I have an 01 Ranger 3.0 and my speedometer stopped working when I removed my headliner. I recently replaced fuse 26 and it started working again. Shortly after I turned on my truck and I started seeing smoke come out my vents. I turned off my truck and rushed to disconnect the battery. I pulled off the fuse panel and fuse 26 was melted to the board. I pulled on it and a long wire came out. After removing the cluster I found bare wires. Now my turn signals, radio, windows, cigarette lighter, windshield wipers and speedometer don’t work. Any suggestions to fix it and where should I start?

 

With all that aftermarket wiring, plugs and fuses I see, my guess is someone installed an aftermarket stereo, amp, or an alarm and tapped into the wrong power source(s).

Depending on how much of the factory wiring and fuse box is burned, you might be better off getting a wiring harness from another Ranger, same year and equipment yours came stock with.

Has to be the same year and equipment so the wiring matches, Ford is known to change wiring and wire colors all the time.

Who knows what modules and computers are fried.

 

Honestly, vehicle looks very close to being FUBAR; a mess due to poor\no maintenance & bad aftermarket mods.
Can only recommend you get yourself a set of factory electrical diagrams specific to your year+model,
then concentrate on one item, one wire at a time, fix+restore that to factory spec before moving to the next.
Quick fixes likely wont get you far down the road

 

PS:
That big bundle of "ChristmasTreeDeodorizers" on the mirror is a big "RedFlag";
cops will wonder what you're transporting\using that needs a bad smell covered up.