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Jan 26, 2006 | 10:07 PM

blhfla

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Joined: Mar 2005

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From: Onalaska

No lights

Well, get in my 'mule' tonight to go check on price/availability of oil filters at Walmart and "great no dash lights", so I check the tail lights and nothing there either (had Mitsubishi pickup 20 years ago and dash lights went out one night; got pulled over thought I was speeding cause I couldn't see the speedo. NOPE, tail lights were out too - all on same fuse). So I checked all fuses that said instrument cluster in the owner's manual (2, 16, 19, 29) - all OK. Couldn't find fuse for "tail lights" in the manual, only trailer tow and stop lights. I have headlights.

Ideas? Could it be the headlight switch only working the headlights?

Jan 27, 2006 | 10:35 AM

jtharvey

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Joined: Oct 2004

Posts: 7,413

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From: Columbia, MO

Did you check the fuse for the "stop lights" to see if it was ok. I don't know if that would be it, but it's worth checking over everything pretty well. I don't think the headlight switch will work just the headlights.

Jan 27, 2006 | 11:29 AM

blhfla

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From: Onalaska

I didn't check fuses for brake lights, it's the 'tail' (and instrument) lights that don't work. I couldn't find 'tail' lights in the owner's manual, only 'trailer tow' lights - do they mean 'tail' lights?

I haven't pulled the lightswitch yet, I was just wondering if there are several wires leaving the switch going to headlights, tail lights, dash, etc. and maybe the headlights contact is the only one that is 'good' right now. Just taking a shot in the dark, pun intended (and needed to keep my frustration/anger at bay).

Last edited by blhfla; Jan 27, 2006 at 11:33 AM.

Jan 27, 2006 | 11:43 AM

jtharvey

Lead Driver

Joined: Oct 2004

Posts: 7,413

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From: Columbia, MO

I don't think trailer tow is going to be the same thing as tail lights. But, the wording for that stuff is not always the best. I'd go through and check all the fuses in the cab and under the hood. It make take some time, but it's cheaper than a trip to the shop.

I don't remembe what the back of the lightswitch looks like. I had it off about a year ago to wire up my guages, but I can't remember at all what it looks like back there. It's very possible that you'll find a loose wire or connection in there.

Electrical gremlins are tough to track down. Time and paitence are your best tools. Hopefully someone else will chime in today. The board seems pretty slow today, so maybe someone will be able to chime in later today or this evening.

Jan 27, 2006 | 06:08 PM

codyjoe

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Joined: Dec 2005

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From: Queen City, MO

check the fuses under the hood, had the same happen to me(had a wire short out on my trailer plug and did the same thing) dont remember which one but its one of the smaller fuses

Jan 27, 2006 | 07:09 PM

molotov

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Joined: Dec 2004

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Having the same problem, don't know if my tail lights don't work, but it seems as though sometimes it takes about 4-5 seconds for my dash lights to "turn on", like the relay is sticking.

Jan 28, 2006 | 11:40 PM

blhfla

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From: Onalaska

And I said, "Let there be [tail and dash]light, and there was, and I saw it, and it was good". Great in fact. After checking the fuses under the hood (I had only checked in the cab) I found #8 (Trailer Tow Electronic Brake Illumination, Park Lamps, Trailer Tow Park Lamp Relay Coil - 15 Amp) had blown. Replaced it and tried lights, blew again. Checked all light sockets and found continuity on all so I figured the short must beat at the source - the lightswitch (which I thought I should have checked at the start). Sure enough, someone jumped a wire (ground I think) in the switch harness to an IC down by the fuseblock; the jumper wire had most of the insulation melted off. I cut it out and now everything including intrument panel works correctly. Don't know what the IC was for, bit it had a coax connector on it like for an antenna - should have got a shot of it to post but I was anxious to get it finished.

So the instrument panel didn't light while the fuse for the parking lamps was blown.