Blows fuse #2. Ranger manual shows #2 is for blower motor. There is more to it than that though because air bag light in driver panel stays lit while passenger air bag light does not light. Today I will use a volt meter to see which leg of the fuse is hot. Then I will use an ohm meter at the other leg to see if any or what position during shifting will show an electrical short to chassis ground. Appreciating back-up lights and who knows what next, shifting from park to drive goes through reverse and neutral. Do you think I will find a short circuit in the transmission switch? I believe back-up lights are on a differnt fuse. Chilton electrical wiring diagrams are lousy. Is it possible to get schematics/diagrams that show what is within a:
2001 Ranger 4-liter, 5-speed automatic, 2-wheel drive?
Maybe some of you have experienced similar problems.

 

I found that I did not need to move the shift lever through the park-reverse-neutral-drive range to gain an indication of where a short circuit occurs. All that I needed to do was pull the shift lever ever so slightly toward me and the ohm meter showed a short circuit. I don't cherish the thought of digging around the steering column assembly that has an air bag, but I don't know if I have any other choice.

 

I found the electrical short. Wires run through the shift lever from the overdrive on/off switch to the steering column. Moving the shift lever for the past 10-years caused the wire insulation to wear against the metal column and therein short to chassis ground. A couple layers of electrical tape and all is well again.