Notices
1961 - 1966 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Slick Sixties Ford Truck

Dome Light Issue

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 15, 2017 | 02:56 PM
  #1  
Darrellt's Avatar
Darrellt
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
Dome Light Issue

My truck didn't come with a dome light or headliner. It now has both. The blue/black wire was there. The dome light works when tested out of vehicle but otherwise does not. The blue/back runs down and disappears into a harness never to be seen again but has no power to it that I can read. Likewise the door switch wires. Can someone point me to a procedure for tracking down how to get power to the door switches as well as the dome? There are so many wires under the dash just hanging. All seem dead. It's amazing everything else seems to work.
 
Reply
Old Sep 15, 2017 | 03:43 PM
  #2  
ihcc104's Avatar
ihcc104
Elder User
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 506
Likes: 4
From: Moodus, CT
The dome light would only have power to it when the light switch it turned all the way counterclockwise until it clicks... the power side comes out of the light switch/fuse block and there should be a short ground wire that goes to a seam where the roof panel and the real panel meet. There should be a fuse in line, but other than that It goes right into the fuse block.... check those fuses.


 
Reply
Old Sep 15, 2017 | 03:48 PM
  #3  
Darrellt's Avatar
Darrellt
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
Thank you very much! There is no ground wire present. Only the blue/black connector. Fuses appear to be good as the cigarette lighter works. And thanks for the diagram!!
 
Reply
Old Sep 15, 2017 | 04:13 PM
  #4  
TA455HO's Avatar
TA455HO
Lead Gopher
Veteran: Army
Photogenic
Community Builder
Liked
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 10,066
Likes: 1,622
From: Seattle
Club FTE Silver Member

The correct dome light assembly has two wires. One ground wire that is screwed into the sheetmetal above the rear window, just like Cory says, at the seam where the roof panel and the rear panel meet. The other is the 12V supply coming from the fuse block over the drivers door and around back of the drivers head. Reason they did it this way is because it originally mounted to the cardboard headliner so there was no direct contact ground for the housing. Other dome housings can be made to work, I'm sure. Just make sure you have a complete path to ground on the housing side of the bulb and that you supply 12V to the other side.

 
Reply
Old Sep 15, 2017 | 04:38 PM
  #5  
Darrellt's Avatar
Darrellt
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
Why do all the aftermarket dome lights (mine) not have a ground wire? I assumed the the circuit was grounded elsewhere for this very reason. (head slap) I'll soldier a wire to the dome housing and the interior and test. Thank you for your response!!
 
Reply
Old Sep 16, 2017 | 12:02 AM
  #6  
RangerMercMan's Avatar
RangerMercMan
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,480
Likes: 6
From: Great White North
I got burnt by this as a kid on a Japanese clunker. That dome light had four screws mounting it to the ceiling. When screwing around I lost a screw. No problem, three will hold it and a cover plate hides all of them. No light... turns out since there is no ground wire there is a metal ground ring on one of the mounting holes. Sadly I do mean one and that was the hole I decided to leave blank of the missing screw. $50.00 and moving a screw over and I had a ground and working light!
 
Reply
Old Sep 18, 2017 | 10:36 AM
  #7  
Darrellt's Avatar
Darrellt
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 86
Likes: 0

Thanks for all the help! Light is working. A combination of grounding and turning the switch! ha
 

Last edited by Darrellt; Sep 18, 2017 at 10:46 AM. Reason: insert photo
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
landers0440
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
3
Apr 15, 2019 09:10 AM
79Ford-4x4
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
3
Mar 15, 2016 08:23 AM
KidWithTheLoudFord
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
10
Jan 23, 2016 02:20 AM
truckerted
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
15
Aug 11, 2015 11:18 AM
ZombieSlayer
1961 - 1966 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
10
Apr 9, 2004 10:37 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:43 AM.

story-0
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

Slideshow: Top 10 Fords at 2026 Ford Nationals

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 11:10:08


VIEW MORE
story-1
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

Based on years of owning multiple modern Ford products.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 10:53:36


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

SPONSORED: From muddy boots to rain-soaked cargo, these upgrades address some of the most common frustrations Ford truck owners face every day.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-06-08 18:50:34


VIEW MORE
story-3
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

Here's everything you need to know about every Ford engine available for the 2026 model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-05 12:58:01


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-6
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE