Hello All
I have had my 2004 F150 for 2 years now and the dash display has never worked properly. For a winter project I would like to fix it. So far I have deducted that it is not the bulb behind the panel because if I slide the dimmer switch to turn the interior light on the dash is lit up like a Christmas tree.....like it should be....but, I have to slide the dial down to turn off the interior dome light and the dash is veeerry dim. It is annoying as all get up. Is there a way to replace the dimmer switch with a strickly on/off for the dash lights? I don't see why the dash dimming is even an option.

Thanks
Jason

 

One needs to dim the dash lights at night in order to see out. This is why it is unlawful to drive with your map/courtesy lights on at night.
The first thing I'd try is spraying contact cleaner into the dimmer switch. If that doesn't correct the problem, your light sensor up on the dash may be inoperative, leading the truck to think it is dark all the time.

 

So your interior lights stay on while driving, unless you manually shut them off on the dash?

 

On second reading, it sounds to me like the dimmer/dome light switch has to be turned all the way down in order to turn off the dome lights.
If this is the case, then the switch is bad. There should be a click that you can feel when the dome light turns on and when it turns off.