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1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks 1987 - 1996 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350 and larger pickups - including the 1997 heavy-duty F250/F350+ trucks

1987 Dashboard issues

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Old Oct 24, 2016 | 01:36 AM
  #1  
Renic's Avatar
Renic
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From: Texas
Exclamation 1987 Dashboard issues

I own a 1987 F-250 4x4 Diesel truck, Extended Cab, full bed, 5 speed manual, with a 7.3 IDI installed and an unidentified turbo. Issue I am having is some time back, the lights in my dash, just those that illuminate my gauges went out. I already checked the fuse with a multi meter, the fuse still reads fine. If I turn my high beams on, that light comes on. Any ideas on how to repair this? Also, my speedometer is not functional and I am still trying to figure out just what is wrong with it. The cable itself spins, any ways to test if it's the dash or the transfer case?

A pcture of the truck here:
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I was unable to insert it as normal
 
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Old Oct 24, 2016 | 05:15 AM
  #2  
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brokeasajoke
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Very nice truck. I love my turboed 7.3 IDI. Not sure on the dash but on the speedo I would pull the cable and gear out of the transfer case and spin it by hand and see if speedo works. If it spins and the teeth on plastic gear are not stripped I would then pull the cable off the back of the instrument cluster and see if it spins while you turn the gear. That will at least tell you if the cable is broken or not. There is a plastic worm gear on the transfer case shaft that spins the gear on the cable. You can pull the out put shaft housing off the tcase and look at it but I would look at a pic on the internet to get an idea what it looks like if your not familiar of it then use my finger to feel it through the hole to check it. Welcome to the forum and you will find tons of help down in the IDI pre powerstroke section too.
 
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Old Oct 24, 2016 | 05:32 AM
  #3  
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If all your dash board illumination is out the first place I would check is the rheostat on the back of the headlamp switch. (coil spring and finger on the ceramic)
If you have an ohmmeter you might clip to the correct pins and see what happens as you turn the ****.

if that seems good then check for continuity in the flex circuit on the back of the cluster.
 
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Old Oct 24, 2016 | 04:16 PM
  #4  
tjc transport's Avatar
tjc transport
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welcome to FTE. as the guys said, i would be looking at the dimmer circuit on the headlight switch for the inoperable dash lights.
speedometer could very well be the drive gear on the transfer case side of the cable, they wear out with age.


post a picture of the turbo and top of the engine, we will be able to identify it for you
 
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