Sadly this is my first post, I bought a 1998 4.0 4x4 ranger 2 days ago with hopes of turning it into an overland rig. The body's in good shape the frame is solid but I'm having electrical issues some where. It died twice on my way into work this morning and it seems like it's just that the alt isn't powering the engine or charging the battery. All the gauges die then it sputters and quits. I'm looking for any common issues and ground problems before I start throwing money at it.

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Now that I have time to be more specific. The check gauge is on because the oil pressure gauge isn't reading, the high beams work in the toggle but don't stay on by themselves, and the head lights are dead. My thought was a new sensor and new bulbs but the more I looked around after being able to take some stuff apart the more I found sketchy wires so if this isn't a common problem Saturday I'm just gonna swap harnesses with a good complete one from the yard

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when you say toggle you mean pushing forward in HIGH mode or flash to pass mode? could be a worn multi-function switch, available on rockauto for a fair price in comparison to dealer thats for sure. When you say the headlights are dead, you mean that you have power to the bulbs low/high but the low beams are out? just trying to clarify here.

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Also do you have a DVOM?

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My Build Pg. Threads
+ 93' Ranger Overlanding Build
+ 94' Ranger Bed Overlanding Trailer Build
+ 12° North Industries ~ I Support

Headlights turned out to be a torn wire from the connector, that's fixed not. And yes forward doesn't work but the hi flash does. Dvom?

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Dvom is I think digital voltage and Ohm meter.


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2002 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4, ext. cab, Stepside, Auto, 4.0L v6

Nope, I don't have one of those, I just have the needle electrical tester for checking power

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A decent DVOM, even a HF one will help a lot in trouble shooting things. Just make sure it has continuity test feature. Everything else AC/DC/Ohms/Resistance will be there if it has CT.

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My Build Pg. Threads
+ 93' Ranger Overlanding Build
+ 94' Ranger Bed Overlanding Trailer Build
+ 12° North Industries ~ I Support

My highs and oil gauge just stared working again but the battery tester said my alt is dead. So I definitly have gremlins

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Well you shouldn’t have got the Mogwai wet or fed them after midnight. If you want gremlins, that’s how you get them.


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2002 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4, ext. cab, Stepside, Auto, 4.0L v6

2nd opinion, get a DVOM start or jump the car. Test voltage at battery terminals upon start and see where it drops to start voltage wise and then measure voltage as its running. should be 13.8-14.4 running. Dont want to really see the battery drop below 11 volts under crank.. generally indicates a failing or failed cell if most cases if it was to drop below 11-10 volts

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My Build Pg. Threads
+ 93' Ranger Overlanding Build
+ 94' Ranger Bed Overlanding Trailer Build
+ 12° North Industries ~ I Support

Battery is fine, it was bought in July, I cleaned the battery cable connections and the firewall ground and that fixed a lot of it so that only leaves the alt.

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Hahaha yeah right, no puddles for this one with all these electric problems

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