Tail light wiring

[sporkeldee]

Hello all,

I have a 1998 ranger, 2.5 that I got for a song. It has a flatbed and the PO cut the rear harness when he put the flatbed on right before the rear bumper mount, at the spare tire well. I’m trying to wire up some trailer lights to be able to use the truck until I can source a bed, and the rest of the harness.

I’ve tried looking in the technical section but I can’t find anything for 1998 rangers

I appreciate any help.

 

[sporkeldee]

Picture of what I’m working with. From top to bottom 3 separate solid black. An orange with a blue trace, green with orange trace, solid green, black with a pink trace and solid brown.

 

[JoshT]

I don;t have a 1998 wiring manual, but I do have one for 1999 and it's most likely the same. Unfortunately its in the truck over at my parent's house where I'm working on it. I'll try to post pictures of the relevant section next time I'm over if you haven't found your answers by then.

 

[Curious Hound]

Ge

Picture of what I’m working with. From top to bottom 3 separate solid black. An orange with a blue trace, green with orange trace, solid green, black with a pink trace and solid brown.

Generally speaking;

Brown should be parking lights
Black with pink trace is reverse lights
Solid black is ground and is probably terminated on the frame nearby or the rear crossmember
Green with orange trace is left turn
Orange with light blue is right turn.
Light green is probably 3rd brake light

 

[sporkeldee]

@JoshT I’d appreciate it. I have the 95+ body wiring from Haynes manual, but they’re close but not exact. Going to tear into it tonight, and if I can figure it out will post back for posterity

 

[2011Supercab]

Generally speaking;

Brown should be parking lights
Black with pink trace is reverse lights
Solid black is ground and is probably terminated on the frame nearby or the rear crossmember
Green with orange trace is left turn
Orange with light blue is right turn.
Light green is probably 3rd brake light

Doesn't a 98 Ranger have amber turn signals so you have to use 2 separate lights on each side?

 

[sporkeldee]

Ge

Generally speaking;

Brown should be parking lights
Black with pink trace is reverse lights
Solid black is ground and is probably terminated on the frame nearby or the rear crossmember
Green with orange trace is left turn
Orange with light blue is right turn.
Light green is probably 3rd brake light

Thank you. So is the light green brake lights then?

plan to get me back on the road is to use a set of trailer lights with four wire connectionswire in one of these;

Hopkins LED Tail Light Converter
https://www.autozone.com/electrical...160551_0_0?searchText=48895?vehicleId=2371309

and then get a white lamp for backup light.

 

[Curious Hound]

Thank you. So is the light green brake lights then?

No. That wire is there in case you need to hook up a high mounted brake light in a camper shell or something like that. Normal brake light activation will come through the turn signal wires.

 

[2011Supercab]

Normal brake light activation will come through the turn signal wires.

Not on a truck that has amber/yellow turn signals, I think a 98 has amber turn signals

I don't know the wire colors

Should have

1 wire for Right Turn
1 wire for Left Turn
1 wire for Tail Lights
1 wire for Brake Lights
1 wire for Ground

 

[Curious Hound]

Not on a truck that has amber/yellow turn signals, I think a 98 has amber turn signals

I don't know the wire colors

Should have

1 wire for Right Turn
1 wire for Left Turn
1 wire for Tail Lights
1 wire for Brake Lights
1 wire for Ground

I was going by the wire colors he listed and gave normal function for each.

 

[sporkeldee]

Tackled it last night, used the LED brake light converter and got everything wired up and it works like a charm.

thank you everyone