2001 Ford Ranger, Rewired tail lights.. now wont start

[KayLynn]

So I had an issue with left side back turn signal and brake light not working. I've been working on rewiring both tail light, after 4 days of non stop YouTube videos and forums. I, what I belive got it all wired back up, Except when push the brake the right side turn signal lights up on dash and the reverse lights both light up at the back. If that's the worst, I could live with it cause I'm about over this wiring crap. BUT NOW, my truck won't even start. Everything lights up fine, and I can hear it click but won't start up. Oh and the dash went wacked out because someone took the needles off, How can I reset that also?!

HELPPPP PLEASE, before I put 800lbs of tannerite in it and blow the ranger to bits

 

[superj]

check the charge on your battery. and i would just look for a replacement gage cluster if someone took the needles off.


welcome to the site though

 

[KayLynn]

Battery is fully charged, and only a year old if that. Started just fine prior to wiring fiasco, I just wouldn't think that rewiring tail lights would cause it to not start, but I'm no expert and only a Google/YouTube mechanic at best, haha. Could it be the wiring?

 

[KayLynn]

And Thank you, this site so far has helped a ton with fixing things on this by myself that's for sure!

 

[KayLynn]

Also have read somewhere about a Neutral safety switch?!

 

[superj]

i don't know how messing with the tail light wires could kill the truck. i would think you would pop fuses if something was wired wrong.

your truck is an auto so you should have a neutral safety switch somewhere. i am not sure on the ranger but most cars, its on the transmission near the shifter

 

[holyford86]

the way your tail lights are acting it sounds like you may have not wired it right when you fixed the tail lights, either something is feeding power where it shouldn't or you've got a bad ground and it's doing all sorts of weird things

 

[KayLynn]

I finally got it. Got frustrated under the truck and happen to take a screwdriver and wacked the hell out of the starter which threw a few sparks. So I had someone try to start it while I got it again and started right up.

Hours of frustration for it to only take beating on it.

Thanks for the help from everyone though.

 

[KayLynn]

Oh and I figured out the lights, had to re-ground some spots.

As for dash gages I'm taking a few days off from the ranger, haha.