Thanks to you guys I was able to put a bulb in the mystery socket and plug said socket into the back of my heater controls. Maybe that will light up now! This got me to thinking, however, I have two more lights that don't work so I might as well look into fixing them.

The glove box doesn't seem to have a bulb anywhere. There are a few holes but none with a socket. How do you remove the glovebox to get at and replace that bulb?

Next, my dome light doesn't work exactly. Well, it works if I flip the headlight switch, but not if I open the door. It looks like there are switches in the door jams but I can't tell that they move. I was hoping Numberdummy could give me the part number for the new switches. 1974 Ford F-100.

Thanks!

 

Glove box...there should be a handful of screws holding the liner in to place. You pull that out and then you can see the wonders behind your dash. Maybe you have a glove box light/socket...maybe you don't. Just because there is a 'hole' in your liner doesn't mean you have a light.

And you're looking for a door jamb switch...

Door Jamb Switch 1975-96


Your local parts stores should have them in the 'HELP' section for $6-7 as well.

 

Thanks!

Well, I may very well be guilty of assuming that there is a light in the glovebox, but I have reasons. First the owner's manual lists a bulb for it. Second there seems to be a pushbutton style switch to turn it off. Looking at how everything else in my truck has been jacked up for no reason whatsoever, gives me cause to think that it has probably been removed.

Ever replace those door switches? On my Corvette they are in the door instead of in the door frame and they are a royal pain.

 

Well good luck with the glove box. As for the door switch...I wanna say it's a 5/8" socket, and loosen her up. There is a need for some caution though, maybe the wire is broken, or the switch is broken, you don't want it falling back in to the pillar. But assuming those aren't the cases, it's very simple. All you need is the right size socket.

 

I believe the switches to be bad. They are jammed in the closes position and never move. I looked online at all of the parts stores and none of them list it as anything but a special order. Sometimes, like you say though, you can find parts in the "HELP" section that they don't otherwise list.

I guess I'll go pull one out and see what I can find.

 

^^^I know my NAPA, Autozone and O'Reilly's all carry the door switches. So bring the switch in with you and ask if they can match it up.

 

None of the parts stores in town stock what I need. However, looking at the simplicity of the switch, I think I might can actually just fix it.

 

The passenger side switch actually moved, just didn't do anything. I took it out and found that the contacts were just so corroded that they didn't do anything. I used some contact cleaner and a toothbrush and got it going again! The driver's side on the other hand is stuck in the door closed position and I can't free it by hand. So I'll go after it with some PB Blaster, WD-40, and contact cleaner and see what I can do.

 

Woohoo! I was able to free up the driver's side switch and make it work but the spring is long gone so it never returns to the door open position. I did some looking and found that the same switch is listed even for my '95. I figured for a switch they used for that many years SOMEBODY has to have it.

I had previously checked online with O'Reilly, Advance, and Autozone to no avail. The NAPA website doesn't even list one. A phone call to NAPA told me the same thing. Apparently Ford Trucks from 74-95 just didn't have doors. This only re-enforces my theory that NAPA stands for NO AUTO PARTS AVAILABLE.

It dawned on me that the Autozone website doesn't immediately show a listing of all the stores in the area, just one. I went back to their website and picked another store. Sure enough, one of them had it. I called to verify and wen and picked it up. Now my dome light is working just fine from either door. I picked up lunch while I was out, now that I'm refueled I'll see what I can find about that glovebox.

 

On the left side of the glove compartment there is an opening for the bulb to shine through

The hole in the metal in front of that opening is for the socket switch to go into

The wire plugs into the green/yellow wire

The same light socket switch was used on cars and trucks and should be had at an auto wrecker

 

Ya gotta be kidding! You couldn't find this switch?

6C2Z13713AA (replaced E8DZ13713A; E3SZ13713A; D3TZ13713A) .. Dome Lamp Switch-Mounts in door jam (Motorcraft SW6345) / Available from Ford.

MSRP: $12.53 // FTE Ford Dealer Parts Dept. sponsor PARTSGUYED.COM price: $6.77.

Fits: 1973/88 F100/350 & 1992/98 F150/350 / 1975/2011 Econoline / 1978/88 & 1992/96 Bronco / Myriad 1974/2011 Passenger Cars / 1983/86 Aerostar/Ranger/Bronco II / And etc etc etc.

Type the part number into Ed's website to see all the "newer" SUV and etc. applications.

 

I was flipping through the LMC truck catalog and it showed the switch / bulb holder pretty much as the same unit. I just went and looked and sure enough there is a bulb over there. I hadn't seen that hole in the glovebox before. When I had looked at it previously I was on the driver's side and I saw the holes in the top, figured it was supposed to go there.

There was a bulb, I touched it and it magically started burning and the switch controls it. Methinks that the socket may be just a wee bit loose.

 

Looking for specialty parts in the aftermarket ?

try motormite


http://www.dormanproducts.com/dispst..._catalogs.html

 

The glovebox lamp was an option, so not all trucks will have it.

As far as the dome light switch...that mounts into the door jam, see post #11 for the gazillion applications.

 

Finally got it all straightened out. The glove box light is there. I think I need to tighten up the socket some and clean some corrosion. Got some other stuff I need to take care of today, but at least I know where it's at.

I was finally able to track down the switch locally, although most of the parts stores in town were of very little help. Even the local Ford dealership couldn't do anything.

Thanks for all the help though!