Clicking in dash
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 364
Likes: 22
From: Eagar, az
Clicking in dash
So I realize this has been covered, as i have been reading a little about it, but the intimidation factor is just way too high for me not to ask. So, turn signals went out last week, and after some monkeying around found that if i turn the wiper switch to just the right spot they start working again. The thing that is bothering me is when starting the truck at dark thirty in the morning, as soon as it fires there is a flash behind the speedo, and as I drive there is a consistent click kinda like the signal relay sound every few seconds that flashes all lights (dash, headlights) every time it clicks. Have looked under there briefly but gonna tear it apart later today. had a Volkswagen bug burn down on me due to a short, and after all the work I have put in this baby , cant get that memory far enough behind. Electrical is something that very much intimidates me , but live in the middle of nowhere so I'm gonna have to learn this. I have signal switch, and headlight switch, but removed steering wheel a year ago to replace due to mushy action, and after taking a hard look at what I was in for, said f this and buttoned it back up. Any ideas of where I should start looking?
Logistics Pro
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,029
Likes: 891
From: East Central Ia
I believe there is a ground screw on the brake pedal support right behind the speedometer. It sounds like you have a ground problem. Also check to see it the fuse holders in the fusebox are making good contact with fuses.
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 364
Likes: 22
From: Eagar, az
There is a ground just above brake pedal, but already ground to bare metal and tightened it down. About a year ago I went on a grounding spree to try and fix a few minor problems , and wound up installing 8 grounding straps throughout the truck. Mabey got carried away, but found em all for 5 bucks at a garage sale.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,029
Likes: 891
From: East Central Ia
Try unplugging the turn signal switch and see if the consistent clicking and flashing quits. If it does you may have found problem. If you unplug it you will have no brake lamps though so do it at your own risk.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,782
Likes: 15
From: Lower Mainland B.C.
Also check the Hazzard relay also under the dash, unplug it and see if problems go away. Hazzard and turn signal relays both go thru the headlight switch.
WAIT!! You answered your own question if "kinda like the signal relay sound every few seconds that flashes all lights (dash, headlights)" is true.
DO THE actual headlights outside the truck flash on and off? If they do then it HAS to be the headlight switch itself, replace it or fix its ground and should be back to normal.
WAIT!! You answered your own question if "kinda like the signal relay sound every few seconds that flashes all lights (dash, headlights)" is true.
DO THE actual headlights outside the truck flash on and off? If they do then it HAS to be the headlight switch itself, replace it or fix its ground and should be back to normal.
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 364
Likes: 22
From: Eagar, az
Yes all lights including headlights flash off real quick like every 2-3 seconds. Also found out this morning that it also related to wiper switch. The wiper switch is really crummy, and have to jiggle around just to get it to turn, but found that when click kicks in I can turn wiper switch all the way to left, and jiggle a hair back to right, and clicking stops. Already have a new headlight switch that I never hot around to installing when I did l.e.ds in dash, so that's going in today if the snow let's up, and just ordered a new wiper switch from DC so that will be going in hopefully this weekend. I will let ya know what the new headlight switch does after work today
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 364
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From: Eagar, az
Also what about that quick flash behind the speedo area? I looked bit didn't see anything out of the ordinary as far as arcing wires, or bare wire. Never noticed it before, but also never payed that much attention to the dash when starting. It doesnt happen when cranking, just right when the engine fires, and before I let go of key there's a quick blue/white flash that lights up behind speedo, and slightly illuminates the surrounding area. All my bulbs are green led, and all blue lenses have been removed from behind, so I am guessing it's a spark of some kind, but see nothing
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Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 364
Likes: 22
From: Eagar, az
Well, put the new headlight switch in, and still the same story. Poked around while I had dash cover off, and still cant pinpoint the clicking. Hopefully it doesnt rain because I am not touching the wiper switch until the new one gets here. My dash lights are blinding now though, so that's great
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,782
Likes: 15
From: Lower Mainland B.C.
Far as I know for lights everything goes through the headlight switch...
Wonder if previous owner spliced power from an intermittent wiper switch over to the headlight switch for some reason? The clicking would be the intermittent switch going on and off activating power to lights then?
Wonder if previous owner spliced power from an intermittent wiper switch over to the headlight switch for some reason? The clicking would be the intermittent switch going on and off activating power to lights then?
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 364
Likes: 22
From: Eagar, az
There is no intermittent relay under there that I found, and the switch is a 2 way ( well more like 1/2 way) . The only splice I see is from the wiper/light indicator bulb wire to a aftermarket tach lighting wire. That's long gone, and dead ended with shrink wrap. This just happened one day out of the blue when it was snowing, and I turned on the wipers. They also seem to be going faster, and really slam down into the windshield gasket which also never happened before this
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 364
Likes: 22
From: Eagar, az
Just an update. Not sure why, as I see no connection between the two, but replaced the wiper switch, and blinkers work fine now. I searched the shop diagram, and traced wires for an hour, but couldn't even remotely se a relation between the two. Must be somewhere though, because it worked. Wiper blades move alot smoother also
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