Dash Lights
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Dash Lights
About a month ago, I started to work on my dash lights. Not all of them were working, etc. I took the instrument cluster out, and as many of you reported, the back panel fell apart. Ordered a new one. Put the old circuit panel on it, put in new LED bulbs. Put the instrument cluster back in to see how nice it looked all lit up....nothing.
Fuel gauge works. Left turn signal indicator works; right one does not. Alternator light comes on for a few seconds upon startup, then goes off (OK). So, I guess I'm getting "power" through the printed circuit board.
I have also noticed that there is only one wire going to the bulb for the light/wiper illumination. The second wire appears to have been taped off with masking tape. Is this normal? I'm thinking that if this light does not work, maybe all of them will not (christmas tree lights...)
I cleaned all of the connections at the bulb bases. Used some dielectric grease.
Any ideas?
Fuel gauge works. Left turn signal indicator works; right one does not. Alternator light comes on for a few seconds upon startup, then goes off (OK). So, I guess I'm getting "power" through the printed circuit board.
I have also noticed that there is only one wire going to the bulb for the light/wiper illumination. The second wire appears to have been taped off with masking tape. Is this normal? I'm thinking that if this light does not work, maybe all of them will not (christmas tree lights...)
I cleaned all of the connections at the bulb bases. Used some dielectric grease.
Any ideas?
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First of all, let me say this is a 1977 F-150 (forgot to mention that before).
Most of the lights worked. The left half of my dash was dark; the right half was very dim. This wire I'm talking about was taped off before, and the lights worked as described. It's just that fact that is was taped off with masking type tape that makes me wonder if it is correct.
Most of the lights worked. The left half of my dash was dark; the right half was very dim. This wire I'm talking about was taped off before, and the lights worked as described. It's just that fact that is was taped off with masking type tape that makes me wonder if it is correct.
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From: Idaho cda postfalls
did you get the plug in the back of the cluster in all the way. maybe pull it back off and check it for a good connection and check all the little metal thing on the plug see if they stick up a bit to make a connection.
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Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Cleveland, WI USA
Sounds like a bad circuit somewhere. If only half the dash works, there might be a crack in the PCB somewhere. Use an ohm meter and see if you have connectivity between where the harness plugs in and the lights that don't work.
I'm not sure if 77 and 78/79 had the same harness and pin-out, but on the 78/79, the dash light pos. wire is lt. blue w/red stripe which is pin #10 on the harness. Dash light ground is the black wire which is pin #9.
As for the light/wiper wire, if the bulb holder is metal and cliped to a grounded piece of metal, it will work with one wire. The wire that IS connected should be lt. bue/red (dash lights +) and the cut wire should be black (ground). I don't think Ford wired lights in series so I doubt that cut wire would affect any other lights.
Hope this helps.
Kevin K.
I'm not sure if 77 and 78/79 had the same harness and pin-out, but on the 78/79, the dash light pos. wire is lt. blue w/red stripe which is pin #10 on the harness. Dash light ground is the black wire which is pin #9.
As for the light/wiper wire, if the bulb holder is metal and cliped to a grounded piece of metal, it will work with one wire. The wire that IS connected should be lt. bue/red (dash lights +) and the cut wire should be black (ground). I don't think Ford wired lights in series so I doubt that cut wire would affect any other lights.
Hope this helps.
Kevin K.
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