Taillights stopped working but my break light and everything else is ok

Asked by GuruD528CZ Feb 17, 2024 at 10:03 AM about the 1997 Ford Ranger XLT Standard Cab LB

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

I have a 97 Ford ranger. All my lights worked fine , now my
tail lights stopped working and my reverse lights and back
parking lights. ALL the other functions of the lights work
ex/ Head lights, front/rear turn signals, front parking lights
and hazards in front and rear all work fine. I changed the
break bulb. I think I've checked every fuse on the side panel
of drivers side. I just can not understand why the tail lights
and reverse lights stopped working and I can't figure it out.
I'm am IN DESPERATE NEED OF SOME HELP GUYS
PLEASE. My daddy is gone and I have no one just the basic
knowledge of things he taught me before he passed. My
plate light even works everything literally works out except
tails lights reverse lights and back parking lights (turn
single and hazard work fine in front and back) p.s it's 97
Ford I think XL or something it has the little rear seats on
the back that fold down)

2 Answers

40,085

You need a tester of some kind to figure it out same as anyone here , unless someone can see electricity

157,885

Sounds like a bad ground. You'll need to find out where the taillights and reverse lights are grounded. Trace the wiring going from the lights and you'll find a wire that bolts directly to something metal that's not painted. Remove and clean that connection. Hope that helps! Jim

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