dash light electrical problem

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Feb 21, 2004 | 07:33 PM

Jacks '66

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dash light electrical problem

i lost the dash back lights in my '79 F100. also the left front blinker is dim and the left signal light in the dash stays on (dim) unless i turn the signal switch left and the dash light (signal) operates normal. any help would be great....

Feb 21, 2004 | 07:53 PM

mhg

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Sep 2003

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From: savannah,ga

check your ground wires

Feb 21, 2004 | 08:00 PM

firstonraceday

Laughing Gas

Joined: Dec 2000

Posts: 781

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From: East Texas

Unfortunately this sounds like the dreaded brittle instrument cluster back plate problem. It could be an old or damaged cluster circuit board, burned out lights or bad grounds. But the symptoms sound similar to my '77, and that was a case of the cluster back becoming brittle and disintegrating.

The only way to know for sure is to look at the cluster however, if the cluster back is brittle, it could come apart when getting the cluster out. Ford no longer makes the back plate. I cured my problem by getting an instrument cluster off Ebay and replacing mine. However, I was without gauges for a couple of weeks while waiting to get and install the cluster.

If you have better luck than mine, it could be something as simple as bulbs or grounds.

Feb 21, 2004 | 08:16 PM

Mil1ion

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There are some list in the FTE classifieds if need be.

Feb 21, 2004 | 11:28 PM

whalerron

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Joined: Jan 2003

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From: Baltimore

I had a similar problem with my 77. If your dash circuitry looks ok, check the wiring harness. Follow it from the firewall out to the headlights and from the firewall back to both taillights. I found a bad spot in my harness just forward of the rear axle. The harness runs along the frame as it goes from the firewall to the taillights. For some reason, the harness got a nick in it and years of weathering caused the wires to corrode. Finally, the wires started shorting out to each other. The symptoms I noticed where similar to yours. It took me 2 weeks to find that little problem

Feb 22, 2004 | 01:41 AM

Jacks '66

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thx for the things to look at i will post as soon as i find the problem

Mar 12, 2005 | 09:50 PM

PJJUN

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You can get a new instrument back panel from blueovaltruckparts.com

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Mar 12, 2005 | 11:20 PM

ColoSpgs4x4

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From: Colorado Springs

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jacks '66

...... also the left front blinker is dim and the left signal light in the dash stays on (dim) unless i turn the signal switch left and the dash light (signal) operates normal.

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This part of your problem happened to me last November......dim left turn signal; left dash turn indicator always on; signal works normal otherwise.........with a multimeter, I traced the problem to the left turn signal bulb socket.....a measurement from the outside wires to the inside bulb contacts confirmed that the 3 wire terminations were actually deteriorating inside the plastic casing of the socket......a replacement was bought from LMC Truck.......as soon as it was installed, both problems disappeared....the left turn signal was as bright as the right......and the dash turn signal indicator was no longer constantly lit......

Hope this

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