General Technical & Electrical General technical and electrical discussion for the Ford Ranger that does not fit in any other sub-forum.

Electrical/Wiring problem?

Old Dec 20, 2020
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Electrical/Wiring problem?

Recently did some work on my truck and had to disconnect the battery and all the wiring. When I finished up, the radio stopped working, and would only work 1/3 of the time I’d turn the car on. The head lights also stopped working tonight, and I’m confused out of my mind. No blown fuses, we checked them all. Fog lights work, everything interior works, but exterior headlamps just stopped. I can flash the hi beams but actually turning them on does nothing. Any help with this? Should I just pull apart the car and check for wiring issues? What should I be looking for?
 
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Old Dec 20, 2020
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What YEAR Ranger

Also what work was done while battery was disconnected?

Low beams use different fuse and wiring that high beams, but need YEAR

Radio issue is odd, could be loose connection for 12v or GROUND, also need year
 
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Old Dec 20, 2020
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Originally Posted by RonD
What YEAR Ranger

Also what work was done while battery was disconnected?

Low beams use different fuse and wiring that high beams, but need YEAR

Radio issue is odd, could be loose connection for 12v or GROUND, also need year
1998 4x4 4.0L v6 Ford Ranger, swapped intake manifold gaskets and had to tear apart a lot of the engine bay to get access to everything.

High beams work, low beams dont, and the high beams don’t stay. The radio is a Ken wood after market radio, not stock. I wonder if that has anything to do with it.
 
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Old Dec 21, 2020
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In 1998 the high and low share the same fuse, the "flash to pass" power runs from that fuse directly to the multi-function switch(turn signal stalk), so it thats working then fuse is OK

The low beams have 2 fuses in the cab fuse box, fuses 4 and 8, one for each side

If fuses are OK then could be wiring harness to headlight in engine bay, or the switch

The radio doesn't have anything in common with head lights(I assume parking lights work)
Radio has key on power
Head lights have full time power, so no common wiring

There is a ground wire on the back of engine to the firewall, but there would be other issues if that was disconnected
 
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Old Dec 24, 2020
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Originally Posted by RonD
In 1998 the high and low share the same fuse, the "flash to pass" power runs from that fuse directly to the multi-function switch(turn signal stalk), so it thats working then fuse is OK

The low beams have 2 fuses in the cab fuse box, fuses 4 and 8, one for each side

If fuses are OK then could be wiring harness to headlight in engine bay, or the switch

The radio doesn't have anything in common with head lights(I assume parking lights work)
Radio has key on power
Head lights have full time power, so no common wiring

There is a ground wire on the back of engine to the firewall, but there would be other issues if that was disconnected
none of the wiring seemed to be a problem, so i wonder if it’s the switch. Is there any way to get access without having to pull the entire instrument panel off?

Radio seemed to start working after I disconnected and reconnected the battery.
 
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Old Jan 12, 2021
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Update:

pulled apart the dash, pulled out the switch and tested it. Reinstalled it and the headlights seem to be working, but hi beams are not. Wondering if it’s some type of relay problem possibly, but I’m not entirely sure what to do. Radio started working after disconnecting and reconnecting the battery.
 
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Old Jan 12, 2021
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Nope, no relays involved

You have the diagram, just the switch on turn signal stalk and fuse 33 for high beams, not much to the wiring for those
 
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