my friend has an 01 ford ranger edge, the wires behind the dimmer switch burned up, which his lights on the speedo dont work, the dome light only works with the door open and he cannot dim any of the lights, tailights dont work besides the 3rd brake light. his check engine light seatbelt indicator and speed cont works... all was recovered but the blue wire with the red stripe. i took him today to the junk yard got him a new plug, reconnected the other wires and ran the blue with red strip wire straight to the battery as a test, nothing happend except when i rolled the dimmer up his front running lights turned on, and rolled it back down and they shut off...im stumped

 

IMHO…

I am no Automotive Electrician but from what you have written it sounds like a new lighting wiring is in the works.
When you use the Dash Dimmer Sw and the Front Running Lights come on it sounds like some wires has melted together.
My thought is to start by taking the Dash apart trace all of the wires from the Dimmer Switch to where ever they go.
Re-run any wires that are either melted, brittle or show any signs of being burnt.
Also check out all of the wiring behind the Dash that has anything to do with the Lights in general, just to be on the safe side.

What happened to make the wiring on the Dimmer Switch burn up ?

Another thought, the Door Switches for the interior lights short out often and I am not sure what the repercussions are from this, mine just didn’t work until replaced but check them too.

 

alrighty thanks....dash is a pain in the butt to take off

 

I know… I was hoping someone would jump in with a real answer for you.

BUMP...

 

bump

 

Did your friend actually see smoke ?

 

i dunno