Steering wheel lights out
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Steering wheel lights out
Franklin, hoping you can help me out. my steering wheel lights r out and need to know which wire runs power to those. also the led in my headlight switch is very dim.I checked the wiring and all the wires check out with high 11's and high 12 volts.i checked the volts at the led in the switch and it read 2.18 v.i have another light switch from the salvage yard and the same thing. which wire powers that light. also, the light only comes on when the key is in the on position or back for accessory. if i just turn the lights on it wont lite, only with key in ignition in those positions. truck is a 2000 f350 xlt dually thanks, Rick
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 57,027
Likes: 2,763
From: Virginia
The steering wheel illumination comes from the same lightblue/red that feeds all the dash lights. There should be a lightblue/red that comes up behind the steering wheel, and there is a sliding contact that several wires go through, so the wheel can turn, but the power can still transfer through. Be careful, the airbag wiring goes through this same contact piece. Usually you will have a airbag fault also if there is a problem with this sliding contact.
Same with the headlight switch. This is where the lightblue/red wire originates from that feeds all the dash illumination. There is a module inside the switch that varies the voltage on this circuit for dimming. As the circuit comes out of the switch on the lightblue/red the light for the headlight switch is tied into this same wire. Looking at the diagrams, there is a ground(black wire) leaving the switch for this circuit. It could be a poor ground causing just that light not to work correctly.
Same with the headlight switch. This is where the lightblue/red wire originates from that feeds all the dash illumination. There is a module inside the switch that varies the voltage on this circuit for dimming. As the circuit comes out of the switch on the lightblue/red the light for the headlight switch is tied into this same wire. Looking at the diagrams, there is a ground(black wire) leaving the switch for this circuit. It could be a poor ground causing just that light not to work correctly.
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
I rechecked the blue/red trace wire and it's putting out 2 volts less than the other wires. 11.28 with truck on and 10.09 with truck off. The wire going to the steering wheel is the same ,volt wise , but only is hot when ignition is on and the lights don't work and the led in the switch is dim. I'm thinking it's something in the ignition? I had an alarm put in a few years back and maybe they screwed up something somewhere? Also, the bottom brown wire that goes into the plug gets real hot and the plastic is brown instead of white. Thanks
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
ok, ill check that. Do those two lights only work with the key turned? Shouldnt they work with the switch? Is that where my wiring is bad?
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Checked voltage and it does work with the dimmer and thats all the volts its outputing. I just checked my excursion and the switch and steering wheel lights work with the switch and not the ignition. I didnt see anything tied into that wire besides my guages but ill recheck it.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
3 Best / Worst Features Of The 2025+ Ford Expedition
Brett Foote
10 Ways Ford is LOSING to the Competition
Joe Kucinski
Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now
Brett Foote
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 57,027
Likes: 2,763
From: Virginia
They show no black/red or black/pink at the switch in the diagrams. They show the LED for the switch illumination internal to the switch. If you have a little black/red attached to the switch itself, they do not show it, they only show the harness wires coming to and leaving the switch.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 21,255
Likes: 1,657
From: Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Part of this problem is that hatchet job someone has done to this wire harness and connector. Besides those Scotch Lok pieces I see several wires crushed and potentially cut inside the insulation.
This needs to be dealt with regardless how it does or does not apply to the SW lamps.
This needs to be dealt with regardless how it does or does not apply to the SW lamps.