did some stereo work today on my '02 Ranger. everything went fine until i got a jump from a friend. during the jump process, there was a spark that shot off the jumper cables. finally, got the truck started with what i thought was no problem. i noticed the dash lights and foglights arent working and when i arm the truck, the lights dont flash as well. i traced the problem to two blown 15A fuses in the engine compartment. i replaced the fuses but as soon as i turn the headlights on then pop, the fuses are blown again. anybody have any ideas as to what happened? im wondering if a wire got shorted out. I noticed a faint smell of ozone in the cab after i got the truck jump started. hopefully i didnt fry the whole system.

 

Get 2002 owners manual here: https://www.ranger-forums.com/genera...1-models-3747/

tell us what two 15amp fuses blew in the engine bay fuse box

Thinking one may have been #33 main head light switch power


Jump starting now a days is pretty dangerous because of the electronics, for BOTH Vehicles

If your battery was dead or low then that could have been from a short, giving it 14volts from a running vehicle could have fried a wire or two

 

thank you RonD for your reply. yes, #33 / 15A fuse was blown and it keeps eating fuses when i turn the headlight switch on. the other fuse, #30 / 15A was also blown but i replaced the fuse and it is now fine with no more issues, as of yet. here is what works, headlights, (high and low beam), brake lights, reverse lights, turn signals and hazard lights. what doesnt work are tail lights, fog lights instrument cluster lights and parking lights. as soon as i turn the headlight switch it pops the fuse. today, i will be pulling the dash panels off to take a look at the wiring behind the headlight switch to see if i can find any bare or fried wiring. im wondering if the headlight switch itself got fried somehow. all of this got started because i replaced the scosche wiring adapter to my stereo. the old one had two pins that were bad. when i first put the stereo in, i wired the red and yellow wires together in order for the stereo to work. in doing so, i was casusing a battery drain even when everything was powered off. i corrected the wiring with the new adapter so now when the key is off, everything is off. when i got a jump start the other day, i probably didnt allow enough time for my battery to build up enough juice and when i hit the key to start, the jumper cable sparked and i could smell ozone in the cab of the truck. i will keep you posted on what if find. hopefully, the headlight switch is bad. at least that will be easy to fix but i will check wiring just to be sure and prevent an electrical fire. :)

 

You should NOT connect the yellow and red radio wires together

You actually do not need the red/black stripe wire on 3rd party radios, it is to MUTE the audio when starting engine

The yellow wire is key on power to power radio
The light green wire has power all the time to keep clock and preset memory correct

The head light switch has direct power from the battery so yes it could have been effected by spike in voltage

 

Update........
I pulled the dash apart and removed both headlight and dimmer switch do do a visual and "sniff" test. took apart the headlight switch and noticed any scorch marks then reassembled switch. replaced the 15 A fuse and tried evrything once more with the dimmer switch all the way dim. all lights worked until i moved the dimmer switch to bright then then fuse popped again. going to pull instrument cluster to check circuit board and any blown bulbs. will keep you posted as to what i find. as for the stereo, i removed and replaced the scosche wiring adapter kit and matched all colors like they should have the first time.