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What's wrong tail, instrument, and parki       #: 2253
 Moderated by: NoPower, Mike69, MaDMaXX,
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 Posted: Wed Sep 23rd, 2020 11:30 pm
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wh23g3g
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 So on my way home tonight my instrument panel lights didn't light up at all. The headlights and high beam lights worked. Someone yelled at me to turn on my lights behind me but I could see my headlights were on. When I got home it looks like my front parking and rear tail lights were all out. It just happened all of a sudden. Everything was working last night. I replaced the headlight switch a few years ago because the actual headlight quit working on the way home 30 miles away. Luckily it was a less traveled road and I could use the high beams. I thought if the head light switch was out the head lights wouldn't work. I haven't done anything to the lights recently. Fuses for the instrument cluster checked out ok. What could it be?



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1998 Ford Ranger XLT 2.5 4R44E Automatic 4.10 non-limited slip, 1993 Ford Ranger XLT 2.3 M5 Manual, 3.45 non-limited slip
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 Posted: Thu Sep 24th, 2020 09:19 am
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410customs

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 check fuses



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I build custom RBV, specializing in drivetrain conversions, wiring, suspension and complete custom trucks
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 Posted: Sat Sep 26th, 2020 01:22 am
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wh23g3g
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 It was a fuse in the power distribution block. Good thing I checked it before I decided to take the instrument panel cluster off to replace the headlight switch. Didn't cost me anything.



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1998 Ford Ranger XLT 2.5 4R44E Automatic 4.10 non-limited slip, 1993 Ford Ranger XLT 2.3 M5 Manual, 3.45 non-limited slip
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 Posted: Sat Sep 26th, 2020 09:59 am
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410customs

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 step one
Check fuses

Neighbor came over last week...."4wd isnt working, what gives with these Fords?" (hes a Chevy guy, but both of their Chevys are currently sitting outside my shop in need of repairs, so we bartered 6 months ago for a v6 Ranger we built) "Fix or repair daily, I guess they were'nt joking when they labeled them with F O R D" you see we just got done fixing a rusted out freeze plug that popped out of the side of his 4.0 Ranger engine...took me two days t ofix that one and now the 4x4 quit working........... I said "check the fuses"
He said "fuses?"
I said "yeah you know ELECTRONIC SHIFT transfer case, it has a fuse"
He looked puzzled
two seconds later I found his ESOF fuse blown...and replaced it, 4x4 working again
I said " see here fuse 26 circuits covered ESOF, Dome lamp, aux power port, etc etc" he says "Oh I was just messing with that dimmer switch the other day"
and I said "that's when your 4x4 quit working right?"
He says "I guess so"
I said
"ALWAYS CHECK YOUR FUSES FIRST!"

Ive been around these trucks a long time............



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 Posted: Fri Oct 2nd, 2020 11:21 pm
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wh23g3g
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 I thought it was just a fuse. I replace and saw it was working so I didn't drive it at night until this week. It did ok one night this week. Tonight it went out again halfway into a 15 mile drive home in the dark. Headlamps, signals, and brake lights were the only exterior working. No lights inside except the radio and the dome light. I stopped halfway home and switched the fuse with my radio fuse. Everything worked for about 30 seconds and then it blew again. I had to take the less traffic way home to avoid definitely getting stopped. I got home and popped in some extra 15 amps fuses I had and tried just turning the switch to parking lights. I could see it blow right away. It's the one in the power distribution box. Could it be the headlight switch? A similar thing happened years ago when the headlight switch failed.



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1998 Ford Ranger XLT 2.5 4R44E Automatic 4.10 non-limited slip, 1993 Ford Ranger XLT 2.3 M5 Manual, 3.45 non-limited slip
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 Posted: Sat Oct 3rd, 2020 10:49 am
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 could be the headlight switch yes
So the way this works is you need to identify which fuse keeps popping
Then identify the circuits that fuse protects
Now check each circuit for an issue....with your truck we already know when you mess with the light switch the fuse blows
So all wires that go from that fuse to that switch are suspect, the power, the ground and signal wires. Need to check wires for issues, corrosion, bent pins, etc before you just go replacing headlight switch. That way the new headlight switch does not end up doing the same thing........ an aftermarket headlight switch is suspect, factory lasts 200-350K miles, aftermarket....well maybe a couple of years



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 Posted: Sat Oct 3rd, 2020 11:28 pm
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wh23g3g
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 I didn't have time to check wiring. I need to drive it. I swapped out the headlight switch under warranty so it didn't cost me anything. I got home tonight and plugged it in and turned on the switch. Everything worked. I tried it for a couple minutes and the fuse didn't blow. I haven't previously messed with any of the lights or wiring. Hopefully it's not chaffed somewhere but I've never had any issues before except when the switch went out before. That was 3 or 4 years ago. I'm going to try and drive it to work tomorrow and see if the lights work all the way home, 15 mile drive. I looked at the wiring leading to the switch in the dash and didn't see anything unusual or exposed.



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1998 Ford Ranger XLT 2.5 4R44E Automatic 4.10 non-limited slip, 1993 Ford Ranger XLT 2.3 M5 Manual, 3.45 non-limited slip
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 Posted: Thu Oct 8th, 2020 07:41 pm
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 93-97 should be fuse #15, I noticed yours is a 98 and I believe a whole other new looking fuse box altogether. Mine is still under the dash.  
When its happened found out there was a pinched wire in the body harnesses or supplement harness in the taillights or under the tailgate.  It would do all you said and take out the brake lights too, something I reg check when backing up in places with window store fronts.



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