It has 2 cig lighters (see pic) and no voltage. Tried 2 fuses – both test good, neither changed the problem.

1st question – is this a common Ranger issue?
2nd question – is the lighter wire a good place to tap into to power a relay?


Thank you

 

One is a Cigar lighter, the other is an AUX port, lighter wouldn't work in it

Fuse 21 in engine bay fuse box, 30amp, powers the AUX port

Fuse 17 in cab fuse panel, 15amp, powers Cigar lighter

These BOTH have 12volts all the time, or should, they are NOT key on/off circuits

BOTH also share the Same Ground in the dash, so no power at both can mean no ground at both

Since they have power all the time anything you hook up to them can drain your battery when key is off, so just a heads up
Relay coils only draw 1/2amp, 0.5amp, so it can power a relay easily, but its LOAD is another matter

 

Thank you for clearing up the 2 different sockets.

The AUX port (a.k.a. “Power Point”) 30 amp fuse was clearly blown. That may have been because I had the cig lighter element sitting in there. I replaced the fuse but still no power.

Maybe the AUX wires were disconnected at some point by the PO. But that would not account for the cig lighter not working.

Is the common ground easily accessible, like without removing the radio etc, or is it buried?

 

Get an OHM meter and test if the units are grounded before disassembly
You can ground them elsewhere if their current ground is no longer working

You would need a 1996 Ford Ranger EVTM(Electrical and Vacuum Troubleshooting Manual) to find the location of each ground point in a 1996 Ranger
Or wait for a response from someone who has a 1996 Ranger and has traced that ground

 

Just so I’m sure, the tab at the top of the pic is the ground – correct?

 

Yes, that tab is for ground connection

 

OK, I got out my multi meter and . . . it was dead.

New meter indicated the ground tab is grounded and that I had 12+ volts at the wire to the socket.

Is it possible the socket itself is bad? Can a socket be tested out of the truck?

 

You just tested it?

Not sure what else on the socket you would test?

You could change meter to OHMs and test the 12v wire connector on the back to the center contact inside the socket, should show 0 ohms, direct connection, same as touching the two meter probes together would show