My dash lights do not work the turn signal and bright light bulbs work but the rest of the dash lights do not work I have tried changing out the bulbs and this has not helped. Any ideas? My vehicle is a 1986 f250

 

Welcome to the forum, greenmachine86! The headlight switch also acts as a dash light dimmer, to control brightness. Pull the switch to either turn on the running lights or headlights and rotate the ****. This ****/switch can completely turn off the dash lights as well as increase brightness. Hopefully, it is this simple! It will also turn on the overhead light.

 

The dash illumination lights have a separate fuse also..

 

Sometimes, the rheostat part of the switch, which controls dash light brightness, fails because it hasn't been turned in years, and get's rusty. See if turning the headlight **** makes them flicker.

 

OK tried twisting the **** got nothing from that could the switch be bad on that side of it? Headlights work fine

 

Yes it could be. As stated it is a rheostat and over time it builds up a green funk and will not let power pass thru.


Have you turned the light switch back n forth 5 or 6 times?
If only once and it was just slowly then try again a bunch of times.
Does the inside light come on when you did this?
also do this when dark out or in a dark garage so you can see if they flicker.
Dave ----

 

My first question is, exactly what lights are we talking about? The turn signal & hi-beam indicator lamps are generally not considered to be part of the dash lighting per se; those bulbs are different circuits than the dash gauge backlighting (which is controlled by the headlamp switch and a fuse as mentioned in Post #3).

So, exactly which lamps are we talking about here?

 

It's the back lights for the dash. I bought a new headlight control unit today I'm going to install tomorrow see if that helps all other lights work just not that one

 

I've seen you mention this problem in another of your threads... why do you keep ignoring people's suggestions to look at the fuse?

 

Sorry I thought I had mentioned that I had checked the fuse and it was fine

 

OK. Do you have power in that fuse location in the fuse box with the ignition key in RUN? check both sides of the slot where the fuse plugs in.

EDIT: Nevermind, you were going to throw parts at it and see if that helps.

 

Yeah a 10 dollar part is no biggie if that doesn't help oh well ill have new switch and In need to get back there anyways to hook up some other stuff I've added. But if that doesn't work I'll check those fuse slots. Thank you for the help on that

 

$10 here and $10 there adds up ... Proper diagnostics costs nothing but time.

Unless you have to buy tools to do the proper diagnostics!

-Enjoy
fh : )_~

 

Lol that's where I'm at now building my tool collection as I go as well.

 

And if you keep doing this stuff you'll keep adding to them like a deep dark hole that has no bottom!

Fortunately, tools typically have a good ROI and it's so nice having the tool you need when you need it!

-Enjoy
fh : )_~