1995 Ranger tail lights miswired, replace with '97 wiring?

[kodex]

Current truck is a 1995 ranger 3.0 manual. There are tail light electrical issues from the previous owner due to botched install of a wiring harness for a trailer. I can't figure out what goes where (and I'm an electrical engineering student), so I want to just replace the rear-most section entirely. I have a line on the wiring from a '97. Can I splice this in to my '95 (i.e. is it exactly the same)?

Yes, I realize coloring may vary.

Regards,

Steve

 

[Earl43P]

I can't answer your question, but I can tell you that the tail light harness connector is right at the aft center end of the bed. Once you disconnect it there, you can easily (after removing the tail light housings) snake that whole tail light harness out and carry it with you to compare with the one you might purchase.

If the wire colors match in both connectors when you compare them side by side, it will work. Count the # of lamp holders, just to make certain. The tail light housings might be different so carry one of them with you or buy the ones from the donor to match the harness.

Personally, I would undo whatever kludge they made for the trailer connector and solder those wires back together, covering them afterward with a prepositioned length of heat shrink tubing.

 

[AmericanPride]

I wouldn't bother going through all that. Just clean up what was done. You shouldn't have any trouble distinguishing what they added and what's factory. Worst case if you find a nasty spot in the factory wiring, cut it out and replace it. Much easier