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Factory bed light switch?

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Old Apr 16, 2012 | 11:53 PM
  #1  
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Factory bed light switch?

Pretty frustrating. My F450 doesn't have bed light and never really need it, but "new" 2000 F250 does and I have no idea how to turn it on. Went via manual (37 pages about radio operation ) to nothing, Forum search shows add-on lights but not factory stuff.
How da heck this thing turn on?
 
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Old Apr 17, 2012 | 05:01 AM
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It should just open when the doors open. sounds like the bulb is burnt out. you can try just taking out the two phillips screws and check the bulb
 
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Old Apr 17, 2012 | 05:28 AM
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On my 2000, turning on the dome light (slide switch all the way up I think) turned the bed light on as well.
 
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Old Apr 17, 2012 | 06:29 AM
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Originally Posted by 2000silverbullet
On my 2000, turning on the dome light (slide switch all the way up I think) turned the bed light on as well.
Bingo, we have a winner.
 
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Old Apr 17, 2012 | 12:52 PM
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Originally Posted by 2000silverbullet
On my 2000, turning on the dome light (slide switch all the way up I think) turned the bed light on as well.
X2. Mine works this way.
 
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Old Apr 17, 2012 | 01:17 PM
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My dome light doesn't have sliding switch. The main light comes on with door open and I have 2 switches for reading lights. This at least points me into the direction. Time to check the lightbulbs.
 
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Old Apr 17, 2012 | 01:38 PM
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To the side of light switch do you have a roller style thing to adjust the brightness to the dash light, if so roll either up or down and you should feel it click and that would be for the dome/ bed light.
 
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Old Apr 17, 2012 | 03:28 PM
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Originally Posted by scraprat
To the side of light switch do you have a roller style thing to adjust the brightness to the dash light, if so roll either up or down and you should feel it click and that would be for the dome/ bed light.
^^^I agree. On my trucks, the wheel is labeled "PANEL DIM". I have to roll the wheel up to find the tactile 'click' that illuminates the interior and bed lights.

 
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Old Apr 17, 2012 | 04:24 PM
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Replaced the light bulbs and it is working. Thank you guys.
Odd is that bed light is on all the time the dome light is on.
My door relay burn out and I installed a switch to activate the light, so that might be why?
 
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Old Apr 17, 2012 | 04:44 PM
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FYI, your F450 probably already has the 3rd brake light and cargo light wiring there, clipped to the back of the black panel where the light would be, the black panel just pops out. You can replace that panel with a factory light, junk yard part, etc and it should plug right in. You'll also need a couple screws and plastic inserts for the square holes to put in the 3rd brake light/cargo lights.
 
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Old Apr 17, 2012 | 06:22 PM
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Originally Posted by Kajtek1
Replaced the light bulbs and it is working. Thank you guys.
Odd is that bed light is on all the time the dome light is on.
My door relay burn out and I installed a switch to activate the light, so that might be why?
I believe my bed light is on whenever my interior dome light is on. I think that is normal operation.
 
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Old Apr 18, 2012 | 12:31 AM
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Mine is on with the interior lights as well. That is how they designed it but I hate it! My other truck and a switch just for it and one of these days I will add one to this truck. I need it to back up to my 5th wheel trailer at night but you can't see anything with the dome lights on so it is useless for that.
 
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Old Apr 18, 2012 | 12:49 AM
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I never liked the light coming on with open door on truck, that I often leave with door open, so I installed the manual switch on both my SD. It is the first relay on left upper corner of fuse box under the dash. You pull out the relay and insert spade connectors with wires into the bigger holes. Than run the wires into convenient location and add the switch.
 
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