So what just happened here...

[bbb0777]

I switched out the instrument panel bulbs in my '95, 2.3L Ranger. In doing so, I disconnected the negative battery terminal, reconnected it, several times to check along the way. Everything works, except now...

Whenever the battery is connected, the backup lights on the top of the cab stay one. Doesn't matter if engine is on or not, or what gear I'm in.

Just those backup lights - the brake light at the top of the cab works properly, and the backup lights by the tailights work properly.

As a short term solution, I disconnected the electrical conenctor at that top of the cab light.

But, gah...what just happened?

 

[MPRanger]

Those lights your talking about aren't backup lights they're bed lights and in no way hooked to the shifter in your truck. You probably crossed a wire or something when you had your dash apart. Check the switch first. Not sure what I looks like but I would assume it is a push type and it maybe stuck or just went bad.


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[bbb0777]

Those lights your talking about aren't backup lights they're bed lights

Ah I'm dumb. Thanks! That solved it.

I just looked up cargo lights - and then, well wait how do I turn those on there's no switch and - ah, when the dimmer is all the way up, they're on. The dimmer was all the way up. No crossed wires. I don't have to take off those panels again.

I never, ever knew those were cargo lights. Or how they turned on. Just assumed they were extraneous backup lights to keep the extraneous brake light company. Cargo lights, that's kinda handy. Jesus...

Thanks again!