help with lights on my dash
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
help with lights on my dash
Hello everyone, i would like
to know if someone have any experience
dealing or troubleshooting with the lights
on the dash, so far i just check the bulbs and the fuses, and
seems to be ok, if someone have suggestions or any ideas i will appreciate
your cooperation, my ride is a 77 ranger xlt.
Thanks in advance for read this.
rgds.
to know if someone have any experience
dealing or troubleshooting with the lights
on the dash, so far i just check the bulbs and the fuses, and
seems to be ok, if someone have suggestions or any ideas i will appreciate
your cooperation, my ride is a 77 ranger xlt.
Thanks in advance for read this.
rgds.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 163
Likes: 1
Alot of times the plastic piece they go in gets brittle and they dont make good connection, however if its all of them its probably not that. I would GUESS its the headlight switch, keep twisting the **** back and forth and see if they do anything.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 104
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From: Kansas
This may sound like a no brainer but did you try the dimmer switch? rotate it counter clockwise to make the lights brighter. Also you may need to clean the printed circuit board, with electrical contact cleaner. Also check for a bad ground.
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Jan 2011
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well i think i may go with the bad ground ,cause none of them work, and the
head light switch seems to be working ok.
however i notes that when i start the truck the light that shows the parking brake shows up, and then goes down when the engine starts.
head light switch seems to be working ok.
however i notes that when i start the truck the light that shows the parking brake shows up, and then goes down when the engine starts.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,786
Likes: 28
From: Northern California
That light is for your service brakes, not your parking brake.
It comes on for you to check the light when you start it. If it comes on at any other time except momentarily when you start the truck it means there is a problem with your service brakes, and do not drive the vehicle as imminent brake failure can occur.
Check the fuse in the fuse panel for the dash illumination.
It comes on for you to check the light when you start it. If it comes on at any other time except momentarily when you start the truck it means there is a problem with your service brakes, and do not drive the vehicle as imminent brake failure can occur.
Check the fuse in the fuse panel for the dash illumination.
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Jan 2011
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Got it,
Like i said i will check the fuses again, the ground, and i will go to the
junkyard and see if i cant get a headlight switch, just in case.
thanks everybody, and if someone have anyother ideas or suggestions
dropped here please.
kind regards
Like i said i will check the fuses again, the ground, and i will go to the
junkyard and see if i cant get a headlight switch, just in case.
thanks everybody, and if someone have anyother ideas or suggestions
dropped here please.
kind regards
Tuned
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 251
Likes: 0
You could have a bad printed circuit. If none of the above fix your problem, dive in to your dash and check out the back side of the gauge cluster.
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Okie
I fought mine for a while, turned out to be the brittle plastic like Kentuck19 said. It didn't look broken or worn, and the bulbs still locked into place. They just didn't lock tight enough to make good contact with the board. The way I figured it out was putting a test light into the back of the harness with everything connected. You can do a search and find wiring diagrams, that way you'll know what needs to be hot in the harness. Jeff's Bronco Graveyard had the new back housing, fixed mine right up.
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Moderator & parts slinger
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: S/W Missouri, Polk county
Once you get it fixed, if you have to pull your cluster out great time to change over to LED bulbs, brighter and last way longer.
Super Bright LEDs ? LED Lights, Bulbs, and Accessories
Super Bright LEDs ? LED Lights, Bulbs, and Accessories
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2007
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The headlight switch is multifunctional. It not only works the headlights, tail lights, and parking lights but also contains the dimmer circuit for illumination of the dashlights. Usually the dimmer rheostat portion of the headlight switch will open causing a no voltage condition to the PC board that delivers the juice to the dashlight (backlight) illumination bulbs. The headlight and parking light portion of the switch can still be functional. Assuming the ground(s) to the pc board are ok replace the headlight switch. Remember the other lights on the dash (idiot lights, if applicable) are on their own seperate circuits. Go to the parts store not a junkyard. The switch is cheap usually less that $30 depending on application.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 163
Likes: 1
Once you get it fixed, if you have to pull your cluster out great time to change over to LED bulbs, brighter and last way longer.
Super Bright LEDs ? LED Lights, Bulbs, and Accessories
Super Bright LEDs ? LED Lights, Bulbs, and Accessories
Moderator & parts slinger
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 50,189
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From: S/W Missouri, Polk county
So are you saying it NOT a good idea? At last replace the wiper/headlight sw light with a LED so you can see it.
Like I said, from what I have heard on here its a good thing.
Like I said, from what I have heard on here its a good thing.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2011
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i would go with the leds if they are in a good position... i have 2 friends went with them... one has an old chevy pick up and it was good for him my other friend had an el camino and not so good too bright and cast shadows he would have to turn down the dimmer... but other then that its a good upgrade to the stock old 30 something year old system.
hey btw i am interested in this subject since mine dont work either! lol
hey btw i am interested in this subject since mine dont work either! lol