Headlights on?

[PaulZ]

At least twice now I have walked away leaving the lights on. The dash lights work but not bright enough in the daylight to remind me.

Is there a buzzer, dash light or something that warns you “Hey you left the lights on, idiot.”

 

[scotts90ranger]

I think there's supposed to be but in the 25 years I've had my '90 it hasn't had one... back in the day when I was daily driving my '90 I made it a habit of pushing on the headlight knob with my palm when I got out... the only time that was a problem was the time my knob broke in half and I just hit the triangle metal part under it...

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Should have a dinger. Same as the key in ignition/door open one.

Really, really early trucks mighta had a buzzer

 

[PaulZ]

Thanks guys. It’s a 1999. No key in or door open dinger either. Maybe a fuse?

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Thanks guys. It’s a 1999. No key in or door open dinger either. Maybe a fuse?

Possibly.

 

[RonD]

More likely a previous owner disconnected or otherwise damaged the chime circuits

First thing, does the Door Ajar Light come on, and the dome light, when Drivers door is opened
If not then that could be the problem, door switch is unplugged inside the door or switch is bad
This switch activates Door Ajar, and also the warning chime for lights on and key in ignition
So first thing to "fix" if there is no chime


In a 1999 Ranger the Chime is inside the GEM module behind the radio in the dash, and I don't see an external connection to a Chime module

I do see an external connection to seat belt module(SRS)
Do you get a chime if you don't put on the seat belt?

If you want to pull out the radio you can check if the two GEM wires have been cut

1998, 1999, 2000 GEM modules are interchangeable, same wiring, but only those 3 years

GEM 1 drawing, 26 pin connector, pins 10, 11, and 12 activate chime

You can add a Lights On chime if that's the only issue, not hard to do

 

[PaulZ]

Hi Ron,

Dome light comes on when passenger door open only, not drivers door.

No chime with seatbelt,

Would like to add the lights on chime if that’s the easiest. The rest is no big deal.

thanks,
Paul

 

[PaulZ]

Oh no door ajar light either

 

[RonD]

I would pull the driver's door panel and check the switch, it might be unplugged, but because it was bad

Replacement switch is $10-$15, I would have one on hand

It is on the door latch, at the bottom, white part seen here: https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HyTFsi809Hs/maxresdefault.jpg

It was a bad design because dirt would be carried down into the switch when it rained or you washed the truck, and that would cause the switch to stick
Switch has 2 wires, one is a full time ground the other goes to the GEM
When the door is closed the switch is OPEN, so No Ground at the GEM
When door is open switch is CLOSED so GEM is Grounded and turns on Door Ajar light and Dome light, and Chimes as needed

Simple fix was to unplug the switch, so no Ground, ever, at the GEM for that door, so no Door Ajar light, no dome light and no Chimes

And another bad design, its a Twist Lock, lol
So you need to loosen the 3 latch screws on back of the door to pull the latch away from the inside of the door so you can unTwist it to get it out and put the new one in, then reinstall the latch

Once door panel is off reach in and unplug the switch if its not already unplugged
Then use a jumper wire and short the 2 wires on connector together, Dome light should come on
If so replace the switch and plug it back in
If not then there will be other issues, like cut wires

 

[RonD]

If you want to make your own then you will need
a 12volt 5 pole(SPDT) relay, 30/40amp, with 5 wire base
a chime, 12V 85dB Electronic Buzzer, but anything you want really
2 wire taps, like they use for trailer light wiring
Some 18gauge wire

5 pole relay diagram here: https://www.gtsparkplugs.com/images/mini-automotive-relay-wiring-840x.jpg

You need to tap into a Park Light wire, brown wire, and that goes to 30 on the relay
Chime positive wire goes to 87A
Chime negative goes to a Ground

Relay 86 goes to a ground
Relay 85 goes to tap for Key ON 12volts

87 is not used

If key is OFF and you turn on the lights, the Park light 12volts will pass thru the relay(30 to 87A) and power the Chime, so its making noise

If key was on then relay is on(30 to 87) so chime is disconnected from 30, so no 12v and its off as long as key is on

If lights are not on then no power to chime, either way

 

[PaulZ]

Thanks Ron

I started up without the seat belt on, heard a chime! I guess that’s the same chimer, like 3 dings?

I watched a video of the door panel removal last night. Aside from unhooking connectors for windows, door locks, mirrors and speakers, looks pretty simple. I seem to be able to break those old connectors..

Then I got the bright idea to just tap into a fuse for a simple external headlight warning light. 33 is supposed to be ‘headlight’ of some sort but I get no power there, at least with key off.

Finally came up with this low tech idea. Still going over your suggestion.