Hello everyone. Just joined FTE to see if someone can solve my problem that just started today. 2009 F150 XLT dash indicator light for bright lights stays on dimly all the time, even with key out. Bright lights work, even f2p, and dash light goes to normal brightness when they're on. Wiring short, bad PCB behind gauges, brights switch? Hope someone's "been there, done that" and can help me.

 

welcome to the forum!

looks like you might be in Canada, eh?

IIRC, canadian truck have the Day Time Running lights (DRL) activated from the factory. If that's the case, i would start looking for bad connectors and bad grounds at the bulbs that are used for the DRL's.

my guess would be that the DRL's might be grounding through the High beams because of a compromised ground path.

if the high beams are used for the DRL's, it might just be a bad headlight bulb or connection.

I'd start by doing the wiggle test on the headlamps. if that makes the dash light go away, i'd start by replacing the headlamps. I've had many bulbs act funny like that when they start to go out. a quick wiggle makes them work just fine until the next time you use them and a new bulb fixed it 100% of the time.

just a couple thoughts for a starting point.

 

Swapped out cluster with buddy's F150. My cluster in his truck, same problem. His cluster in my truck, no problem. Ford says $350.00 to send cluster for rebuild to Dee-troit. Will take 3 or 4 weeks!!!

 

viable option?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/09-09-Ford-F150-STX-SL-24k-Instrument-Cluster-Speedometer-2009-10144-/400690268536?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5d4b004978&vxp=mtr
would keep you on the road while yours is being rebuilt perhaps?

i'd check the gear indicator to make sure it is the same. the 4-speed is decidedly different than the 6-speed.

glad you found the problem! i'm not sure i'd have been so brave to start with the cluster, but that's the quickest way to eliminate/diagnose it

 

After finding out how *relatively* easy it was to remove the cluster, it was a no brainer to swap with the one from buddy's truck.