'05 Ranger Supercab XLT 2WD. I've got several things going on - Windshield washer doesn't work - I've changed the pump, right turn signal acts like a bulb is out but they're good (left works fine), horn doesn't work and the cruise control on/off doesn't work. It occurred to me that wiring for all of these systems is in the steering column. Any chance that there is a big plug or something where all of these unrelated systems might come together and be causing my problems? HELP!

 

Buttons like horn and cruise on steering wheel use the Clockspring wiring, it is a coil of wire that resembles a Clockspring in a wind up clock, so steering wheel can rotate while buttons stay connected.

Turn signal and wiper functions do not use Clockspring, they use the Multi-function switch.

Not sure if they all share a connector?

They do all terminate in the Smart Junction Box(SJB), this was used in place of the GEM(generic electric module) in 2005.
SJB is in the passenger side kick panel
I don't see turn signals passing thru the SJB though?

 

The Right front turn signal/park lamp, Horn, Washer Pump motor, and Cruise Control (Speed control Servo) all share a common ground point G105. It should be located on the right rear inner fender panel in the engine compartment near the firewall.

 

Wow. All of it right there. Thanks SO MUCH for the head's up - I'll check that out for sure. Bad ground kind of makes sense.

 

I found what appears to be the ground near that location that is held to the inner fender with a green screw up high close to the hood. Is that the one
I need to track?

 

Not sure you need to track it, just loosen it and check that there is no corrosion and that it is a good Ground.

If you have a volt meter, test battery voltage
Then test voltage from that ground to battery "+", should be exactly the same.

 

It should be forward of the blower motor and most likely right beside the cruse control servo. Yes it should be a green head bolt with a couple of black wires with eyelet terminals.

As RonD stated, if there are any signs of corrosion, rust, or discoloration remove the bolt and clean-up the terminals and fender where the bolt attaches and reinstall, ensuring its tight.

 

Checked/cleaned the ground connection, even though it looked OK. Also checked to make sure the voltage across the battery posts and the pos battery post to the ground spot were the same. They are. Where do I go from here? Electrical stuff is not my bag but I'm determined to run this down.

 

Check the following fuses in the Smart Junction Box:
Fuse 13
Fuse 5
Fuse 20

If those fuses test good, then you may be dealing with multiple problems, bad Multi-Function Switch or its wiring harness, Air Bag Sliding Contacts, or a problem with the Smart Junction Box itself. There have been reports of water leaks I believe causing a problem with the low current boards within the Smart Junction Box itself.

If you want to pull the kick panel and get at the wiring harness that comes out of the column and see if you can locate the following wires:

Dark Blue should be the horn wire. If your pierce this wire with a straight pin or tip of a test light and momentarily touch it to ground, the horn should sound. If not, the problem is back at the Smart Junction Box and or horn relay. If it sounds, then the problem is in the Air Bag Sliding Contacts (would also account for Cruse Control problem).

The following runs through the Multi-Function Switch:

White with Black stripe wire should be the washer pump Vref (ground) signal to the low current board. If you momentarily ground this wire as above, the washer pump should activate. If not, the problem is back at the Smart Junction Box.

 

I can't get back to work on this for a few days, but I'll try this stuff to run down the issue(s). Thanks SO MUCH for the assistance - I'll continue to update here.