I have a 1997 Ford Ranger 2.3 2wd extended cab, the running lights, tag lights and dash lights were not working, I've had this problem before on all of my fords so I just popped another fuse in, nothing.
checked with a test light at the fuse no power
dug out my multimeter and the fuse is good.
I get underneath the truck to find the tailight wiring a jumbled mess the previous owner must have done in order to have trailer lights, the tag lights were also wired together with masking tape.
so I think to myself this must be the problem so I go to the junkyard and grab the tailight wiring harness from the back of the framrail and I cut the tag lights that come off the wiring before the connector.
i installed the new harness and soldered in the tag lights and used heat shrink.
now the only lights that work are my right turn signal and 3rd brake light, so I have less lights working than when I started.
i have also replaced the 3 position switch on the dash and the bulbs and checked all the fuses multiple times.
Im really frustrated so I'm asking for any other recommendations? could i have accidentally wired my left taglights to the right and vice versa and that is causing the problem?
when someone says multifunction switch does that mean my dash switch or the column switch because I have another one of those as well but I dont see how that could affect all my rear lights.
thanks in advanced

 

Multifunction switch definitely refers to the one on the column. When you replaced the messed up wiring, did you replace everything at the back or just the tag lights? When I bought my 7.3, a PO had done a lot of weird splicing on the rear end and I had to have someone help me with a test light to make sure I rewired it correctly.

 

Your 1997 uses the 3-wire tail light configuration, separate brake and turn bulbs, in 2000 Ford changed Rangers to the 2-wire configuration, brake and turn share a bulb

1997 wiring diagram below

The 3rd brake light has its own wire in the cab, so if its working then brake pedal switch is working and fuse is good
Then 1 light green wire back to the rear of the truck where it splits to left and right brake lights

There is just 1 "dual" flasher in 1997(1995 and up) it runs turn and 4-way both, and each has a separate fuse, turn fuse only has 12v with key on, 4-ways have 12v full time
Both use multi-function switch, turn signal stalk

Park lights and dash lights both get 12v thru main light switch from cab fuse #3
When Keyless entry was added Ford needed a way to "Flash" parking lights when fob was used to lock or unlock doors, so they added a Park Light Relay
This shouldn't effect regular use of park lights, unless you have a factory alarm system
When main light switch is on Park or Headlights, the Brown wire at any Park light should have 12v, there is just one Brown wire at the rear, splits to the 2 rear bulbs

This same Brown wire runs to the Dash light Dimming wheel, and gives it 12v when main light switch is in Park or Headlight position

All the rear bulbs share ONE GROUND, so find all the Black wires at the rear and test each for a good ground

And don't discount burned out bulbs, especially if rear wiring was a mess, "well it can't be BOTH bulbs are bad..........", lol, YES it can