Ford RangerMore than two decades ago, the Ford Ranger debuted as an answer to various compact pickup trucks being made available by Japanese automakers. The Ranger was cleanly styled and offered with a choice of a 6-foot or 7-foot bed. Ford boasted that the Ranger had more interior room than the best-selling imports and that 4-by-8-foot construction material could be carried in the bed.
WARNING: THIS IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART! But I'd REALLY appreciate some help if you can follow this course of events!
I have a 1992 Ford Ranger XLT, 2.3L EFI.
I started having issues a couple of years ago when my gas gauge stopped working (leaving the needle forever on "empty") and I lost the left side dashlights simultaneously. I was told by a mechanic I trusted that the truck BED had to be removed or something to fix it, so I left it alone and watch my mileage. No dealbreaker there...
Then, a year ago the more "severe" electrical issues started with the door-ajar chime staying on when the driver-side door is shut (thus pushing the button that's SUPPOSED to turn the chime OFF).
I finally unscrewed the door button thing and let it hang (by the wiring). That resolved the problem (except the dome light wouldn't come on when the driver side door was open (understandably)). No dealbeaker...
Then I started having turn signal problems. First I replaced the bulb, which worked for a couple of weeks. Then that wouldn't work. The LEFT signal never blinked, but the right side did. So then I replaced the turn signal flasher and this resolved the problem, but only for a few weeks, then the left signal went out again (but I THINK the flasher is still good). So I lived with the no "left turn signal." No dealbreaker, but bordering on it...
THEN last week while driving my dash lights went off completely, and I got pulled over...no tailights either! Checked the fuses, replaced 2 that were burnt out, decided to screw that damn door chime button back in and BAM! I've got dashlights (still minus the left side though, which had been out since way back), taillights AND THE TURN SIGNALS BOTH WORKED. Great!
Well, that lasted a week. Now the left turn signal is out again and the Hazards don't even work! I checked the fuses and they're all good!!
It's obvious I got some electrical stuff going on and I'm losing my mind...
PLEASE HELP! Relays the next thing to change? Which ones and where are they, if so?
OH, I almost forgot the best part! My stereo doesn't work now either! The power is on but there is no audio...not sure if that's a totally separate issue or not...
You might try replacing the ignition switch. My old Ranger had similar problems.
Ford had a major recall on the ignition switches several years ago. With age, they
would start to open up, causing a lost of contact and power to various electrical
instruments and circuits. The switch cost about $20.00 and the bolts holding it
on the column have to have the heads drilled off to replace the switch and new
bolts. It was't a bad job, if you are handy with your hands. I will try that before
spending a ton on money for someone hunting for the problem.
Check your battery cables and your grounds, not just the big fat one, but the little ones too. Check for a grounding strap from the engine to the frame. Often the lights, and speakers will ground to the body.
__________________
BroncoJoe19
2006 Alt Fuel Jeep (electric)
'98 windstar 3.8L
'99 Crown Vic 4.6L
'90 Full Size Bronco 5.0L
I'm not a professional mechanic, take my suggestions with a grain of salt, or a cup of coffee
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I had an car once that would loss the gas gage and other things also.
I took the instrment panel out looking for a bad wire. I found it. It was
on the back of the instrument panel which was a printed circuit board.
Over time the connection had heated up and would loss contact.
I solved the problem by drilling a small hole in the printed circuit and
adding a small bolt & nut to retain the wire to the circuit and adding
a new wire connector to the wire. That did the trick. No more electrical problems with it. If you decide to replace the ignition switch, once you
drill out the heads of the bolts, the switch will come off and you can
screw out the remaining part of the bolts with pliers. You will need
to purchase new bolts of the correct size and length. I believe they
were metric on my Ranger. I agree with the other guys now, sounds
like the loss of a ground somewhere in the dash. Let us know what
what you did, when you solve the problem.
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1992 Ranger electrical problem 
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