• Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and Register for our forum. Even if you don't want to post, you can still 'Like' and react to posts.

Some odd electrical problems


mtipton

Member
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Jun 17, 2010
Messages
95
Reaction score
10
Points
8
Location
Vancouver BC
Vehicle Year
92
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
2.9
Transmission
Manual
So, a bit of a backstory. The truck was taken completely apart and had been sitting for about 3 years. I’ve got it all back together now and am having a few electrical issues.

Blower motor doesn’t work

I have no dash illumination lights. Although the dash lights do turn on and get brighter with the heater controls🤷‍♂️

Wipers work, but very slowly

All exterior lights are working as they should

Radio works

Alternator is charging at around 14.4-14.5

I have changed both battery cables. Replaced engine to frame ground and engine to firewall ground. Also replaced every ground ring terminal in the engine bay

Any tips would be appreciated
 


Uncle Gump

Token Old Guy
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Sep 17, 2018
Messages
13,691
Reaction score
13,147
Points
113
Location
Ottawa IL
Vehicle Year
2006/1986
Make / Model
Ranger/BroncoII
Engine Size
4.0L SOHC/2.9L
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
Lead follow or get out of my way
It sure sounds like you still have a bad ground... probably a dash ground.
 

RobbieD

2.9l Mafia
Joined
Aug 6, 2007
Messages
3,802
Reaction score
3,308
Points
113
Location
Georgia
Vehicle Year
1984,1990,1994
Make / Model
Ford
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
My credo
Toonces drives a Ranger . . . . just not very well.
^^^ X2 on a missing or bad ground.
 

mtipton

Member
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Jun 17, 2010
Messages
95
Reaction score
10
Points
8
Location
Vancouver BC
Vehicle Year
92
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
2.9
Transmission
Manual
Thanks guys, I suspected a bad ground myself that’s why I put new cables/ends on them. Went out today and checked every ground I could find. All are clean and the metal sanded down before installing.

The blower motor turns on now, but veeery slowly. Maybe I’m missing one somewhere. I count 2 on the passenger kick panel area. And 4 in the engine bay
 

Uncle Gump

Token Old Guy
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Sep 17, 2018
Messages
13,691
Reaction score
13,147
Points
113
Location
Ottawa IL
Vehicle Year
2006/1986
Make / Model
Ranger/BroncoII
Engine Size
4.0L SOHC/2.9L
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
Lead follow or get out of my way
I have a bit earlier EVTM and it says there is one behind the IP to the left of the steering column.
 

mtipton

Member
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Jun 17, 2010
Messages
95
Reaction score
10
Points
8
Location
Vancouver BC
Vehicle Year
92
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
2.9
Transmission
Manual
Sorry, not sure if you mean the instrument cluster?
 

Uncle Gump

Token Old Guy
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Sep 17, 2018
Messages
13,691
Reaction score
13,147
Points
113
Location
Ottawa IL
Vehicle Year
2006/1986
Make / Model
Ranger/BroncoII
Engine Size
4.0L SOHC/2.9L
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
Lead follow or get out of my way
No... behind the IP (Instrument Panel) to the left of the steering column. This is straight from a Gen1 EVTM. Your Gen 2 can't be much different.

Just get under there and have a good look. I also seem to remember a ground behind the driver kick panel... a-pillar area. But I believe that was on one of my many 94 Gen3 trucks.
 

mtipton

Member
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Jun 17, 2010
Messages
95
Reaction score
10
Points
8
Location
Vancouver BC
Vehicle Year
92
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
2.9
Transmission
Manual
No... behind the IP (Instrument Panel) to the left of the steering column. This is straight from a Gen1 EVTM. Your Gen 2 can't be much different.

Just get under there and have a good look. I also seem to remember a ground behind the driver kick panel... a-pillar area. But I believe that was on one of my many 94 Gen3 trucks.
Checked everywhere on the left side. No grounds anywhere. Even checked a spare dash I have in my garage from a 91.
 

mtipton

Member
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Jun 17, 2010
Messages
95
Reaction score
10
Points
8
Location
Vancouver BC
Vehicle Year
92
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
2.9
Transmission
Manual
No... behind the IP (Instrument Panel) to the left of the steering column. This is straight from a Gen1 EVTM. Your Gen 2 can't be much different.

Just get under there and have a good look. I also seem to remember a ground behind the driver kick panel... a-pillar area. But I believe that was on one of my many 94 Gen3 trucks.
So I did find one under some sound proofing on the driver kick panel. Cleaned it, but didn’t change anything.

I’ve tried 2 different dash’s with the same problem. My guess is it has to be in the engine bay somewhere
 

Uncle Gump

Token Old Guy
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Sep 17, 2018
Messages
13,691
Reaction score
13,147
Points
113
Location
Ottawa IL
Vehicle Year
2006/1986
Make / Model
Ranger/BroncoII
Engine Size
4.0L SOHC/2.9L
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
Lead follow or get out of my way
You said one key thing that makes me believe dash ground. When you mess with the heater controls and the dash lights turn on.

They are coming ON with the heater controls because some power source is looking for ground and it finds it through the dash lights.

This is also one of the reasons that people doing their own repairs should spend a few dollars and buy the factory EVTM for their vehicle. It would let you see every ground point... what all is tied in with it and where on the vehicle it is located.
 

dvdswan

Well-Known Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
Joined
Feb 11, 2021
Messages
2,832
Reaction score
2,894
Points
113
Location
Seattle, WA
Vehicle Year
1991
Make / Model
Ranger XLT 2WD
Engine Type
3.0 V6
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
My credo
Keep your mind like an umbrella, it only works if its open... Continually learning.
I would verify all the interior grounds because that's where your issues are. Chances are a ground did NOT get attached and those circuits have to find the next closest ground.
 

mtipton

Member
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Jun 17, 2010
Messages
95
Reaction score
10
Points
8
Location
Vancouver BC
Vehicle Year
92
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
2.9
Transmission
Manual
I guess I’ll be pulling the dash again to take a better look. I know for a fact that the only grounds on the dash harness are on the passenger side.
 

dvdswan

Well-Known Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
Joined
Feb 11, 2021
Messages
2,832
Reaction score
2,894
Points
113
Location
Seattle, WA
Vehicle Year
1991
Make / Model
Ranger XLT 2WD
Engine Type
3.0 V6
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
My credo
Keep your mind like an umbrella, it only works if its open... Continually learning.
before pulling the dash, verify where the grounds are so when you do start pulling dash components look at the circuits to ensure no cables are chaffed, dry rotted, or only hanging on by a wire.
 

mtipton

Member
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Jun 17, 2010
Messages
95
Reaction score
10
Points
8
Location
Vancouver BC
Vehicle Year
92
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
2.9
Transmission
Manual
Okay, so I fixed the problem. And now everything is working perfectly.

Bit of a backstory. I originally had a 92 reg cab that got wrecked. Ended up buying a 91 ext cab and swapped my entire drivetrain and suspension to that truck. I guess somewhere along the line ford made a change in the harness that runs along the inside of the firewall. So I had 92 wiring harness’ everywhere except that firewall one. The main plug is missing a ground wire on the 91 harness that the 92 harness needs.

Whew. Thanks for all the input

Plug for reference
 

Attachments

Last edited:

Uncle Gump

Token Old Guy
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Sep 17, 2018
Messages
13,691
Reaction score
13,147
Points
113
Location
Ottawa IL
Vehicle Year
2006/1986
Make / Model
Ranger/BroncoII
Engine Size
4.0L SOHC/2.9L
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
Lead follow or get out of my way
That was a head scratcher... way to stay with it and figure it out.
 

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Members online

Member & Vendor Upgrades

For a small yearly donation, you can support this forum and receive a 'Supporting Member' banner, or become a 'Supporting Vendor' and promote your products here. Click the banner to find out how.

Truck of The Month


Kirby N.
March Truck of The Month

Recently Featured

Want to see your truck here? Share your photos and details in the forum.

Follow TRS On Instagram

TRS Events

25th Anniversary Sponsors

Check Out The TRS Store


Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad


Amazon Deals

Top