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Old Sep 14, 2004 | 05:19 AM
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lighting problem

this past year i replaced the cab on my 75 f250 4x4 with a cab and bed from a 76 f250 4x4. i plugged everything back in like it was, and i'm having some problems with the wiring. all my gauges work, but none of the lights in the cluster work when the lights are on. the glovebox light works fine though. the strikers aren't hooked up(someone broke them off) but the dome light works with the bed light switch. when i replaced the bed, i plugged everything back in but it gets absolutely nothing. no lights to the bed whatsoever. the lights in the front all work. when i put my foot on the brake, my front marker lights come on. the turn signal and hazard lights dont work at all either. if anyone would care to make any suggestions, i would greatly appreciate it. the small stuff is starting to take its toll on me. it's already going to my mechanic for the brakes. hopefully someone can help out here. i checked the fuses and they all look good. the heater blower works as well. could my dash just be acting up because some lights are out?
 
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Old Sep 14, 2004 | 08:22 AM
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Did you make sure you have a good ground, between battery, frame and cab/box. It's usually the simple things when you look for a problem, at least that's where I start.
 
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Old Sep 14, 2004 | 08:48 AM
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460F250 is right, check for grounds first. Especially engine to firewall, battery to body and at each of the rear lights.

Do the other dash lights work - above the light switch and heater controls? If not, then it may be a bad headlight switch. Did you twist the headlight switch? That will dim them so much that they won't work.

I'd test the rear lights at the plug at rear bumper. Make sure there is power that far. Look over the tech article about diagnosing turn lights, it will help you a lot.

Let us know what you find. With a little time and patience you can easily repair these things yourself.

Marty
 
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Old Sep 14, 2004 | 09:06 AM
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i twisted the switch and the dome light turns off and on but nothing else does anything. ill check my grounds after i get back up later today.

thanks.
 
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Old Sep 14, 2004 | 07:19 PM
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alright, i checked my grounds for the engine\firewall and the battery\body and theyre both clean and solid. i was thinking about yanking the light switch from my old cab that had good lighting and putting it in the new cab but i can't figure out how to get the thing out. would this be a good place to go to next?
 
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Old Sep 15, 2004 | 12:44 AM
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what happens if the other lights work on the dash and the gauges don't? thats what mine does. not trying to take over this thread highboy. lol

1978 F-250 Ranger Explorer 4x4
351M, C6, Np205, D44, D60 4.10LS

Drive It Like You Stole It!!!
 
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Old Sep 15, 2004 | 01:07 AM
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light switch

To remove your light switch reach up under the dash by the parking brake. On the switch you should feel a push button.
Press down on the button which should be on top this will let you pull the **** all the way out . Then after removing the plastic you can unscrew the nut from the front of the light switch and unplug it wiring.
 
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Old Sep 15, 2004 | 04:36 PM
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its cool, everyone can benefit, lol. ill get on replacing the switch and go from there. ill try my old one, but my cab has been sitting outside for over a year and i may have to order one. i got the whole thing apart, i just couldn't figure out how to get the switch assembly to come out of the dash. i tried plugging my 75 gauges into the 76 cab harness, but the gauges used a different plug. i thought this was very odd.

thanks guys

f250---did you check your fuses? might be your cluster as well.
 
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Old Sep 15, 2004 | 04:53 PM
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it does seem odd

I have a 73 2 wheel, 78 2 wheel, 79 4x4 all f150`s and a 79 F250 2 wheel drive and not very many of the electrical parts will interchange as far as the rest goes all the 2 wheel drives a organ donors for my 4x4 truck and my 85 ful size bronco 4x4
 
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Old Sep 15, 2004 | 11:08 PM
  #10  
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well they work if my high beams are on. so it's got me puzzled? any ideas?

1978 F-250 Ranger Explorer 4x4
351M, C6, Np205, D44, D60 4.10LS

Drive It Like You Stole It!!!
 
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Old Sep 15, 2004 | 11:47 PM
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have you replaced the dimmer switch on the floor yet see if that gives you low beams and also take a look see at the wiring up towards the radiator to make suree none of them got tore during the swap.
 
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Old Sep 16, 2004 | 02:08 AM
  #12  
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i had some wiring that was on the driver side that ran all the way to the back off the side marker light that i ripped out. it looked like it was something that had just been put there by a po. are those suppose to be there? i'm gonna hafta have my electrician friend look through the haynes manual and see what he can make of it. there were 2 wires that ran all the way to the back of the truck. they werent on there too good so i yanked em both. didnt look like anything factory. i guess i may have needed them, haha, funny how that works
 
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Old Sep 25, 2004 | 02:45 AM
  #13  
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same problem

I have a 77 when i replace the colum I have to replas the wires and i get the same problem that you have ,all I did was get a new switch and everything work fine when after that.
 
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Old Sep 25, 2004 | 03:10 AM
  #14  
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thanks everyone, im gonna order a brand new switch from bronco graveyard this week
 
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