1996 ranger turn signals and flashers don't work as well as the blinker lights in the dash. everything else works??

The bulbs all have to be good for the flasher to work. The flasher is under the dash, driver side. When you turn on a blinker, do you hear it clicking under the dash. If the turn light is on , on the dash , but not flashing, then a bulb is probably bad on that side. Leave the blinker on and walk around the vehicle to check the lights. Flip the blinker to the other side and walk around the vehicle again checking lights. If all the lights are lit, but not blinking, then the flasher is most likely bad.

Suspect the multi-function switch. (turnsignal) these fail a lot.

The signal wire going to the right front has a splice for the dash indicator, a wire branching off from the turn wire and going to the dash. It sounds like that right signal wire is broken or lost a connection before it splices off to the dash, so the problem sounds like it is under the dash, either coming out of the turn signal switch to the flasher or from the flasher to that splice. You may need a multi-meter to check voltages on that wire at various places under the dash. Ascertain which color wire you need to concentrate on. Check for voltage on it with key on and right blinker on-voltmeter will spike to battery voltage, then fall to zero as the flasher breaks voltage continuously, if checked after the flasher. If checked when leaving the turn switch, it should be a continuous signal on that wire. Think you better find a wiring diagram to find the right wire to check. Good luck.

There is more than one flasher. One is for hazards and the other flasher is for directional signals. They are located under dash just left and right of the steering column. Don't go tearing up the steering column, then you are asking for trouble. Try the least expensive and labor intensive fix first.

There should be a flasher unit on the fuse box under the dash for the turn signals and another behind the dimmer switch for the hazards.
Sometimes one of the flashers is behind the fuse box in the glove compartment if equipped.
Don't be surprised if the flasher is not the problem. Most of the time the problem is the multi-function switch on the column.
There are stories online about using WD40 to take care of the switch problem.

I would check for voltage at the flasher next. There should be a flasher for the turn signals and a different one for the hazards.

That should be on two different fuses, but everything goes thru the turn signal switch.
The switch might be faulty. A mechanic would check for voltage there.

did you check you blinker switch ?ots a big silver part that should be under your driver side

There are several things that can cause your blinkers to not function properly. This could be caused by a defective flasher unit, a malfunctioning turn signal switch, or a broken wire, just to name a few. Electrical system diagnostics must be performed to pinpoint the cause of the problem.

Please also review these articles:

Where's The Fuse?

What Else Could Be Wrong?

If you have read the articles and you still want to try to fix your own turn signals, post a comment here to let me know and I can walk you through diagnosing your turn signal circuits.

CHECK PIG TAIL AT RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT IF LOOKS BAD OR BURN REPLACE IF OK FIND FLASHER UNDER DASH AND REPLACE.