I posted a few weeks ago about a problem with my dash lights. I got some good information here indicating that it was probably a bad dimmer switch. I've got another problem now and I was hoping for someone might be able to tell me if they are related.

First, I haven't had time to replace the dimmer switch. Yesterday I found out that my parking lights have been out for the past several weeks. It looks like they went out at the same time the dash lights went out. I checked for a bad fuse for the parking lights and found one. I replaced it and they worked for a little while and went out again. I was at work when all of this happend and I needed a temporary fix so I put in a 20 amp fuse in place of the normal 15 amp. That one blew too. My questions are, 1) are these problems related? 2) If I replace the dimmer switch should the problem with the parking lights go away? 3) Does anyone have any clue what would cause both of them to go out at the same time?

Any help is really appreciated. I depend on this truck to get me to and from work and with it getting darker I need to get this fixed ASAP. Also, I'm not the best with electrical systems so if this turns out to be more than just replacing the dimmer switch I probably won't be able to do it. Any clue how much a mechanic would charge?

Thanks in advance for the help!

P.S. - the truck is a 1997 Ranger Ex cab 4x4

 

The parking lights don't go through the dimmer switch but they and the dash lights go through the main light switch.

 

Ken, thanks for your reply. It is possible that I'm looking at a bad light switch that caused my dimmer switch to burn out and also overloaded the fuse for the parking lights? If that is the case then replacing the light switch and the dimmer should fix the problem?

Thanks again for your help.

 

Just an odd thought: are all of your lightbulbs working right ?
I had a hard to find short that kept blowing fuses and it turned out to be that inside a bulb had shorted to the base. The only way I found it was to remove the bulbs, change the fuse, and then replace the bulbs one at a time.
Good luck.

 

All of the bulbs seem to be working, but bulbs are cheap so I'll try replacing them. I'm just trying to figure out what would have caused the Parking lights and the dash lights to go out at the same time... maybe it is just a coincidence.

 

If you drop me an email I can send you the test diagram for the MLS.