This is cross posted from another I did in discussions..

I was making a turn the other day when my signal stopped working, stopped flashing. Neither one worked. I figured I'd check them out later. Neglecting to do so (duh), today, going to work when I turned on the lights I come to realize I have no lights in the interior, brake/tail lights, or four way flashers. Not good. Is there a major fuse or the like that would control everything in lights from the firewall back? What may have puffed?

Please help me out here. Nothing in my manual gave any hint. Seems all are on separate fuses and the major fuse block doesn't appear to have any fuse that has all of them linked.

 

What year Ranger?

So the head lights and front Parking lights work?

The 3rd brake light on Cab doesn't work?
It doesn't run thru Multi-function switch, like rear brake lights

Depending on year there may only be 1 Flasher, used for both turn and 4-way

The rear lights all share 1 common ground, but 3rd brake light should still work and front parking lights

 

1996 standard cab.

I need to verify on the brake light, but I believe it does not work. I will check on the parking lights as well.

I also need to verify brake lights don't work, they may. I couldn't tell yet.

 

Trucks have a common exterior light fail point, Trailer light wiring, lol.

If you have that then check that wires are not corroded and shorted.

Parking lights and Brake lights have power all the time, don't need Key on
In 1996 cab fuse box, #3 15amp is for Parking lights, fuse #13 15amp is Brake Lights

These do not pass thru Multi-function switch(turn signal stalk)

Turn signals/4-ways use fuses #21 and #22

Only thing common to all the lights is the GROUND, so check Battery Ground, and then ground wires to body and frame.
The Cab uses a Ground strap from engine to firewall, so it could be good but the body and frame ground is not

 

I took the truck in to a shop I trusted, who did a great job and charged far less time than they spent researching and working. The trailer harness splitter box completely fried while the shop was trying to see why my entire lighting from the dash back went out. The turn signal switch , which apparently controls a lot of stuff was swapped out for new, bringing back the tail lights, turn signals and four way flashers, but weak and still no brake lights. While trying to see what was going on, the trailer hook up box fried itself. They yanked it out and reconnected the harness and everything was back. Seems some of the boxes on the plug and play harnesses aren't so good.

What sucked and took the longest was it seems the steering column turn signal switch unit that they got wasn't right. They learn 96 was a split year, got the other one... doesn't fit either. They had to take a picture and take it in to get the right switch unit. After that some things helped a bit, but not all of it. They found the box issue and that was either all or part of the problem.

So now I want a round body pin style plug to have a better hook up that may be a bit more impervious to crappy weather. Either a 5, 6 or 7 prong, whatever it takes. Any suggestions on what one is the best? I am willing to pay what it takes to get the best so I don't get fried again. If this means FoMoCo and a C note no problem. So tell me, what is best. No more flat four or five for me.

And I forget who, but one of you emailed to help. I appreciate your help, I couldn't take time to do the work so I figured have the shop do it and pay the piper.

 

I didn't have time to work with it, so I took it to a trusted shop that did the work and charged far less than the time they had in it. The trailer splitter box fried while the shop was trying to see why my entire lighting from the dash back went out. The turn signal switch , which apparently controls a lot of stuff was swapped out for new, bringing back the tail lights, turn signals and four way flashers, but weak and still no brake lights. While trying to see what was going on, the trailer hook up box fried itself. They yanked it out and reconnected the harnes and everything was back. Seems some of the boxes on the plug and play harnesses aren't so good.

They first dealt with the turn signal switch on the steering column, the first one they ordered didn't fit, found the 96 was a split year. Second one they got didn't fit either, so they took pictures and used them to get the right thing. That brought back all but the brake lights, but the lights were weak. After pulling the splitter harness and plugging things back to stock all worked.

So now I want a round pin style plug to have a better hook up that may be a bit more impervious to crappy weather. Either a 5, 6 or 7 prong, whatever it takes. Any suggestions on what one is the best? I am willing to pay what it takes to get the best so I don't get fried again. If this means FoMoCo and a C note no problem. So tell me, what is best. No more flat four or five for me.