Dashlight Help
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New User
Joined: May 2011
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Dashlight Help
So i drive a 77 f250 standard cab, and when u got my truck the PO removed the stereo and left it a wiring mess, all my lights and everything worked fine though. I didn't want to mess around with my stereo so I had best buy install it for me, when they got done, I noticed 2 things, when I turned my trucks tracer lights and regular light on, the stereo cut off, and the other problem was I had no lights behind my gauges anymore. I fixed the stereo cutting off problem and thats when I noticed my dash lights were all wired (blue wire with red tracer) but it wasn't actually plugged in. I cant figure out where I plug them in at behind my dash to get my lights on again. the plug is small, about the size of a nickle or quarter, its black, and its round, it has two wires going into it that are perfectly fine (the blue with red tracer and an all black wire). i just need to know where I need to plug this in at because I cant find it. I've searched the forum but haven't got any results that helped me. Thanks you for your time. - Zach
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 633
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From: Grande Prairie, Alberta
The dash lights don't run off a small plug. Everything for the cluster goes in on one large plug that goes into the back of the cluster. I can look when I get home and see if i can figure out what the plug might be for.
Stupid question but did you check to make sure they're not just turned right down.
Stupid question but did you check to make sure they're not just turned right down.
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yeah I checked all of my fuses and I checked to make sure that they aren't dimmed down. thank you for you help, if you have any idea on how to get my gauge lights working that would help out a lot since i do a fair amount of driving at night on police patrolled roads and i dont want to get a speeding ticket
MSEE
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,386
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From: Austin, TX
The small plug you're talking about is most likely the bulb carriage that goes behind the heater controls. I believe a small 194-size bulb plugs into it, then it snaps in behind the heater controls. It's not a wiring pigtail.
As kevin said, the power to the instrument cluster lights is from the rectangular connector that plugs in to the printed circuit on the back of the cluster.
How did you fix the stereo cutting off? The dash lights, as well as radio power share a pigtail - and when an aftermarket radio is installed incorrectly, one often affects the other. I wouldn't trust Best Buy to know what they're doing in this case. Most of their installs are simple plug and play jobs using a wiring harness adapter that they have in stock - so there's little to no wiring on their part. This isn't the case for your truck, so you're relying on the competence of the technician that happened to be working that day. And no offense to anyone who happens to work at Best Buy, but you don't have to be a wiring expert to get a job there.
As kevin said, the power to the instrument cluster lights is from the rectangular connector that plugs in to the printed circuit on the back of the cluster.
How did you fix the stereo cutting off? The dash lights, as well as radio power share a pigtail - and when an aftermarket radio is installed incorrectly, one often affects the other. I wouldn't trust Best Buy to know what they're doing in this case. Most of their installs are simple plug and play jobs using a wiring harness adapter that they have in stock - so there's little to no wiring on their part. This isn't the case for your truck, so you're relying on the competence of the technician that happened to be working that day. And no offense to anyone who happens to work at Best Buy, but you don't have to be a wiring expert to get a job there.
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2010
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Double check the wires and make sure nothing grounding against the radio frame. I had this problem when I installed mine and it turned out to be a spade connector grounding out against the radio. Wrapped the end of the wire with electrical tape and tie strapped it out of the way and no more issue. Also did you check your fuses with a test light or just visually. And make sure it is the right fuse as well. Best buy may have blown it on install and installed the wrong type. Just my two cents take it if you like.
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