Instrument cluster lights
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 146
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From: Dallas Ga
Instrument cluster lights
My 66 F100 instrument cluster lights come on when the key is in the start position but go off when the engine starts. Any suggestions on where to look first for a solution to this problem?
Nathan 
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 19,311
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From: Waterloo, Iowa
Instrument cluster lights
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 29-Aug-02 AT 10:53 PM (EST)]Somebody will come along smarter than me on this, but have you tried fiddlin' around with the ignition/key switch? Maybe a shot of contact cleaner in thar wouldn't hurt.
My 64 has a wierd quirk. Now and then, the OIL light won't come on when the key is in the ACC position or START, tapping the dash by the light will make it come on, most of the time. When I had the cluster out for other maintenance, I cleaned the bulb socket and tried to track that down. Worked for about a week. It works fine otherwise where it counts -- low oil pressure but it's kinda strange.
Keep 'er between the ditches.
My 64 has a wierd quirk. Now and then, the OIL light won't come on when the key is in the ACC position or START, tapping the dash by the light will make it come on, most of the time. When I had the cluster out for other maintenance, I cleaned the bulb socket and tried to track that down. Worked for about a week. It works fine otherwise where it counts -- low oil pressure but it's kinda strange.
Keep 'er between the ditches.
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 30
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From: USA
Instrument cluster lights
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 30-Aug-02 AT 05:59 AM (EST)]Many of the ignition switches were wired funny. Ideally, you'd want to rewire the whole truck, to update the wiring and whatnot, but that can be a pain, especially for someone who's not so inclined to take on such a task.
If you are talking about the "Idiot lights" (the generator and oil pressure warning lights) coming on with the key, and going out when the engine starts running, that is completely normal. If you are talking about the speedometer instrument lighting doing that, you have a wire plugged in where it's not supposed to be. You have to trace that wire and plug it into the male dimmer tab on the back of the headlight switch. It helps greatly to remove the dash panel that the speedo is mounted to, so that you can easily trace the wires. The instrument lighting should dim with a turn of the headlight switch **** if you have them plugged in correctly.
Try to do it with the battery disconnected, so that you don't blow fuses, fry wiring, or lose an eyebrow. ;-)
-Zen-
If you are talking about the "Idiot lights" (the generator and oil pressure warning lights) coming on with the key, and going out when the engine starts running, that is completely normal. If you are talking about the speedometer instrument lighting doing that, you have a wire plugged in where it's not supposed to be. You have to trace that wire and plug it into the male dimmer tab on the back of the headlight switch. It helps greatly to remove the dash panel that the speedo is mounted to, so that you can easily trace the wires. The instrument lighting should dim with a turn of the headlight switch **** if you have them plugged in correctly.
Try to do it with the battery disconnected, so that you don't blow fuses, fry wiring, or lose an eyebrow. ;-)
-Zen-
