No brake lights, I’m at a loss

[93shorti]

93 ranger xl. Some punk kid had it and did god knows what. It started out I had no lights at all unless the pullout switch was just in the right exact place (in between two settings) when I did get it to light up I have taillights in full brake brightness. The cab light works as it should. I have no rear turn signals and my headlights are like half brightness. I have changed the switch itself and I got a connector plug wired in last night but the old has 11 wires. 2 go into the same spot in 2 spots on old one. I can’t figure it out. Wired it in leaving two wires bare on the new plug and same issue.
Anyone with any advice would be appreciated idk wtf I’m doing

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Did you change the dash switch?

Or the column switch (combo switch)?

Kinda sounds like the combo switch is whats bad

 

[Uncle Gump]

Typically... when you see headlights at 1/2 bright... you have a poor ground issue. I would first inspect grounds for both front and rear lamps.

That said... sounds a bit like you have multiple failures.

Another tip... when testing rear lights... i usually look for added trailer wiring gone wonky. I then usually disconnect the rear lamp harness and test the vehicle side of the harness for proper operation. If things test good there... your fault is in the rear lamp harness/sockets/bulbs/grounds.

 

[93shorti]

Did you change the dash switch?

Or the column switch (combo switch)?

Kinda sounds like the combo switch is whats bad

I changed the dash switch. The column switch is for the brights I did not mess with that

 

[93shorti]

Typically... when you see headlights at 1/2 bright... you have a poor ground issue. I would first inspect grounds for both front and rear lamps.

That said... sounds a bit like you have multiple failures.

Another tip... when testing rear lights... i usually look for added trailer wiring gone wonky. I then usually disconnect the rear lamp harness and test the vehicle side of the harness for proper operation. If things test good there... your fault is in the rear lamp harness/sockets/bulbs/grounds.

On it

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I changed the dash switch. The column switch is for the brights I did not mess with that

I get that but your turn signals also run through that...which are on the same circuit as your brake lights

 

[Curious Hound]

I agree that you probably have more than one issue. First, make sure you have the new switch wired correctly. This statement isn't real clear on what you did.

I have changed the switch itself and I got a connector plug wired in last night but the old has 11 wires. 2 go into the same spot in 2 spots on old one. I can’t figure it out. Wired it in leaving two wires bare on the new plug and same issue.

On the rear lights, there have been 2 different styles of tail lights over the years, as far as the wiring goes. It has to do with the way the turn/brake lights connect and the number of wires for the tail lights. I almost wonder if somebody tried to convert from old style to new style and messed it up.

I have wiring diagrams that could help. But I probably won't have time to post them u til tomorrow afternoon. The diagrams in our tech library should be close enough to work for you.

 

[93shorti]

I agree that you probably have more than one issue. First, make sure you have the new switch wired correctly. This statement isn't real clear on what you did.


On the rear lights, there have been 2 different styles of tail lights over the years, as far as the wiring goes. It has to do with the way the turn/brake lights connect and the number of wires for the tail lights. I almost wonder if somebody tried to convert from old style to new style and messed it up.

I have wiring diagrams that could help. But I probably won't have time to post them u til tomorrow afternoon. The diagrams in our tech library should be close enough to work for you.

I appreciate it. The wiring I did was the terminal 9 that plugs into the dash multi switch. There’s two spots in the old plug that two wires go into one. But the new one is not set up like that. I will add pics. The rear does have like aftermarket taillights so it could be back there in the conversation I’ve never even taken them off

 

[93shorti]

I get that but your turn signals also run through that...which are on the same circuit as your brake lights

I had read that when I was looking at an old post earlier I had no idea it was like that. So that’ll be my next switch to change

 

[Angry Possum]

And definitely check your grounds as stated in this thread. If the lights are just dimly lit, it's a ground issue

 

[RonD]

1993 was a different tail light wiring setup than 1992 and earlier, this setup was used thru 1999
They have separate Turn signal bulbs on the rear, yellow lens

1983-1992 and 2000-2011 didn't have separate turn signal bulbs they used one bulb/filament for brake and turn, which was combined in the turn signal stalk, the multi-function switch

So if you have a 1993 Ranger then the brake lights have there own wire that runs from the brake light switch on the pedal to the rear of the vehicle and it splits to both rear brake lights

In the cab this Light Green wire splits with one wire going to 3rd brake light on the cab(does that light work?), another going to ABS module and another to clutch switch and/or cruise control module

1993/1994 used exact same wiring see diagram below

1993/4 have TWO flasher relays, one on the front of the cab fuse box, and one on the back of the fuse box, both are round 2 connector
Front flasher is for turn signals, only has power with key on
Rear flasher is for 4-way, has power all the time

 

[93shorti]

1993 was a different tail light wiring setup than 1992 and earlier, this setup was used thru 1999
They have separate Turn signal bulbs on the rear, yellow lens

1983-1992 and 2000-2011 didn't have separate turn signal bulbs they used one bulb/filament for brake and turn, which was combined in the turn signal stalk, the multi-function switch

So if you have a 1993 Ranger then the brake lights have there own wire that runs from the brake light switch on the pedal to the rear of the vehicle and it splits to both rear brake lights

In the cab this Light Green wire splits with one wire going to 3rd brake light on the cab(does that light work?), another going to ABS module and another to clutch switch and/or cruise control module

1993/1994 used exact same wiring see diagram below

1993/4 have TWO flasher relays, one on the front of the cab fuse box, and one on the back of the fuse box, both are round 2 connector
Front flasher is for turn signals, only has power with key on
Rear flasher is for 4-way, has power all the time

The third cab light works as it should. But only when the switch is in just the right spot. In between two settings. When the switch isn’t in that spot no lights work at all

 

[RonD]

What "switch"?

The main head light switch has no connection to brake lights
Brake lights would work even with this switch unplugged

Fuse 10 powers the brake lights AND the Park lights(via the main light switch), but that not really a "connection", just sharing a fuse

Fuse 10 has 12volts all the time so all 3 brake lights should work key off and main light switch off

Go to the drivers side rear of Ranger that's where the wires from the front come out at the rear
Light Green wire is the brake light wire
People often add Trailer light wiring there and that can cause issues as the "splice a wire" connectors can corrode or cut the main wires

Brake lights and Park lights share one bulb, but the bulb has 2 filaments
One filament is dimmer than the other, that's for the Park light
Other filament is brighter, that's for the brake light

You need a Volt Meter or 12volt test light to troubleshoot vehicle electrics

 

[93shorti]

Idk what else to try. I have replaced both switches. Can’t find any bad wires in the bad. Turn signals work now. I have no taillights and no brake light. They twitch on when I pull the dash selector switch out but that is it. The tailights are some led crap. Should I just switch back to normal ones? How do I even test those just unplug and shove my tester down in the harness side?

 

[93shorti]

What "switch"?

The main head light switch has no connection to brake lights
Brake lights would work even with this switch unplugged

Fuse 10 powers the brake lights AND the Park lights(via the main light switch), but that not really a "connection", just sharing a fuse

Fuse 10 has 12volts all the time so all 3 brake lights should work key off and main light switch off

Go to the drivers side rear of Ranger that's where the wires from the front come out at the rear
Light Green wire is the brake light wire
People often add Trailer light wiring there and that can cause issues as the "splice a wire" connectors can corrode or cut the main wires

Brake lights and Park lights share one bulb, but the bulb has 2 filaments
One filament is dimmer than the other, that's for the Park light
Other filament is brighter, that's for the brake light

You need a Volt Meter or 12volt test light to troubleshoot vehicle electrics

Any chance you know where I can find the fuse box list? There’s no cover so I don’t know what fuse is what. I will look into it tho I pulled quite a few and couldn’t find any blown but I will try again