Hi. My dome light will not turn off. I have tried the WD40 in the latch trick and replaced both of the switches. The dimmer is not all the way up. I don't know what else to do. Help, this is driving me nuts.

98 Ranger XLT
V6
Manual windows

 

Try yanking the interior lamp relay. Does it click when you remove it and does the dome light go off? If yes I think the Central timer module (CTM)/Generic electronic module (GEM) has had a myocardio infarction, and i would try giving it a good dope slap by removing the negative battery cable for a couple of minutes.

If the light goes out, but the relay does'nt click when removed, try replacing it.

The relay box should be under the hood. If you dont have the owners manual flip the lid over and there should be a diagram showing which relay it is.

 

Thank you so much for the reply. I found the box under the hood but nothing is labeled. Looked in owners manual and there is a list, but no interior light relay. Could it be labeled something else? Thanks again!

 

You're right, i just took a look at the fuse/relay info at BBBIND.com and the only mention of the interior lamp relay is that it's powered by fuse 26. The GEM, shift relay, glove box lamp & some other stuff are also powered by interior fuse 26. Try removing it for a few minutes and see if it gets you anything.

Strange that there is no mention of the interior lamp relay location?????

 

It is strange. I put fuse in and out a couple of times and could hear a click under the dash. Do you think the relay is under there somewhere. Also, I got the light to go off by shutting the door...once. couldn't get it to work again. Wondering if it might be a wiring issue or the connector to the switch, given the fact that both switches are new. Thanks again for your continued attention to my problem. I really appreciate it.

 

There are a couple of relays associated with the dome lamp circuit which are housed inside a "relay box" that is mounted underneath the dash, just to the right of the steering column, in the area above the gas pedal (it's the only relay box under there that's large enough to house 5-6 relays).

Those relays include: the interior-lamp relay, and the battery-saver relay.

 

Rockledge If I remember right, you once posted a nice opened up aux relay box photo with relay labels, but danged if I can find it lately. Had it saved to laptop Fav, but the danged computer crashed before I saved it on my cruzer blade.
If you can find it I'll have a super mod put the link in the Tech Info thread.

 

So the mystery of the missing relay has been solved, thanks Rockledge.

If the doors are closed when you hear the relay clicking my WAG (wild *** guess) is that the GEM could be hung up & keeping the relay trip wire grounded. Try removing the battery ground wire for a couple of minutes and see if it does anything.

Could also be a bare wire grounding out somewhere.

Wish i had the factory diagrams for a 98. It's hard to figure this sort of thing out with the disjointed online diagrams.

 

All I have is a link to this pictorial of the relay box location. http://ww2.justanswer.com/uploads/s4..._Relay_box.jpg
On my 99, the position of the power window relay, located on the metal tongue below the glove box door, is labeled as the interior dome light relay on some models. It's unlabeled location can be seen in the above pictorial, laying horizontal to the left of the red pointer that's indicating the aux relay box location EDIT: Here is another view & labeling of the dome light/accessory delay relay & its location below the glove box door hinge http://ww2.justanswer.com/uploads/s4...y_location.jpg. So the relay you hear clicking should be in one of these two places.

 

Hi guys:

pawpaw: It wasn't me who posted the pics of the relay box, but I was able to find the thread that you are probably thinking about:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...t-working.html

Also, for further ID purposes, the interior lamp relay "connector" has 5 wires, as follows:

pin 30 = BK/LB
pin 85 = LG/O
pin 86 = LG/O
pin 87 = LG/O
pin 87a = BK/PK

...

 

Alright good find, yup I believe that's the thread & photos I was thinking of.
I see the photos are for a 2001 & I thought it was for an earlier model Ranger. I remember at the time going out to my 99 & looking for it to the right of the steering column because I was having power window & lock problems but couldn't find that danged aux relay box. So not certain its in that spot for a 98 like the OP has, but at least we know what that puppy looks like & what's in it, when we do locate it on our particular model Ranger. If he can have a helper remove & plug in the fuse that makes it click while he zeros in on the noise, bet he'll find that puppy & maybe enlighten all of us on his findings.

 

Thank you so much. I will check it out.

 

Good luck, let us know how it goes. But see below first.

So your '99 doesn't have that relay box?

It's under there on my '98, so I assumed it would be there in all Rangers of the same vintage....

...OK, I just looked over the schematic again and I do see some asterisks which indicate that in some "base models" the two relays (interior lamp and battery saver) might be found behind the glove box, instead of in that relay box. But I'm not sure what it means, because you noted that your '99 has PW/PL in any case, which doesn't sound like a "base model" to me (but maybe it is to Ford?)

So I guess what I am saying is that, once again, Ford has me confused.

 

Would be helpful to know what you find Dr Ken.

 

Yup, I'm still confused on its location too & I've still not located the in cabin Aux Relay Box on my 99 4X2 4dr XLT. I don't know how the wiring may differ on different trim lines, or years.

Right now I have the center bezel that holds the radio & AC louvers out, so there is a Big hole in the dash & I can clearly see what's back there & I'm still not locating where that relay box is.

There is a sorta flat rectangular module cram/mounted on the upper left inside the opening, onto what looks like the side of the instrument panel mounting structure. It's almost impossible to see clearly what it is, but I suspect it's probably the GEM. I can't find anything else back there that looks remotely like the Aux Relay Box.

SO, right now I'm wondering if its maybe been moved behind the drivers side kick panel on my year/model????
For instance, I recently found my Accessory Delay Relay/Power Window Relay, dangling inverted by its wiring pigtail, over behind the passenger kick panel, instead of under the glove box door tang, where the FSM illustration here shows its supposed to be. Note that the illustration indicates there is some difference in what the relay in that position does, depending on if the vehicle is as noted (Without power equipment, or 4X4) http://ww2.justanswer.com/uploads/s4...y_location.jpg.

After finally finding it & reworking/cleaning my relay & its contacts up, I installed it on the metal tang under the glove box door, where the FSM illustration shows it's supposed to go. It clipped onto that tang just like it was supposed to.

I've had the truck since new & no one has done any in cabin repairs or maintenance, so I believe it came from the factory installed out of place.
Another member had found his Accessory Delay Relay hanging inverted by its wiring pigtail behind the passenger side kick panel also & thank goodness he had posted where he found it, sure saved me my best cuss words & more skinned knuckles trying to find mine where it was supposed to be, but wasn't!!!

SO, who knows where my 99, or the OP's danged 98 Aux Relay box is, but now that we once again know what it looks like & what's in it, maybe I/we can use the OP's fuse pulling scenario to make a relay in the aux relay box click & discover its location by sound!!!???

But now I'm so old that I've got to have a helper with young ears to listen for the relay click, while I jiggle a fuse!!! lol

SO, if the OP can't find his 98 Aux Relay Box where the 01 Ranger aux relay box photos show it to be, or where you found your 98's to be, he can use his ears to locate that puppy & clue us in on where to look on a 98 equipped like his & maybe I'll find my 99 relay box there too!!!???
Stay tuned, the Aux Relay Box/Dome light relay location saga continues!!!! lol