1991 F-150 Lighting Problems
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1991 F-150 Lighting Problems
I just bought a 1991 F-150 today. Of course the usual few problems are popping up. Here is the one that has me looking for someone that has BTDT. My guage lights, along with my parking lights, and taillights don't work. Brake lights work fine, turn signals work fine. They just don't do what they are supposed to do when the headlight switch gets pulled to the parking light or full on position. Headlights work fine. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks.
--Calvin
--Calvin
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Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Oak Harbor, OH
1991 F-150 Lighting Problems
look at the battery cables, there shoule be a 10 gauge wire on the cable that need to be hooked to the body for the lights to work properly. The only other thing I can think of is the headlight switch may need replacing. Have you checked the fuses?
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1991 F-150 Lighting Problems
Thanks for the suggestions guys. I accidentally got them to turn on right after I posted this by putting the headlight switch in an intermediate position between parking and headlights. So that was a dead giveaway it was the headlight switch. Replaced the headlight switch and I'm back in business.
--Calvin
--Calvin
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From: Newport News USA
1991 F-150 Lighting Problems
Good to hear. I had the exact same problem, and thought I had also solved it like you did. By find that intermediate position on the switch I thought it WAS the switch gone bad. Lo' n' behold, after swapping the new switch for another new switch at the parts store, I found my blown fuse!!! 
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1991 F-150 Lighting Problems
I have the same exact problem but the switch did not fix it. I need to go look at my fuses now. It just doesn't make sense to me that if you get the switch to just the right position that it would work with a bad fuse? 
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From: Memphis, TN
1991 F-150 Lighting Problems
If the switch will make it work AT ALL, it's not the fuse. But it could be the switch connector - see if any of the terminals look toasted.
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1991 F-150 Lighting Problems
That's what I thought. But I went home and found the blown fuse. I think with the sliding switch there is a point when the power filters through the sliding bar to light up the dash and marker lights. It doesn't make a whole lot a sense to me either, but I know my old switch still works. thanks 
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1991 F-150 Lighting Problems
Tooo much coffee tonight... Guess that is what I get for working the night shift. Anyway, if you have a blown fuse something caused it to blow. You may want to check to ensure your radio illumination control wire is not grounded out or being used for a ground on an aftermarket stereo. I have seen cases (being a former stereo installer) that people would connect their stereo and in the process connect the radio ground to the illumination wire since the illumination wire reads ground at rest but of course goes hot when the light switch is in the on position. What can happen in cases like this is either the fuse will blow or the radio will fry a trace on the board. another big problem I have seen is people assume it is a ground and leave it stripped bare behind the dash causing you know what. Anyway just thought this may help you guys out.
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