Hi All, I got a call from my neighbor after lunch that the headlamps were on my Ranger. I drive this truck most days but not today.
When I arrived home I expected to find the light switch left on
as I did take it out the previous night for fuel. No issues then
However, the switch was off. Everything is working fine EXCEPT the headlamps won’t go off (unless I pull the fuses or dc the battery). No auto function here...basic 3 position switch for the lights and a mechanical dimmer switch. I do smell that burnt electrical or “something got hot” inside the cabin. High beams work fine and blue indicator in the cluster comes on. Fog lights work fine too. Any advice appreciated

 

Welcome to the forum

If you don't have 2001 Ranger owners manual get it here: https://www.ranger-forums.com/genera...1-models-3747/
Even if you do have the Book manual this is better to look up stuff

Headlights/parking lights and brakes light always have direct power from battery, key on or off doesn't matter

Hook up battery or anything you have disconnected, so headlights are ON

First lets find out if you have DRL(daylight running lights), in the engine bay fuse box pull out mini-fuse 31, if there is no fuse there then no DRL, if you pull out this fuse and headlights go off DRL module is bad, thats the problem
If you have fuse 31 and you pull it out but lights stay on then DRL is NOT the problem

Move on to main light switch, pull fuse 24 and see if head light go off, if so main light switch is the problem



Just as a heads up each headlight low beam has its own fuse, 38 and 42 in the engine fuse box, you can pull out these fuses to prevent headlights from staying on for now, without effecting other systems.
High beams would still be usable in emergency, if fuse 24 was put back in

 

Hi Ron

Thanks for your detailed reply. I took the lid off of the engine compartment fuse box and removed fuse #31 (20amp) . Nothing happened for about 10 seconds and the headlamps turned
off. I put the fuse back in (as it checked good) and the lights stayed off. I heard a distinct click from one of the relays. I started the truck and the light switch behaved as it should. I was
allowing it to run when the windshield wipers started going by themselves. I then wiggled the MFS on the column and they stopped...wiggled some more ..started on their own again.
So I believe the root of this issue may be that MFS switch. I had no fuse in location 24

 

Good work

Yes I bet Multi-Function switch is the issue if wipers are effected as well