Instrument Panel Lights

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Apr 30, 2002 | 03:03 PM

catbird7

Thread Starter

Tuned

Joined: Apr 2002

Posts: 328

Likes: 93

Instrument Panel Lights

Does anyone have a trick to getting instrument panel lights to work? I have a 79 F-250 and can't get any of them to light up. Checked all of the bulbs and they are good! Any ideas???????

Apr 30, 2002 | 04:31 PM

sauerf100s

Tuned

Joined: Mar 2002

Posts: 405

Likes: 2

From: Ft. Walton Bch 32547

Instrument Panel Lights

Have you checked all your fuses? Have they worked since you owned the truck? One time I bought a truck that the instrument cluster lights didn't work on. When I pulled the cluster, I found a cut wire behind it. Spliced the wire and they worked fine.

Apr 30, 2002 | 05:56 PM

Vampiro

Cargo Master

Joined: Sep 2001

Posts: 3,135

Likes: 0

From: Canada

Instrument Panel Lights

check the fuses the power fromt he battery, the ground and all the cables. also maybe the light bulbs burnt out

Apr 30, 2002 | 06:32 PM

77ranger

5th Wheeling

Joined: Feb 2002

Posts: 27

Likes: 0

From: Boise, Idaho

Instrument Panel Lights

check the fuse links in the wiring itself.... one of those was causing the same problem in my truck.

Apr 30, 2002 | 07:47 PM

kiinge

New User

Joined: Mar 2002

Posts: 4

Likes: 0

From: usa

Instrument Panel Lights

i replaced the head-light switch on my 75 f100 4x4 and it took care of the problem for me... around 30 dollars or so..good luck

May 1, 2002 | 09:47 AM

catbird7

Thread Starter

Tuned

Joined: Apr 2002

Posts: 328

Likes: 93

Instrument Panel Lights

I think the problem is with the connection between the instrument panel and huge plug-in on the backside. Meter shows power at the plug and light bulbs are good. I guess I am having trouble getting an electrical connection from the plug to the panel or maybe the panel needs to be grounded?

May 1, 2002 | 10:21 AM

Graffe

Senior User

Joined: Mar 2002

Posts: 177

Likes: 0

From: Woodside, CA

Instrument Panel Lights

I'm almost positive that the panel gets it's ground through that harness. I'd try tweaking the harness contacts so that you know they are making contact. Also, you can straighten out the contact flaps on the back of the dash to ensure a better contact when the harness gets plugged in. If you take out the individual bulbs, you'll see where they also need a good contact. Clean all of those (including the harness plugin) with very fine emery cloth and then put a contact solution (a thicker, grease-type works well) where you cleaned so the contacts won't corrode over time.

Just be sure to be very careful with your bending and scrubbing. You don't need to do much of either to make a good contact. Too much and you can easily ruin a contact point.

Good luck,
Graffe