High Beam indicator and chime not working properly

jfeazell · #1 06-15-2012, 04:59 AM

I've been trying to work a few quirks on my "new to me" truck. One of the latest is that the high beam indicator light on the cluster doesn't light when I turn on the high beams. I have also noticed that the "ding-ding" alarm doesn't sound when the key is left in the ignition or when the lights or left on. I've posted some information below that will (hopefully) be relevant.

* 1999 Ford Ranger - 2.5L Ext Cab, 5-speed manual;
* The headlights and high beams appear to function correctly;

* I have pulled the insstrument cluster and replaced one burned out bulb (the one behind the battery gauge). The small bulbs for the warning indicators all appear to be fine;

* Some work has been done on this truck before, though I'm not sure for what purpose. The driver's side door wiring has been messed with in some way- The wire is not long enough to reach the door jamb switch on the door, so the courtesy light doesn't light when the driver's door opens. However, when I put a meter on the connector and close the circuit, the dome light comes on, so I believe the wiring to be correct. I've ordered a new wire set off of eBay to replace this one.

* The alert beep doesn't sound when the ignition is running and either door is open. This seems odd. I know the tone itself works, as I have heard it before, I beleive during the diagnostic when the car first starts up and all the lights come on, etc.

* During the initial startup, when all the cluster lamps illuminate briefly, the high beam indicator does not come on.

* I do not beleive this truck has DRL. The manual mentions the feature, but indicates (if equipped), so I cannot say for sure. I have looked under the driver's side headlight, and I don't see anything that looks like a DRL control module, so I am assuming it does not. Again, the lights and high beams work properly apart from this issue.

I'd really like to have this fixed. As much as I complain about my wife leavign the lights on and it not warning her, I accidentally did it the other day and now I think I've killed my battery, so it would be really nice to have this feature back. Thanks for any help!

-- James

FireRanger · #2 06-15-2012, 08:28 AM

The HB indicator does not light up when you start the truck. Try changing the bulb before looking a more complicated solution.

jfeazell · #3 06-16-2012, 04:37 AM

Well, I did test the bulb / socket for continuity while I had the cluster out, so I'm 99-44/100% sure the bulb is good. I hate to just pull the cluster out again to replace a bulb that I think is already good... esp. when you can't test the thing w/out putting it all back in.

Any thoughts about the chime? I almost did it again yesterday while testing.... Leaving the lights on and walking away. Got so used to a car for so many years that turned the lights on / off automatically.

Thanks.

-- James

nfly698 · #4 08-13-2013, 09:35 PM

I was just wondering if you were still having the problem. I am actually having the same exact problem. It does not chime when I turn the car off and I leave the headlights on. I have a daylight headlight area where I live so I forget a lot.

At the same time as the "light dinging stopped" the dome light doesnt turn on automatically when I open the driver door but does when I open the passenger door. Im not sure if it had an effect but I believe that there is some sort of short due to water leakage inside the truck. I believe I have had the leakage problem taken care of but I am unsure why the radio doesn't work for but a few seconds. Just thought maybe you could help.

nfly698 · #5 08-13-2013, 11:00 PM

How do I post my own thread? Can anyone tell me?

Monkeee2002 · #6 08-14-2013, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nfly698

I was just wondering if you were still having the problem. I am actually having the same exact problem. It does not chime when I turn the car off and I leave the headlights on. I have a daylight headlight area where I live so I forget a lot.

At the same time as the "light dinging stopped" the dome light doesnt turn on automatically when I open the driver door but does when I open the passenger door. Im not sure if it had an effect but I believe that there is some sort of short due to water leakage inside the truck. I believe I have had the leakage problem taken care of but I am unsure why the radio doesn't work for but a few seconds. Just thought maybe you could help.

Have you checked your fuses?

Quote:

Originally Posted by nfly698

How do I post my own thread? Can anyone tell me?

http://www.fordrangerforum.com/site-...ger-forum.html

96_4x4_XLT · #7 08-14-2013, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfeazell

I've been trying to work a few quirks on my "new to me" truck. One of the latest is that the high beam indicator light on the cluster doesn't light when I turn on the high beams. I have also noticed that the "ding-ding" alarm doesn't sound when the key is left in the ignition or when the lights or left on. I've posted some information below that will (hopefully) be relevant.

* 1999 Ford Ranger - 2.5L Ext Cab, 5-speed manual;
* The headlights and high beams appear to function correctly;

* I have pulled the insstrument cluster and replaced one burned out bulb (the one behind the battery gauge). The small bulbs for the warning indicators all appear to be fine;

* Some work has been done on this truck before, though I'm not sure for what purpose. The driver's side door wiring has been messed with in some way- The wire is not long enough to reach the door jamb switch on the door, so the courtesy light doesn't light when the driver's door opens. However, when I put a meter on the connector and close the circuit, the dome light comes on, so I believe the wiring to be correct. I've ordered a new wire set off of eBay to replace this one.

* The alert beep doesn't sound when the ignition is running and either door is open. This seems odd. I know the tone itself works, as I have heard it before, I beleive during the diagnostic when the car first starts up and all the lights come on, etc.

* During the initial startup, when all the cluster lamps illuminate briefly, the high beam indicator does not come on.

* I do not beleive this truck has DRL. The manual mentions the feature, but indicates (if equipped), so I cannot say for sure. I have looked under the driver's side headlight, and I don't see anything that looks like a DRL control module, so I am assuming it does not. Again, the lights and high beams work properly apart from this issue.

I'd really like to have this fixed. As much as I complain about my wife leavign the lights on and it not warning her, I accidentally did it the other day and now I think I've killed my battery, so it would be really nice to have this feature back. Thanks for any help!

-- James

light bulb and I would leave the door alarm alone cuz I think it's annoying as duck

nfly698 · #8 08-18-2013, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monkeee2002

Have you checked your fuses?

http://www.fordrangerforum.com/site-...ger-forum.html

I actually have not checked them. I will do that and let you know. Where does the chime come from? I'm not sure it is related but the dome light doesn't turn on when I open the door either. So from that I would assume it is a fuse problem but I don't really know.