us today to chat about your new or used Subaru part on (08) 9358 1392