I have a 04 Ranger XLT, I installed an aftermarket radio and my dash and hvac lights went out. Hi/low beams are ok, and the radio works fine. there are no blown fuses... the harness adapter I bought has a orange and orange/black (illumination and illumen ground) I terminated those, the radio doesn't need them. I read about a light blue/red wire on the truck side that may be causing problems? Should I cut and terminate that one? Is my issue elsewhere, like the dimmer switch? Any advice? Please Help... Thanks Guys!!

 

Well I would first go back to the new radio.

From your description the dash lights worked fine until you removed the covers to get the old radio out.

Did you disconnect any ground wires?

The old radio illumination wire is an "end user" of power from light switch and dimmer, so not being connected wouldn't effect dash lights.

Did the new radio fit OK?
Maybe pushing it into place caused connector behind it to be pushed and disconnect.

I wouldn't start cutting any wires or searching other areas of the dashboard, I would pull out new radio and check connections there.
Test if dash lights work with new radio out and any new wiring harness disconnected.

Yes, light blue/red stripe wire is used for ALL the lights hooked to dimmer module, same wire color has been used since at least 1990

Ranger Radio wiring diagrams here: Ford Ranger Radio Wiring Diagram

2004 had 3 radio options, so 3 wiring diagrams

 

Thanks Ron! To get the radio to fit, I had to shave plastic inside the bezel, to fit a 2 din touchscreen. To the best of my knowledge, I did not disconnect any grounds that I didn't reconnect (like the one on the cig lighter). I disconnected the radio from the harness and the harness from the truck and still no dash lights...

 

I don't have a 2004 or its wiring diagram
Does the dimmer control turn on the dome light when turned all the way up?
And does that work?

And do the Parking lights work they often share the same fuse as instrument lights
And they added a Parking light relay that feeds power to parking lights and dimmer

 

The dimmer switch and dome light seem to work as normal, when the door is open and with the dimmer is in the upper most position, as well as all exterior lights (fog, hi, low, parking, plate illumination, hazard, signals) the only things that don't come on are the cluster, HVAC, and 4X4 selector switch...

 

There is a separate fuse for just those lights, cluster, HVAC, and 4X4 selector switch, usually 7.5amp, it will be in the cab fuse panel

Found a fuse panel diagram, it is F2.1 5 amp

 

Ron you are a Lifesaver!! Two things, I was looking for the wrong fuse, it's a 5 amp in the cab panel, and 2, the orange and orange/black wires I mentioned, I terminated them Together.. Boneheaded move, I know now... Separated them, new fuse, and Bam! I'm all lit up again!! Thank you for your advice and Time!!
I found this link to an 04 Ranger owners manual PDF if that might be helpful to anyone else

http://cdn.dealereprocess.com/cdn/se...004-ranger.pdf

 

Good work

Thanks for the thanks and posting the fix and manual link