Instrument lights sometimes don't work.
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,408
Likes: 6
From: Parkesburg PA
Instrument lights sometimes don't work.
I've noticed that Fords (At least mine, 86 F150 and 93 Mustang) Suffer from rolling blackouts with the instrument lights. Any one know how to fix this?
David
David
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 541
Likes: 0
From: Fleming Ga
Sounds like the reostat on the headlight is going bad or is dirty and not making good contact at times. It's just a wire round resistor with an arm that makes contact along the resitor to increase or decrease the voltage to the lights. They get dirty and don't make contact in places. You can try turning the **** back and forth a few times and see if cleans it.
Another possibility is a loose or dirty connection where the harness connects to the printed circuit board in the dash.
Another possibility is a loose or dirty connection where the harness connects to the printed circuit board in the dash.
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,408
Likes: 6
From: Parkesburg PA
It's not all the lights, usually it's just one bulb, but it's not always the same bulb. I know that with the mustang it is somewhat related to temerature and as the dash warms up (from the heater being on) the lights will come on. On the truck the high beam light sometimes works, sometimes doesn't. It'll go out for days, then come back on.
I've cleaned the circuit board on the mustang with no luck. The last time I changed the heater core I thought I'd find a burned out light or two, but they all were fine. I used electrical contact cleaner and cleaned all the sockets. Put everything back togeather and only one light worked. Within 30 minutes they were all working again.
Does anyone have any specific recomendationd on cleaners to use on the PC boards?
Thanks,
David
I've cleaned the circuit board on the mustang with no luck. The last time I changed the heater core I thought I'd find a burned out light or two, but they all were fine. I used electrical contact cleaner and cleaned all the sockets. Put everything back togeather and only one light worked. Within 30 minutes they were all working again.
Does anyone have any specific recomendationd on cleaners to use on the PC boards?
Thanks,
David
