Dash light problems
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 304
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From: Billings, Montana
Dash light problems
Ok, I just got myself a 1979 F-150 4x4 with a 400 in it. When I got it I checked to see if the blinkers worked and what not, well my blinkers work but I think thats cause when I was driving the wire became attached to the body so they work but my problem is i have no indash lights for night driving. What I need to know is how to get new bulbs in, Im pretty sure the wiring is good and the bulbs might just be burned out.
Thanks for all the help,
Daniel
Thanks for all the help,
Daniel
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
From: Pueblo West USA
Dash light problems
Well, I'm no expert on the subject, but I recently took my interior apart ('73 F250), and I guess you'll just have to start unscrewing the dash panel and pulling off control *****.
The ventilation ***** pull straight off, though you might want to wear a pair of gloves. Inside the plastic **** is a metal clip that slides out and can cause a nasty scrape.
The Wiper **** on mine pulled off the same way, but the headlight **** was a different story. Thanks to this website, I learned that you have to reach up under the dash where the light switch is and feel for the box that houses the headlight switch. On the top of the box, about in the middle there is a little button you have to feel for. Push this down while you pull out the headlight ****.
After that, I think you can pull the dash trim panel, then you can start to unscrew the guage cluster. Be careful when you pull it out, as there are several wires connected to the cluster.
Hopefully someone else will chime in here and verify or discredit my information, and hopefully elaborate on what knowledge I have gained.
Good luck, and please remember to be very specific when you title your posts. "Need Help" is kinda generic, and you might not get the answer you're looking for.
The ventilation ***** pull straight off, though you might want to wear a pair of gloves. Inside the plastic **** is a metal clip that slides out and can cause a nasty scrape.
The Wiper **** on mine pulled off the same way, but the headlight **** was a different story. Thanks to this website, I learned that you have to reach up under the dash where the light switch is and feel for the box that houses the headlight switch. On the top of the box, about in the middle there is a little button you have to feel for. Push this down while you pull out the headlight ****.
After that, I think you can pull the dash trim panel, then you can start to unscrew the guage cluster. Be careful when you pull it out, as there are several wires connected to the cluster.
Hopefully someone else will chime in here and verify or discredit my information, and hopefully elaborate on what knowledge I have gained.
Good luck, and please remember to be very specific when you title your posts. "Need Help" is kinda generic, and you might not get the answer you're looking for.
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
Likes: 37
Dash light problems
All of the bulbs being bad is unlikely. Your dimmer switch is probably out. If you take your instrument cluster out use the search function here and find out all of the little repairs and improvements you can do.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,613
Likes: 2
From: Gainesville, FL
Dash light problems
Cool,
Be careful and gentle with your Instrument panel (IP). They get rotten over the years and removing the bulb holder (small, black, plastic, ***** in the back of the IP) can be worse for the IP than driving without dash lights. I have had to remount the IP and gentling adjust the bulbs from under the dash. This is not easy but after a dozen tries you'll eventually get it right. The replacement bulbs are the same as the marker lights on the front and rear fenders.
KingFisher
Be careful and gentle with your Instrument panel (IP). They get rotten over the years and removing the bulb holder (small, black, plastic, ***** in the back of the IP) can be worse for the IP than driving without dash lights. I have had to remount the IP and gentling adjust the bulbs from under the dash. This is not easy but after a dozen tries you'll eventually get it right. The replacement bulbs are the same as the marker lights on the front and rear fenders.
KingFisher
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
Dash light problems
When I installed an aftermarket radio in my 76' I had the same problem. Turned out what I thought was a ground was for the original radio's lights. As soon as I reground the wire properly and replaced the fuse I haven't had a problem in 10 years.
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Senior User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 223
Likes: 1
Dash light problems
Coolmint,
I had the same problem with lights in the dash not working. Mine wasn't as bad as yours, a few of mine still worked. The problem with mine was that the back of the gauge cluster was rotted and crumbled away to the point where there was no contact being made by the light fixture and the printed circuit.
Take your gauge cluster out and inspect the back panel and printed circuit. I had to replace the gauge cluster back panel to repair mine.
Check with Mil1ion, he was a big help to me.
I had the same problem with lights in the dash not working. Mine wasn't as bad as yours, a few of mine still worked. The problem with mine was that the back of the gauge cluster was rotted and crumbled away to the point where there was no contact being made by the light fixture and the printed circuit.
Take your gauge cluster out and inspect the back panel and printed circuit. I had to replace the gauge cluster back panel to repair mine.
Check with Mil1ion, he was a big help to me.
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