That #10 fuse, blows everytime I replace it and go past reverse! If I just go from P to R, then its great. The moment I hit neutral and go towards D, it pops! GRRRr

From reading online I've taken many suggestions and replaced the following with NO change in this situation:
1. Entire back up light housings and wires and plugs, ...the whole thing.
2. Neutral Safety switch that connects to the transmission.
3. Shifter Cable (for a mere $104 cable)
4. Overdrive Button on the end of the gear shift lever on the steering column.
5. I've changed the light on top of the cab towards the back, outside, that is the reverse, middle light.

97 Ranger, 4WD, 4.0 L engine, auto trans.

I've run a tester in the fuse panel, all is ok.
I just had to take my entire, ENTIRE dash off to fix a broken blend door after my heater would only heat at 3 zillion degrees hot with no adjusting. (Ford wanted $400 for the part, eBay $50 just for the door in addition to 15-plus hours or more in time taking it all apart and together) So... when the dash was off I inspected the wires along the steering column and they look fine.

What now??? I could just run some fog lights in the back with white bulbs and a toggle switch, but a little tacky.

Besides having a strong desire to shoot this truck full of holes and set it on fire, please tell me how to possible have backup lights that don't blow the fuse.

I looked up your owners manual at fleetford for you. As best as i can tell your backup lights are on #26 10 amps . Slot #10 is 7.5 amps and one of the items on it is your brake interlock. I wonder if your brake interlock switch is causing a short somehow. check your owners manual. Also check that you have the right size fuses in there. keep us posted

* I just had a thought put it in N, take your foot off the brake, then put it in drive

I thought i would mention this but I am not sure what the connection would be. in your title you mentioned "other elct prob" but you only posted the backup light prob. I have read on other posts that if you have cruise control I think there is a swithc on your master cylinder for the cc and sometimes it gets contaminated with brake fluid

I don't have cruise control.
Have problems with intermittent wipers going how ever manytimes Ina row then pausing and going some other odd number of wipes. Hardly ever just the one swipe
had the door ajar problem and dome light wouldn't turn off fora mile or two.
The HORN WONT WORK 99% of the time, so I installed a little button and wired a new horn under the hood. If I'm not thinking, ieillhit the nonworking steering column horn by mistake. Sometimes I hit the little button I installed onmy dash very tacky

wish someone knew how tofix the backup light fuse from blowing.

Then of course today in the snow my 4wd was banging, clunking, whining, humming and sounding like metal breaking. Difficulty getting it in and out of 4wd. Seemed stuck in both at times.

Help, help, help. Allthughts on these problems would be sooooo appreciated.

Thanks, Ilene

I meant to type #10 amp fuse at location 26 in fusebox.
Yep. Thanks for the correction.

I had read on forums after people replaced the neutral safety switch their backup lights worked great again I'm so disappointed this wasn't true for me.

Hmmmm, seems most of your issues originate from the steering column. Other than the 4X clunkin', do you use your 4X often? Perhaps mode of operation could cause undo amounts of noise.

__________________
'88 STX Super Cab 4x4
2.9 5spd 180,000 miles
Crappy Paint, Worn Parts,
Fix'em as they Break
when Nowhere is Now Here

I hardly ever, almost never use 4WD because it never snows here much in Maryland. With this big now storm I tried it. Eventually got it to work but the noises were horrid so turned it off and although it wouldn't disengage till 20 minutes later, it finally did and all seems well now.

NO back up lights is a constant. I can't imagine what's in the steering column to make it not work. I replaced the overdirve button, that did nothing. I wish someone could tell me what else to replace or give me some advice, besides "buy a different vehicle!"

Hoping for an answer or suggestion!

Ilene