02 Ranger Dash Lights
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02 Ranger Dash Lights
I have an 2002 Ranger FX4, over the past year or so the dash light have been burning out. At this point, I cannot see my tach and only half of my speedo at night. Anyone else had this problem? Are they hard to change.
I just find it odd, I have an 84 F150 that I have never had to change dashlights on and it's 22 years old!
I just find it odd, I have an 84 F150 that I have never had to change dashlights on and it's 22 years old!
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Maine
My '97 has lost 2 bulbs so far (oil pressure and fuel gauge 
). I intend to fix them the next free weekend I have.
A lot of people seem to blame running with the dash lights turned up all the way. Personally, I like them turned up all the way, and don't intend to change that, just because I might have to pull the dash apart an extra time over my ownership of the vehicle.
I'd guess that the reason it has happened in your Ranger but not your F-150 is that they keep trying to make everything smaller and cheaper in vehicles. If the bulbs have less room around them, they'll get hotter, and be more likely to blow.
There's a thread about it in the Tech sticky.
). I intend to fix them the next free weekend I have.A lot of people seem to blame running with the dash lights turned up all the way. Personally, I like them turned up all the way, and don't intend to change that, just because I might have to pull the dash apart an extra time over my ownership of the vehicle.
I'd guess that the reason it has happened in your Ranger but not your F-150 is that they keep trying to make everything smaller and cheaper in vehicles. If the bulbs have less room around them, they'll get hotter, and be more likely to blow.
There's a thread about it in the Tech sticky.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 769
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From: Moneta, VA
I replaced all of mine with extended life bulbs in my '95. It had two out. I run my dimmer switch about in the middle to reduce problems. I seen instrument clusters melt from the heat of the bulbs, especially if you install the wrong kind with too high of a wattage.
Three years later, all the bulbs are still burning.
Three years later, all the bulbs are still burning.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Durant, OK (SOSU)
I replaced all mine as well when I got the truck. Not hard at all, just be careful, take your time, and do it right.
They're just like any other bulb, you give them enough time they go out, obviously faster if you do a lot of night driving. You can replace them with "long life" bulbs if you want, may not make a difference. Either way, they'll last a fairly long time. It's just something we gotta do eventually.
RP
Zach
They're just like any other bulb, you give them enough time they go out, obviously faster if you do a lot of night driving. You can replace them with "long life" bulbs if you want, may not make a difference. Either way, they'll last a fairly long time. It's just something we gotta do eventually.
RP
Zach
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I have a 2003 Fx4, I too have had lights go out in my dash and cruise control on the steering wheel. I had them all fixed under warranty and the work order always said Faulty Switch, never said burnt out bulb.....and the dealer said "switches burning out was a common thing in these newer Rangers. I don't know where these switches are, but it might be worth looking into before taking out your dashboard..
Posting Guru
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From: Maine
If you're talking about the lights for the cruise buttons on the steering wheel, and the light for the headlight switch, the reason it said faulty switch (I think) is that Ford can't/won't replace the bulb inside the switch, and instead replaces the whole switch if the bulb burns out under warranty.
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Posting Guru
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I had the same problem. While I was at it I replaced ALL of the bulbs with the Sylvania long-life 194 bulbs. Look for the headlight switch to go out as well.
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Its a common problem in cars, I just replaced 5 bulbs on my Fiero cluster and 6 on my "94 B4000. These bulbs burn out just like any other bulb will , the more you use them the shorter their life is. While you have your cluster apart I would suggest you replace them all.
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