How to Troubleshoot Headlights on a Ford Ranger Pickup Truck
by Leonardo R. Grabkowski
The headlights on your Ford Ranger pickup truck are similar to the headlights on most other vehicles. The truck uses standard halogen bulbs, powered by automotive relays and a headlight switch. Problems with your headlights can range from the simple and inexpensive (bulbs and relays) to the complicated and costly (wiring and switches). Troubleshoot your headlight problems through the process of elimination.
Step 1
Check your headlight operation. Crank the engine, turn on the headlights and stand in front of your Ranger to determine which headlights are nonfunctional. If your headlights work but flicker, you likely have a faulty headlight switch or a wiring problem. This will require professional repair. If only one of your headlights is nonfunctional, you probably have a faulty bulb or relay. Turn on your high-beam ("bright lights") headlights to check their operation. If they work but your low-beams do not (or vice versa), you probably have a faulty bulb or relay.
Step 2
Inspect the bulbs. Remove the bulb sockets from the rear of your headlight assembly and inspect their filament. If the bulb is bad, the filament will be broken; if it's good, the filament will be connected. Check your high-beam and low-beam bulbs. Replace the bulbs if necessary. If you do not know how to identify a faulty bulb, see Resource for examples of "good" and "bad" bulbs.
Step 3
Check your headlight relays for continuity using a multimeter. The process of checking the relay will depend on the type of relay and the number of coils and switches in the relay. If you do not know how to use a multimeter, let a professional handle this--or consider replacing the relays once you've eliminated other possible problems (relays are relatively inexpensive). Replace the relays if they are bad or if you've eliminated all other possible problems. Most Ford Rangers contain two headlight relays: one for the high-beam and one for the low-beam. Use your engine-bay fuse box as a guide; relay type and location will depend on the year model and engine size.
References
Tips
- If all of your headlights are out (high-beam, low-beam, driver's, passenger's), the chances of your problem being a bulb are slim to none. Have your headlight switch or wiring tested by a professional, or test and replace your relays.
Things You'll Need
- Gloves
- Replacement bulbs
- Multimeter
- Replacement relays
Warnings
- Wear gloves when replacing automotive headlights. The oil and dirt from your hands can cause the bulbs to burn out.
Writer Bio
Leonardo R. Grabkowski has been writing professionally for more than four years. Grabkowski attended college in Oregon. He builds websites on the side and has a slight obsession with Drupal, Joomla and Wordpress.
