96 Ranger dashlights

[Voice of Treason]

Yeah. My 96's dashlights went out. The fasten seatbuckle symbol, the parking brake message, the blinkers - all of those are fine, but the speedometer, gas gauge, oil gauge and temperature gauge are all out. I've had a few people look at the fuses on the driverside panel on the side of the dash console but all fuses seem to be good. I also lost my owners manual so I wouldn't know which fuse it is anyways. I feel like this should be an easy thing to remedy at home, without dropping a lot of money at a repair shop.


Is there another set of fuses somewhere else?
Do I need to replace a light bulb?


Gah.

Help would be much appreciated.

[Jim 99Ranger]

I had a 95 and had the same problem but I got rid of the truck before I researched what the problem was. Sorry I can't help but I do feel for you.

[Crasen]

Well the first thing that you should check is fuses, wich you already have realized. You might want to check under the hood, some years have a fuse panel under there. How were the fuses checked? If they pulled the fuse out and visually looked at them they can still be bad. It is possible to confirm a fuse is bad by looking at it, however you can not confirm a fuse is good by looking at it. Sometimes a fuse will look just fine when they are blown. The easiest way to make sure a fuse is good is with a 12 volt test light. You place the clamp on a good ground source, turn the ignition key to run and you place the tip of the testlight to one of the contact points on the front of the fuse with it installed. The light should come on. Then you place the tip at the other contact point, again the testlight should come on. If the light only comes on at one contact point the fuse is blown. If it comes on at both it is good. If the light does not come on at either there is no voltage to the fuse. some fuses are hot at all times, some in run position, and once in awhile only while the engine is cranking. Checking all the fuses should only take about a minute. Sure beats pulling all of them out one by one. if you try that a post the results I am sure someone can further assist you

[bluebug]

They all go out at once or did it get dim on one side first?
Is it just the dash lights or are the ones on the A/C and heater controls also out?
The dash lights on my 98 went out last year and it was the bulbs.
Clark

[Nice_n_Ez]

My 98 Ranger's dash lights also went out but it was gradual ... one at a time. They were simply burning out. If yours all went out at the same time then it's something other than just old bulbs... probably a short that would have taken out a common fuse. If yours are just burnt out then there are 5 of them that light up the speedom. tach. fuel, oil etc.. You'll have to remove the plastic dash parts and metal pan below the steering column and all other screws you see holding the plastic dash and steering column cover in place. You will eventually be able to get to the 4 screws that hold the instrument cluster in place. Remove them and lift the cluster out gently as to not damage the ribbon cable connected circuit board on the back side. The bulbs twist to the left to remove and replace.