I can't seem to locate anything in this forum through searching so I'm curious....

I know most that have done the one-touch down for the passenger side windows use either a switch from a sable or taurus. While borrowing an 06 taurus as my truck was being worked on I couldn't help but notice that the door locks, windows, and (I think) mirror adjuster switches were all illuminated when headlights were on. Is it safe to assume this can be done with the ranger? Again, assuming the wiring is there? Bob??....Griggs? Anyone?

 

should be a plug in mod, try the explorers I believe their switches are illuminated...

 

An advantage to the LED door lock mod is that if you use the four LED setup, the inner panel LEDs will illuminate the switches for you, granted in red or green, depending if the door is locked or unlocked.

 

This question has come up in the past and I have never seen a conversion that illuminates the switches from inside. The Ranger lettering is printed on top of the black plastic switch rockers. As far as I know, there is no easy way to mod the Ranger switches or swap in a set of illuminated switches from another model. The closest I've seen was an LED installed in the panel above the switches to light the whole area.

 

I noticed that about our switches. Hmmm. Well the reason I ask is mainly because I need to take my passenger door trim off to investigate a rattle coming from near the speaker. I figured since I'll have it apart, why not finally do the auto down switch for passenger side and then driving around in that 06 taurus got me thinking on illuminating the switches. Guess it's time for some detective work at a junk yard.

 

And to clarify: we don't use Taurus switches, just the electronic window control boxes.

I've never investigated compatible switches myself.

 

maybe you could pop the caps off an illuminated switch, put them on the ranger switches (assuming another model has the same type of switches), and mount an LED underneath?

 

That's what I was thinking. I should have gotten photos of the taurus switches for comparison with the ranger's.

 

Well, being neighborly, and forgetting to introduce myself, I ask the wife/girlfriend of my new apartment neighbors if I could look at her Sable. She's got either an 04 or 05. The switches do light up, but they are of a complete different design than the ranger window/lock rocker switches. Idea off to the back burner now.

 

Next time i do an explorer at work for speakers im gonna take a closer to there door panels arent exactly the same but close enough but i think the switches should fit in ours but i dont think their illuminated but next time one comes in ill check...

 

Please do. I also have a friend here with a 93 explorer with the power package. I'll check his as I've never been in it at night. I'd check my mom's, but she's about as plain jane manual that an XLT 4x4 explorer could come back in 92.

 

What if an LED was mounted somehow in the switch that we have in our trucks would it shine through or look like poop

 

I actually experimented with this a bit. Only thing I got so far is that a rectangular LED fits nicely in the gap between the switch and the cowling (look at the bottom of the switch for the 1/8" gap on each side...)

Looks alright. Makes the edges glow. Thought I'd try that (green, of course) with my power window installation later this spring.

 

Well what I'm after is that on the sable/taurus switches the word "AUTO" and the up arrow are actually translucent. Apparently (off assumption) there's a light on the switch that illuminates these. Whereas on our automatic switches the words "up" and "down" are written on the switch base and not the switch itself, at least in my case.

That might be another idea. Wire in an LED or 2 so that the gap between the switch and switch base will illuminate, creating the edge glow you talk about.

FWIW, I just got off the phone with my mom's fiance. He has a fully loaded 98 explorer (I want the 302 out of it LOL) and apparently the window.lock switches light up. I've asked him for photos. Given the exploder was still a RBV back then I'd like to assume the switches are hopefully the same design. If they are, it's a trip out to the JY on Wednesday for them and the sable/taurus auto down modules.

 

The 95~2001 Explorer switches that I've seen are canted on an angle and the rockers are a different shape compared to a Ranger.

 

damn it bob. LOL

 

lol kills this thread

 

you could do some custom Fiberglass to do it, lol... IMO too much time into it to get illuminated switches... :(

 

yeah why not just use a totally different switch panel, from say a mustang or something else with 2 doors? Easier said then done, but just mold them into the ranger panels..

 

hmmm, I did have fun using portland cement at work to make artificial rocks.

No no....last thing I need is to be playing with fiberglass when the blasted RCD kit is sitting on my kitchen floor. LOL Must set priorities. I was just hoping this one would be a simple mod like some of the other interior stuff (2nd fog switch, OHC, mustang dome light, etc.)

 

still to cold here to fiberglass my install bay has a ghetto a$$ heater cuz my managers have better things to spend the store budget on

 

I'll be enjoying the comforts of 77 tomorrow and low 80s later in the week.

 

ya im enjoying the comfort of 29 right now and artritis from this damn weather