Bed/Cargo Light Problem

[lbreevesii]

I am looking at buying a(nother) ranger. Its a 97 XLT with all the options. It does however have a few things that I need to check out/figure out. One is that the white cargo lights on the 3rd brake light don't want to go off. What would cause this?

When I looked at it the pwr windows, power door locks, and power seat didn't work either. I'm hoping that its just a combo of blown fuses or removed fuses that somebody did as a quick fix for a gunked up door ajar plunger.

 

[RobbieD]

On my '94, the cargo lights are controlled by the turning the headlight switch knob. The '97 will have a different style switch, but did you check that the switch was off?

 

[lbreevesii]

switch was off. I didn't pay much attention, but what switch(es?) would normally turn these off in a 95+? The main headlight switch was off, but of course its a 3 position rotary rather than the <95 pull switch and twist dimmer.

fyi i'm a 94' owner so the slight differences of the newer ones are kinda lost on me.

 

[RobbieD]

fyi i'm a 94' owner so the slight differences of the newer ones are kinda lost on me.

I know exactly where you're coming from. I'm totally guessing here, but I think that there's a thumb wheel with the newer-style light switches, that controls panel lights' brightness. Similar to twisting the old-style headlight switch knob, I think the cargo lights are switched on by turning the thumb wheel to a click, past the full bright panel lights position. Again, I'm not sure, and sooner or later somebody with a '95+ truck will jump in here.

 

[lbreevesii]

Thats exactly what i'm thinking as well. But since none of the other lights were on I can't exactly confirm the position of the dimmer switch.

Assuming the dimmer is good, what would cause this? Relay?

 

[RobbieD]

Not really sure on a '97. I hate guessing on anything electrical that late; a lot of interior functions are tied into the generic electrical module (GEM). I'm not sure if I even have electrical schematics for one that new, but I'll check if you really get stuck. Sorry to not be much help.