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Working on tightening up my instrument cluster function in anticipation of getting this Bronco road worthy. 1980 Bronco Ranger XLT, 351m, C6.
My cluster/dash bezel has 7 lightbulb compartments. Can someone help me confirm what should show where? My dash bezel stickers are just about all but missing. I have a donor bezel but it must be from a manual tranny, later model truck because none of the labels line up with known lightbulbs.
From left to right when looking at the instrument cluster face:
1. No bulb (suspect this may be a shift light indicator for a manual tranny vehicle)
2. Brake light. it corresponds with the buzzer, which makes me think seat belt, but perhaps those two are simultanenous? It goes out when the buzzer goes off. Previously this light was always on and I finally got it to go off when I unplugged the harness from the proportioning valve (or at least I thought I did?)?
3. Left blinker (known)
4. High beam indicator (known)
5. Right blinker (known)
6. Unknown - perhaps seat belt light? I can't start vehicle but does not light with key in run and seatbelt unbuckled.
7. 4x4 indicator (known)
Any help lent for this 1980 is appreciated.
Sorry if this has been discussed, Google wants to sell you all sorts of dash light bulbs but doesn't seem to tell you what goes where.
2. Brake light. it corresponds with the buzzer, which makes me think seat belt, but perhaps those two are simultanenous? It goes out when the buzzer goes off. Previously this light was always on and I finally got it to go off when I unplugged the harness from the proportioning valve (or at least I thought I did?)?
Seat belt should correspond with the buzzer, the buzzer is actually the "Seatbelt Warning Buzzer". Power goes from the buzzer to your "Fasten Seatbelts" light.
Personally mine is flickering probably because of the buzzer module, or a crappy ground provided by the driver's belt buckle. Plugging in the belt buckle opens the switch and removes the ground.
Brake light should be on when the brake light warning switch is closed.
Thanks guys, this helps. The first referenced thread (I have seen both when I was hunting tach issues) states that only the right turn signal and brake light are different, but that does not work for me referencing the picture @The_Scatch posted, since my left turn signal and seatbelt warning light need to be swapped.
It would appear my seat belt light is in the #2 position because that light is on when the buzzer is on and goes off when the buzzer dies. But it stays off despite my seat belt not being buckled. Of course, I've replaced both brake and transfer case switches because they were continually grounded, so this may fall in that category as well. Not a big concern for me.
I'll try to confirm in the next couple days, but I suspect my brake light is the sixth position and I just thought wrong. I recall the literature saying that the light will come on during key position in start as a proof that the bulb is good. Unfortunately I have the tranny half empty so I don't want to turn to start, although I guess I could remove the signal wire to the solenoid and move the ignition to start. Perhaps I'll try that and prove the brake light is in the #6 position.
When I get my circus figured out, I'll post it here in the event it may help someone else down the road.
Mine doesn't buzz either after the initial 4-8 seconds after the key is turned. There is a timer in that buzzer for that. My dome light and key in the ignition warning (don't think 1980 has this) also don't work so I also have some troubleshooting to get to.
This is a snap shot of the 1981 evtm, the circuit may be close to 1980 it is for 86, and you can Google 1981 evtm and it should come up. The buzzer not working with the belt out or in may be the belt switch or something else down line.
Thanks @The_Scatch . I do have an EVTM for 1980, it's just not handy at work. I do think my #6 position will be my brake light - I just haven't turned the ignition to START because of other work on the truck. My seatbelt system functions initially as described (both light and buzzer) but the light does not stay on in run with the seat belt unbuckled. Sounds like it may be the switch, but again it's low priority. I know better than to drive without a seat belt regardless of whether a bulb is or isn't lit.
I'll report back on how my 80 is set up after I confirm everything. 1980 does seem to be a bit of a ******* year so the more info we can publish out there, the better off us poor '80 owners will be.
The far left on the early models was blanked off or it is on my 81's.
I only have 1 light that comes on when the key is first turned to on and I forget what one that is as I don't have the bezel in place because of other work that needs to be done behind the dash but it is the 2nd from the left.
I was going to guess but you made me go out and check mine!
So mine is just like the picture above with the far left blanked off.
On some I think it was the 83 to 84 with a 300 six fuel saver models they had the shift light in the far left but no one has seen one that I know of, it is only listed on the Ford books.
Now on mine when I turn the key on only the seat light comes on for the 4 to 8 seconds then goes out.
The brake light does nothing at this time but I am still rebuilding the truck and if it does not work not a big deal to me, I don't need I light to tell me the brake pedal went to the floor!
There is no light for the park brake on my truck, never was one from what I hear till later years.
BTW the 4x4 & the shift light each had their own harness & light sockets to make them work.
Dave ----
1. Blank
2. Seatbelt
3. Left blinker
4. High beam
5. Right blinker
6. Brake
7. 4x4
Seatbelt buzzer goes off when I click belt in, and brake light comes on when key moved to start. My cluster is fully functional! Now I just need to relabel the darn thing.
Here is a pic of the donor bezel that came with the truck. It has the mysterious shift light in position 1.
Last edited by packagerjr; May 23, 2019 at 07:56 AM.
Reason: spelling. Nothing like an iPhone
No. The truck was a automatic with perhaps a 302, two wheel drive. It actually had 4x4 stickers on both far ends which I thought was interesting.
As far as I know and been posted all of them had the 4x4 to the far right even if it was a 4x2 truck.
Both of my truck are 4x2 and they have the 4x4 to the right.
To the far left it is blanked off so nothing shows thru.
Dave ----
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