83 Ranger back passenger brake and turning signals not working (Video Included)

[carrzkiss]

Hello, All.

I got my ranger back on the road again and am trying to get everything working on it.
The issue I am dealing with right now is the back passenger brake and turning signal is not working.
I have included a video demonstrating the issue.
I cannot find any valuable information on the wiring for the back lights.
I've looked over this one. Wires broke down by color and diagram.
Here is the video; please let me know if I am missing something, and I am pretty damn sure.

 

[franklin2]

Go up front to the bottom of the steering column. Find a lightgreen with orange stripe wire and a orange with lightblue stripe wire. Get a testlight, clip it to ground, and then poke one of these wires and press on the brake pedal. The light should light up on both wires with the brake pedal pressed. The orange/lightblue is the one that goes back to the pass side rear light.

If you get power on these with the brake pedal pressed, then you have a wiring problem at the rear of the truck, or a problem leading back there on the frame rail. If you do not get power on the orange/lightblue when you press the brake (make sure the turn lever is in the center) then you have a problem with the turnsignal switch or the wiring in the steering column.

 

[carrzkiss]

Thank you, Franklin.
The turning signal switch is new, replaced a few weeks ago.
The old one was so bad that it crumbled apart as I removed it.

I will do as you stated either in the morning or sometime during the weekend and post my findings.
I need to get a test light.

 

[franklin2]

A testlight is sometimes the only thing that works on lighting problems in a vehicle. It presents a decent load on the circuit when you are testing. A digital voltmeter doesn't present hardly any load on the circuit, which is good for the computer circuits, but can give false readings on the lighting circuits.

 

[carrzkiss]

I ordered a test light/meter yesterday, and to my surprise, it arrived today.
This is the one I ordered. Low Voltage & Light Tester
I will test it in the morning before heading out to work.

 

[franklin2]

I ordered a test light/meter yesterday, and to my surprise, it arrived today.
This is the one I ordered. Low Voltage & Light Tester
I will test it in the morning before heading out to work.

I see someone in the comments said they measured the current that unit you bought draws from the circuit, and they said they measured 20ma. I hope that is enough, hopefully it will work ok. Like I mentioned before, a digital voltmeter doesn't work well for testing lighting circuits, and you just bought a digital voltmeter that is built inside a testlight handle. One like this would have been better. https://www.amazon.com/Voltage-Continuity-Current-Tester-Indicator/dp/B01BGZ9XRS/ref=pd_bxgy_img_2/145-3091062-7542350?pd_rd_w=YgpVI&pf_rd_p=c64372fa-c41c-422e-990d-9e034f73989b&pf_rd_r=KX2M2K2352DP9V5P8MTS&pd_rd_r=a2cdd9a0-9b5d-4967-99ff-bddd48d72fa7&pd_rd_wg=dWOrh&pd_rd_i=B01BGZ9XRS&th=1

But hopefully it works ok and you find the problem.

 

[carrzkiss]

Thanks, Frank.
I will let you know if it does not work, and a replacement will be made.

The wires you spoke of

Find a lightgreen with orange stripe wire and a orange with lightblue stripe wire.

Are these just brake or both brake and turning signals?

As I was thinking of running a new fire to the back if I cannot find the issue.

 

[franklin2]

They are brake and turn depending where the signal switch is located. If the turn signal switch is in the middle, then they are both brake. That is the simplest mode to test in.

Each rear light has 3 wires. Common ground, marker light power, and a brake/turn power wire.

There is one brown wire leading to the rear, which is the marker light power for both rear taillights, and the license plate lights. There are splices at the rear bumper area for this.

And then there is the two wires leading to the rear which you are testing, which are the brake turn left and the brake turn right.

 

[carrzkiss]

Hey frank.
Tested both wires and they lit up the test light when brake pressed.
However when I turn on the left turning signal, it lights up. But the passenger side turning signal does not light up.

The turning signal switch is new.
Where would the issue be for the wire not lighting up for the passenger turning signal.

 

[carrzkiss]

Disregard my posy above.
I retested and they both light up when brake and turning signals are applied.

 

[carrzkiss]

Ran new wire to the back and everything is working.
Now I have to run the wire to the back.

Thank you for your knowledge on this wiring issue. It is going to be nice having all the lights working now.

 

[carrzkiss]

Got everything run and wired.
Brake and turn signals are working.
Everything is tucked away neatly and ready to drive legally.
Love it.