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1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Fat Fendered and Classic Ford Trucks

Unknown Switch

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Old Aug 27, 2014 | 11:10 PM
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Unknown Switch

What does the switch under the starter button do?
 
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Old Aug 27, 2014 | 11:16 PM
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Originally Posted by WingingIt74
What does the switch under the starter button do?
Remind me again. What year is your truck?

Ah, I see it's a 50. There is no switch under the starter button unless someone added one there.
 
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Old Aug 28, 2014 | 12:53 AM
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Au contraire kind sir. On the early Bonus Builts, and earlier Fords, there was a toggle switch which operated the dash lights.
 
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Old Aug 28, 2014 | 01:56 AM
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I am guessing the switch under the starter button is a starter switch to start the start button...but I could be wrong.
Heheh.
 
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Old Aug 28, 2014 | 05:46 AM
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Most definitely the switch controls the dash lights
Ed
 
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Old Aug 28, 2014 | 07:16 AM
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So the switch is for the dash lights... good to know... dash lights must be burned out.

How does the switch work, is it the only way to power the dash lights or is it a secondary switch to the headlight switch?





 
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Old Aug 28, 2014 | 07:19 AM
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Secondary - the parking/running lights have to be pulled on. It just allows you to turn the dash lights off for night-time driving.
 
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Old Aug 28, 2014 | 08:24 AM
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m not an expert on 48-50 trucks but if your dash lights are not working it is probably the rheostat is burned up in your light switch. Get a new light switch.
 
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Old Aug 28, 2014 | 08:24 AM
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Gentle suggestion: the Shop Manual is a great resource for wiring diagrams.
 
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Old Aug 28, 2014 | 08:28 AM
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Originally Posted by FortyNiner
Gentle suggestion: the Shop Manual is a great resource for wiring diagrams.
I know, I just haven't bought one yet. I have one for everything else I own.
 
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Old Aug 28, 2014 | 08:29 AM
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Originally Posted by abe
m not an expert on 48-50 trucks but if your dash lights are not working it is probably the rheostat is burned up in your light switch. Get a new light switch.
I would bet money that the bulbs in the dash are still 6V and had not been switched over to 12V many years ago....
 
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Old Aug 28, 2014 | 10:23 AM
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Ok onto the aftermarket plastic switch. It has two lime green wires that run to two terminals on the flasher, I can't see why and it doesn't seem to do anything.


 
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Old Aug 28, 2014 | 10:25 AM
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Originally Posted by abe
m not an expert on 48-50 trucks but if your dash lights are not working it is probably the rheostat is burned up in your light switch. Get a new light switch.
I wouldn't think there is a rheostat in that little switch, it's a pretty small switch.
 
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Old Aug 28, 2014 | 11:47 AM
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Just a WAG, but that switch looks like an afterthought to me. My guess is that, with the flasher installed, it was either a poorman's turn signal switch or hazard switch. If you can, trace the wires and see where they lead.
 
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Old Aug 28, 2014 | 11:55 AM
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The thing is, it has hazards on the column, which work. Just from the flasher to the switch, both wires.
 
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