help with Ranger rear body wiring harness

[mkoepper]

While troubleshooting tail light problems I found that a previous
owner had tapped in to the factory harness at the drivers side of the
rear connector to make a home made trailer harness. The tap connectors
were corroded and one wire broke at the tap while I was checking what
was what. I spliced the wires as best I could with not much room to
work and not much good wire left at the connector. Lights are now
working but...

To prevent future problems I would like to replace the factory
harness. I'm hoping someone can give me some tips. Can anyone point
me to a shcematic? Not so much a wiring diagram but an exploded view
showing harness connectors and mounting methods?


It looks like I would most likely unplug the harness at four places?


- the connector at the rear (where the trailer harness should plug in)
- two connectors at the drivers side tail lights?
- one connector forward somewhere?


Is this correct? Where is the forward conenctor? Can the drivers side
part of the harness be removed after unplugging these connectors?
Does anything else have to be dissasembled?


What exactly should I ask for when hunting a replacement at a
wrecking yard? Does anyone have a Ford part number?


thanks in advance


Mark

 

[BlaineM]

I don't believe I have ever seen the type of scematic you describe in an automotive repair manual (exept Honda motorcycle factory workshop manuals). Seems that every manual wants to tell you how to do a complete engine rebuild but can't bother to tell you where to find the simplest peripheral components.

If I was in your situation, I would do my best to repair the original harness (soldering new sections of wire if need be) and seal the soldered joints with heat shrink.

If you don't want to do that:
Go to a wrecker and ask them for the section of harness you want. At some yards, the guys that work the yard will remove the part from the donor vehicle, right in front of you so you can see where the connectors are and how it attaches.

Good luck