Inst. Cluster lights Dont Work & Solution update

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Jun 5, 2005 | 12:28 AM

notyettoday

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Joined: Aug 2004

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From: Nashville

Inst. Cluster lights Dont Work & Solution update

Hey ya'll

I was attemting to fix the left side of the insturment panel lights, and now they no longer work.

to the left of the center of the speedo, there were no lights, including the lights for the headlight switch and windshield washer. to the right everything worked. i pulled the bulb for the wiper light and had a spark... i assume i blew a fuse or a fusable link..

but anyhow, i cannot find a bad fuse. am i missing something? ive checked all of the fuses and they all seem fine so i'm probably missing a hidden one somewhere.

Also, is that problem with half of the inst panel lights working common? my buddy has a 92 escort with the same problem so possibly a ford problem? or maybe a coincidence.

Anyhow, Thanks alot guys, and i appreciate all the help ive gotten before and will likely get on this problem

Jun 5, 2005 | 03:40 AM

docholiday72tx

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Joined: Jul 2002

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From: waco

I'm assuming that the light problem is in that 79 that is in your gallery. The fuse for your dash panel lights should be the one in the top left corner of your fuse box according to my Haynes manual. My truck is actualy a 73, so therefore I have a different fuse box than you do. The fuse on my 73 is an AJA5. This fuse in one of the little bitty short ones. I think it is safe to assume that you probably have a short some where. The wire behind the dash that pretty much runs all the accessories should be a blue wire with a red stripe. Check that wire out and make sure there are no places where the insulation is bad so that the wire grounds out.
I have had a time when all my bulbs for what ever reason went out at once.
So....I would double check the fuse first, if it's good check all the bulbs, if they are good, check the blue wire with the red stripe. If that doesn't fix it, let us know.
Mike

Jun 5, 2005 | 08:53 AM

1977FordF-150

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From: OH

Just adding my .02. I had a problem of half of my dash lights didn't work. Bought all new bulbs, and had the same problem. I took some sandpaper to the contacts on the socket and to the back of the instrument panel. It cured my problem. Might just be a little bit o corrosion.

Jun 5, 2005 | 11:57 PM

docholiday72tx

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From: waco

77 ford has a good point. I never had a problemwith just half of my lights working, but I did have to replace my guage panel. I cleaned all the contacts up, installed all new bulbs, and used dielectric grease on all the connections. Bad connections are the source of most evils on these old trucks.
Mike

Jun 6, 2005 | 03:17 AM

Torque1st

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Joined: Sep 2001

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Corrosion or oxidation of the flex circuit on the back of the instrument panel is a common problem but then that circuit was not meant to last over 5 years, or 10, or 20... Many vehicles have only one bulb on each side for illumination so when a bulb fails like they do for some reason half of the instrument cluster goes dark.

There is a process for fixing many of your truck's electrical systems in the Read First: FAQ thread at the top of this forum.

As to finding out what has blown since you shorted the lights out it will take a test light or VOM to check the circuit. Check the wiring diagram in your service manual.

Last edited by Torque1st; Jun 6, 2005 at 03:22 AM.

Jun 6, 2005 | 10:08 PM

notyettoday

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Joined: Aug 2004

Posts: 394

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From: Nashville

thanks alot for the replies guys, i replaced the fuse and cleaned the contacts on the back of the guages, and now it all works. i was just a bit confused by the 3a fuse, i didnt think that would be enough for lights