First, thanks for letting me on here. Hopefully someone can help.

I have a 97 Ranger, 2.3 that my father in law picked up. It was sitting in a field for several years and didn't run. After un sticking several valves and a new fuel system, it runs. I still have several issues.

With the key on, I have no battery light, no CEL and no odometer display. With the truck running. the alternator is not charging the battery, but the alternator is good. I have 12 volts to the main and secondary wiring on the alternator, no nothing on the gauge wire.

I have checked all fuses and grounds, and everything looks good.
Anyone have an idea on where to look next?

I'm thinking in the dash is my next move to look for burnt light or broken wire, due to critters.
Thanks in advance

 

Welcome to the forum

Below is the 1997 Cluster wiring diagram

Fuse 15 in cab fuse box powers the Battery Light(charge light)
And that 12volts travels thru the bulb to the green/red wire at the alternator which turns ON the alternator, without that 12v alternator is OFF
The alternator is in fact a "ground"(lower voltage) for that green/red wire, which is why the Battery Light should come on with key on/engine off, as soon as alternator can produce its own voltage the Battery light will go OFF because it has equal voltage on both terminals
This battery light circuit has a by-pass resistor in the cluster in case the bulb burns out, so if alternator is not working it won't be because bulb is burned out, either no 12v at the bulb(key on) or the green/red wire is broken


CEL(MIL) bulb gets 12v from fuse 11 with key on, then the computer Grounds the bulb once it has booted up, 1 or 2 seconds, pink/green wire pin 2 on computer, bulb can be burned out if previous own just let it stay on all the time without fixing the problem of why it was on, lol

1997 cluster is not digital so odometer should be visible key off or on?
Odometers in 1995-2003 Rangers did have a common issue of stripped worm gear drive so would no longer turn when driving, fixable

 

Thanks Ron, both fuses are good, and your correct, I was looking below the speedometer for the odometer.
I'm assuming that's the information display.
I'm printing the wiring diagram and I'll get back on it tomorrow.
I'm getting a little cross eyed on tracing this issue.
Again, appreciate your insight.

 

Thanks RonD

Broken exicter wire

 

Good work on finding that broken wire, not easy to do

 

Appreciate you taking the time to point me in the right direction.
I owe you a cold one!