I have gotten my dad's ole 78 back up on it's feet a little. New rims,tires,shocks,true duel exhaust, and several other new parts. I am into the interior now working on my dash,glove box,under glove box, and dome lighting.
I took the dash cluster out, unplugged my speedo, and cleaned it up well, as none of the dash lights were working. I noticed a few of the black light holders were very worn and a few had 1 brass ear broken off which I am sure kills all contact. But many looked great, so I pulled out all the bulbs and replaced then with brand new ones, cleaned all the little brass posts on each black holder, and re installed the cluster. I also checked for any worn or broken wires and found none that even looked bad going into the cluster itself.
After re installing, I still have no lights. But when I turn the headlights on, I get 1 light that lights up the right hand turn signal arrow all the time, just stays green and lit up. But all my gauges work fine like gas,and temp.
I ask all you experts or guys who know more than me, as I admit I am far from truck savy when it comes to working on them, is there something I missed,can check, or a way to fix this?
I also have no dome light,glove box,under glove box light on floor board, or ash tray light. Fuses are all good, checked em all. Where should I foucus my attention to next. Is there a main wire or cluster of wires that leads into all of these that would allow all my gauges to work but not my lights?
Any and all help would be very appreciated!!!
Thanx ,
Jim

 

I know it may be a question many have asked before, but I would really like any and all input in this to guide me along in the right direction.
Thanx again,
Jim

 

I think you might have a bad headlight sw? Hang tight some elec guru's will chime in soon ....

 

what is headlight sw?
Thanx,
Jim

 

Sorry sw='s switch assembly, the headlight on and off switch itself. I have read on here that might be your problem with the dash lights?

 

Even if the headlights come right on if you pull out the ****? I am new to wiring , so any help would be just that, great help!
Thanx,
Jim Lee

 

F4UZ-13B765-A (replaced C8OZ-13711-A & B) .. Instrument Cluster Bulb Socket / Available from Ford

MSRP: $1.85 // FTE sponsor PARTSGUYED.COM price: $1.33 / Used in myriad 1968/96 Passenger Cars, Trucks, Bronco's and Econolines.

1981/91 Econolines with oil/amp gauges use the same printed circuit board, same sockets, same instrument cluster back (hard plastic) as 1975/79 F100/350's, 1978/79 Bronco's.

1981/86 Econolines with oil/amp warning lights use the same stuff as 1975/79 F100/350's and 1978/79 Bronco's with warning lamps.

The circuit boards and cluster backs are specific to either gauges or warning lamps. The sockets are the same regardless.

 

Yes, and are you sure the **** is rotated to the bright position for your dash lights. You know the **** rotates to brighten or dim the dash lights right? And control the dome light when the door is closed.

Just cking, no offense. I am not near my truck, but if its full right they (dash lights) should be off? Or maybe the other direction??

The rheostat for them is in the headlight switch and I have heard that it can cause problems with your dash lights even though the switch still works turning on and off the headlights themselves.

 

The rheostat has a nasty habit of cracking...when that occurs, it's time for a new headlamp switch.

Most of the wiring problems on these old rolling piles of misery are caused by corrosion and peeps messing with the wiring by installing all sorts of aftermarket equipment.

The dash harness after some peeps get through with it becomes a rats nest maze of wiring with some wires taped up, some not, some dangling, and...where they were supposed to go, lawd only knows.

The printed circuit boards are notorious for corroding-use a pencil eraser to clean the little darlin's.

And... be very careful when handling the (1975/79) instrument cluster backs...unless they are the hard plastic replacements Ford came out with in 1981.

1975/79 F100/350, 1975/80 Econoline & 1978/79 Bronco: The original cluster backs were made of a composition material that can TURN TO DUST before your very eyes! I kid you not.

In 1981, Ford came out with hard plastic replacement cluster backs for the 1975/80 vehicles. These were also factory installed in 1981/86 Econolines (with warning lamps), 1981/91 Econolines (with gauges).

While some of the cluster backs in 1975/80's have been replaced, some still have the original crap.

 

CueMans 78 F150 notice Bill has 34000+ posts he is a info/parts Ford GURU, go get a new switch and get those dash lights working again.