Notices
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Dentsides Ford Truck
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: Moser

dash lights

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 5, 2012 | 05:37 AM
  #1  
charlie branham's Avatar
charlie branham
Thread Starter
|
2nd Gear
10 Year Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
dash lights

My dash lights quit working. The blinkers still work and high beam indicator. No gauge lights. I checked connections and changed the headlight switch. I do have tail lights but noticed the fan blower quit as well. Is there a common ground? The fuses seem to be okay as well.
 
Reply
Old Mar 5, 2012 | 07:04 PM
  #2  
Blown 331's Avatar
Blown 331
Moderator
20 Year Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,779
Likes: 3
From: Waterloo IL
Club FTE Gold Member
No common ground that I'm aware of, could be coincidence. The same lights you are describing quit working on my highboy. The problem was the rear plastic of the gauge cluster was so brittle that the bulb holders were no longer able to screw into the plastic. I replaced that rear plastic housing with one from an 80s van.
 
Reply
Old Mar 5, 2012 | 08:19 PM
  #3  
fmc400's Avatar
fmc400
MSEE
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,386
Likes: 35
From: Austin, TX
Club FTE Gold Member
Have you verified continuity of the dash light fuse (either a beep check, or checking for power on both sides with the lights on)? There is very litte electrical work you can do without a multimeter.

The blower motor and dash lights are not related.

Does the light on the left side of the dash (that illuminates the headlight and wiper controls) work? What about the one behind the heater controls? Or is the problem isolated to just the gauges?
 
Reply
Old Mar 17, 2012 | 10:27 PM
  #4  
conoso's Avatar
conoso
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
From: west columbia tx
Originally Posted by fmc400
Have you verified continuity of the dash light fuse (either a beep check, or checking for power on both sides with the lights on)? There is very litte electrical work you can do without a multimeter.

The blower motor and dash lights are not related.

Does the light on the left side of the dash (that illuminates the headlight and wiper controls) work? What about the one behind the heater controls? Or is the problem isolated to just the gauges?
I'm having the same problem. The lights work on the headlight switch and the control panel for the ac/heater. The left turn signal works but other then that the gauges will not light up.
 
Reply
Old May 4, 2012 | 08:41 PM
  #5  
highguy2012's Avatar
highguy2012
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
If anyone ever figures this out,

I have been through:
3 clusters
1 wiring harness
2 light switches


My dash lights still dont work, and my heater blower does not sound heathy...


Can I add this function specifically without out affecting the rest of the cluster? anyone done this?
 
Reply
Old May 5, 2012 | 06:38 AM
  #6  
fmc400's Avatar
fmc400
MSEE
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,386
Likes: 35
From: Austin, TX
Club FTE Gold Member
I don't understand your question; can you clarify?
 
Reply
Old May 5, 2012 | 07:35 AM
  #7  
NumberDummy's Avatar
NumberDummy
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 787
From: Simi Valley, CA
Club FTE Gold Member
Originally Posted by Blown 331
No common ground that I'm aware of, could be coincidence. The same lights you are describing quit working on my highboy.

The problem was the rear plastic of the gauge cluster was so brittle that the bulb holders were no longer able to screw into the plastic. I replaced that rear plastic housing with one from an 80's van.
1975/79 F100/350, 1975/80 Econoline and 1978/79 Bronco came with instrument cluster backs that were made from a COMPOSITION material that can TURN TO DUST before your very eyes!

In 1981, FoMoCo came out with hard plastic cluster backs for Econolines. These were also used as the service part replacements for the 1975/80 POS composition cluster backs.

Some of the POS composition cluster backs were replaced with the hard plastic cluster backs under warranty, some via 'customer pay' but some were never replaced.

E1PZ-10848-A .. Hard Plastic Cluster Back ~ Use with Oil & Amp GAUGES / Obsolete

Applications: 1975/79 F100/350 / 1975/91 Econoline / 1978/79 Bronco.

CARPENTER NOS OBSOLETE PARTS in Concord NC has 547 = 800-476-9653.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
E1PZ-10848-B .. Hard Plastic Cluster Back ~ Use with Oil & Amp WARNING LAMPS / Obsolete

Applications: 1975/79 F100/350 / 1975/86 Econoline / 1978/79 Bronco.

CARPENTER has 96.

Note: Same printed circuit boards:

With Oil & Amp GAUGES: 1976/79 F100/350, 1976/91 Econoline, 1978/79 Bronco.

With Oil & Amp WARNING LAMPS: 1976/78 F100/350/Bronco/Econoline // With Oil & Amp WARNING LAMPS: 1979 F100/350/Bronco & 1979/86 Econoline.
 

Last edited by NumberDummy; May 5, 2012 at 08:10 AM. Reason: This is...at least...the 200th time I've typed this same info here on FTE!
Reply
Old May 5, 2012 | 08:34 PM
  #8  
highguy2012's Avatar
highguy2012
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
wicked, thanks, I will order and see how it goes!!
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

 Brett Foote
story-4

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-9

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
bamboo321
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
3
Feb 1, 2013 06:20 PM
jjurva
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
7
Nov 14, 2012 01:24 PM
78'Ranger
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
2
Apr 5, 2008 05:47 PM
catbird7
Electrical Systems/Wiring
6
Mar 29, 2006 03:59 PM
77traded
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
5
Mar 27, 2005 06:57 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:20 AM.

story-0
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

Slideshow: Top 10 Fords at 2026 Ford Nationals

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 11:10:08


VIEW MORE
story-1
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

Based on years of owning multiple modern Ford products.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 10:53:36


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

SPONSORED: From muddy boots to rain-soaked cargo, these upgrades address some of the most common frustrations Ford truck owners face every day.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-06-08 18:50:34


VIEW MORE
story-3
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

Here's everything you need to know about every Ford engine available for the 2026 model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-05 12:58:01


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-6
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE