hello , on my 2006 ford ranger stx the running lights will not turn on nor the dash light but the headlights do everytime. it also seems this problem happens when its cold outside. last winter i had the issue and just kept on with it. summer comes around and they work great! but once summer was over they slowly started to die again and now are dead. i have checked every fuse , bulb, switched dead bulbs, changed the switch , tested for volts , cleaned up the ground next to the fuse box. havent seen any damages in the wire or anything concerning. im at a loss of ideas. any help would be greatly appreciated

 

Welcome to the forum

STX model is different that other Ranger models/trims in that it has separate rear turn signals, which was dropped in 1999 and up Rangers
That's just a "heads up" nothing to do with your issue

What you do have is a Park Light Relay, all Rangers have had this relay since Keyless entry was first offered, i.e. Fobs, the relay was needed to Flash the Park lights for wireless Lock and unLock

The Park light Relay is activated by the Fob OR the main light switch, and its a GROUND signal from either, so no voltage for Park lights passes thru the Main light switch
The Park Light relay has 12volts from fuse 31(cab) full time
It is activated by the Fob or the Light switch by grounding this relay
If you have keyless entry do the park lights flash?

In 2004 Rangers got the SJB(smart junction box) as the "Body computer", 1995-2003 Rangers used the GEM Module as body computer
SJB is behind passenger side kick panel
Cab fuse box is part of the SJB

SJB has 4 large connectors for wiring, these can get some corrosion on the connections, causing any number of odd issues, depending on what connections are effected
The Park light relay is inside the SJB soldered to the main board, along with several other relays, so not a serviceable part, but these type of relays rarely fail in any case, it's usually and external wiring issue

This article is not related to your issue but has good pictures of the SJB: https://www.therangerstation.com/tec...-modification/

This drawing shows the 4 connectors numbering: https://www.therangerstation.com/for...box-jpg.30179/
all are C220, and then A, B, C or D
Each connector has a lever that you pull up and that pushes the connector away from the SJB so it can be pulled out all the way and you can inspect pins and slots

This is a picture of obvious SJB corrosion, lol: https://i1.wp.com/sparkys-answers.co...0/DSC09929.jpg
But usually not that obvious so have a good look

But your description of dry weather and wet weather, warm and cold, lends itself to a corroded connection


Wiring diagrams below show exterior light wiring(not head lights) for 2006 Ranger
Page 2 has the Park Light Relay
The Park Light relay also powers Dash light when its on/activated, so all park lights and dash lights not working points to Park Relay not working

The Key Fob activation of Park Light relay is INTERNAL to SJB
The Main Light switch activation comes in on pin 16 C220D



Worst case is swapping out the SJB, but there were only 2 models, with Keyless entry, and without keyless entry, and no you can't add keyless entry just by swapping the SJB, there are a few other parts and the wiring for it that's also needed
No reprogramming is needed, its plug and play

 

hello and thank you , i have checked all sjb wiring connectors and they all look great really. now in the spot for the relays in the sjb mine are blank, with that being inside the panel. the spots are there but clearly looks like but the female connections are not from the board itself. no keyless entry , no 4x4. ally my connections look pretty clean.

 

The 2 relay sockets on the front of the SJB are for One-touch Down power windows and Accessory Delay(leaves radio and lights on in the cab until drivers door is opened), these would be on XLT models, and were no longer there on 2007 and up

So these will be blank unless you have those options, but nothing to do with Park lights

From the diagrams you should be able to find the wire from the Main Light switch that runs to the SJB connector
If you Ground that wire you should hear Park light relay "click" on and Park plights should come on
Key can be off or on doesn't matter for Park lights or headlights

If Park lights come on then issue will be the Ground wire at the Main Light switch, or the wire from Main light switch to SJB
You would have to pull out the main light switch again
On the diagram if show the Black wire as the ground to the vehicle, so test it
White/black wire runs to SJB, ground that wire and Park plights should come on

If the Black wire's connection at G205 is corroded you could get the same warm/cold, wet/dry issues
No, I don't known where G205 is in a 2006 Ranger

 

thank you for you help , i havent got a chance yet to test the switch ground , but i do hear the click sound even when they dont come on

 

If you hear the Park light relay "click" but no park or dash lights then the problem is IN the SJB
You could pull out fuse #1 and test if one of its terminals has 12v with Park lights on, it should of course, if not then its an internal issue in SJB

This is a good place to look for used parts: https://www.car-part.com/

2006
Ford Ranger
Computer Box Not Engine <<< SJB
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SJB is called Multifunction Box by wrecking yards
select w/o keyless entry
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On a 2011, G205 - On Steering Column (integral to clockspring)