Hi, just got an 1981 f150 ext cab 351w. I turned on the headlights and dash lights quit working and all fuses are good. Next are the wipers-will not turn off. Any tips? Thanks

 

Headlght and wiper switches are bad. remove an replace.

 

Thanks, I will replace them both.

 

This may be very obvious to most, but I have seen people make the following mistakes with these switches, so bear with me if you already know.


DASH LIGHT PROBLEM:

I agree with the light switch, the rhetrostat is probably faulty, or you turned the dash lights off by turning the headlight **** all the way to the right. Try turning the **** to the left. If you go too far left the cab lights will come on etc... If the dash lights still fail to come on try wiggling it a little bit, if the lights come on or blink, the problem is the switch. If they still dont come on, test for power at the lt. Blue- Red stripe wire at the headlamp switch connector with the headlamps on. Still no power to the Lt. Blue-Red stripe wire, then the problem is the switch or the 5 amp fuse in the fuse panel, or the wiring.

WIPER CONTROL SWITCH:

Do the wipers stay on steady, or do they pause between wipes?

A: If there are significant pauses between wipes, you most likely have intermittent wipers with the switch turned all the way to the left. Turn the **** towards the right and the paused wipes will become faster, then the first click to the right is off. Second click is slow, third click is fast, etc...

B: If the wipers stay on all the time, full wiping motion without pauses, it is either the switch itself, or to be the parking mechanism in the wiper motor itself is broke. If a new switch doesnt fix it, it's more than likely the motor.

Hope this helps...