1994 Ford Ranger Rear Exterior Light Issue..

[Ramzee]

Hello! I'm new to this forum as well as mechanics. I recently purchased this 1994 Ford Ranger 4.0L OHV Manual and I have been having a hard time getting the rear lights to function properly. I have read through countless threads throughout this forum in hopes that I can figure it out and alas I have only spent $ with no good outcome yet! So I have decided to seek for help!

I know very little about specific year rangers but from what I have read throughout this forum my ranger should be a "3 Bulb" ranger but I believe whoever I purchased the ranger from has done the two bulb conversion on it. My rear tail lights only have two bulbs in it with the two plug sockets I think they are called.

So my issue is I have no rear brake lights (including the top cab/3rd brake light), blinkers, or hazards. The rear tail lights do turn on when the headlight switch is pulled all the way out. I also have functioning reverse lights just nothing else seems to function.

I also have functional dash / instrument cluster lights

I have replaced the brake switch by the brake pedal with a new one.
I have replaced the turn signal flasher with the (Novita Yellow One)
I have another Novita flasher not the yellow one cause I read on the forum I have two different spots for hazards and flashers I just have not replaced the hazard one yet.
I have pulled all the fuses under my steering column and none of them are blown.

I have chased the wires through the frame rail from the cabin basically having me end up at the drivers side rear of the bed I don't have any "sketchy" splices or extra wires along the route to the drivers side rear of the bed but once I get to the rear center of my tailgate basically under there all the wires from the cabin go into this connector it accepts 6 wires and it is connected to another connector that has 5 wires coming back out of that. Also there is this "extra 4 wires?" hanging next to the connectors I undid the electrical tape here and checked where the 4 extra wires were touching the factory wires and confirmed these 4 extra wires are not spliced into the original wires I don't know what these are for and I believe they just run all the way back to the cabin.

Any help is appreciated thank you!

 

[rumblecloud]

Good Morning Ramzee. Welcome to TRS.
I need to get my book from the barn for any direction so cannot offer any help right now, but I am sure others will be along shortly.
From your images the first shows lots of crimp connectors - not the best solution, but I'm being picky. You might want to clean those up a bit. The four wires might be for trailer lights/brake, not sure at this point.
I own a '94 as well. Please post some picks when you get a chance. Would like to see your project.
Stay tuned...


Here's a page from the EVT Manual that may help a little. I'm still digging..

 

[rumblecloud]

What cab do you have: Regular or SuperCab (extended)? And bed length: SWB or LWB?
Here are two other pages:



Sorry if they're a bit blurry, so am I.

 

[RobbieD]

The cut harness, 4 wires, looks like the tag light harness to me. Two Browns, two Blacks, right?

 

[rumblecloud]

Yeah. Think so. The previous owner converted to a two bulb rear lamp system so wiring colors are off a bit. Looks like the bumper has been altered or removed so that might explain the cut wires - no license plate (tag) lights.

Would really like to see an exterior shot of the rear...with the cab in view as well for the high mount courtesy/stop lamps.

 

[Ramzee]

Sorry for the delay just woke up haha was working on this all day long. I have an Extended Cab and its a short bed as well

 

[Ramzee]

Yes the four wires cut are 2 Brown and 2 Black I'll get that rear photo of the truck now

 

[Ramzee]

Not that this matters much with the electrical but I do have the tailgate and everything just took it off cause I fixed the tailgate handle there is a rear bumper delete and no license plate light which will be a issue getting this to be street legal

 

[rumblecloud]

Thanks for the pics Ramzee.
Because of the conversion to a two lamp setup the wiring colors are a bit hard to figure. In the wiring group in your image that comes from the front of the truck, can you tell us the colors of the wires? I can see white/light blue, black/red, black and it looks light brown. Also it looks like there is one hidden with yellow color, probably striped. Can you clarify? Thanks.

The license plate lights we have figured out. I am not familiar with the two-light system. What do the lenses look like? Mine are top to bottom: Red stop. Clear reverse or backup and amber for turn.

You mentioned that your reverse lights are working....

Thinking out loud here...I'm guessing that your lenses are just red (for brake, turn and emergency flasher) and clear (for reverse/backup. If that's correct then that should help follow the diagrams in the EVTM.

This is puzzling to me, but fun.

 

[rumblecloud]

Nope. Doesn't help.

 

[gaz]

Have you replaced the dual filament (the brake light) bulbs?

 

[Ramzee]

This is the connector that the 6 wire connector goes into this connector has 5 out of the back

This is the left light sockets one connector is Blue/Red Stripe, White/Green Stripe, Light Blue/Tan Stripe other connector is Black and Black

This photo here on the bottom left is all the wires coming from the cab. Black, Orange/Grey Stripe, Black/Red Stripe, Light Green, Black Again and Green/Orange Stripe
The photo on the bottom left is my right light sockets and the wires. Its Orange/Grey Stripe, Black and Brown. The other plug in is Black and Black/White Stripe

This is all the wires coming out of the connectors this is the 5 wire side Orange/Grey Stripe, Black/Pink Stripe, Light Blue/Orange Stripe, Black and Brown

The dual filament brake light bulbs are functioning with running lights and are new

 

[rumblecloud]

This helps a ton...THANK YOU for taking the time.
I'll puzzle thru this tonight as I am sleeping -- yes sleeping-- it works that way.

 

[Ramzee]

Hahaha alright I really appreciate the help so far! Thank you

 

[rumblecloud]

Ramzee...got busy with other stuff yesterday, but am working thru the wiring now -- what it should be and what it is - to help determine which of the wires are f-ing everything up. Do you have a multimeter? if so, that would help by checking the current at each of the wires coming from the cab into the 6-wire side and out of the 5-wire side.
Stay tuned.