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no dash lights?!? please help!

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Old Aug 28, 2007 | 01:41 PM
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no dash lights?!? please help!

hey guys i have a 1978 f-150 all the parking lights and headlights work on the truck but the dash lights and heater light and the other ligth (that lights up where it says wipers and headlight switch. it dotn ligth up wither. now the turn signals and the high beam light work on ther insturment cluster works. i even changed whole dahs clusters thinkign maybe it was the dash cluster but same thing. now i did notice the very top right fuse right beside it says "inst cluster" well it is not gettign any power to the fuse on either side. the fuse itself is good but has no power coming to it. anyone have any ideas?
thanks,
jimmy
 
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Old Aug 28, 2007 | 01:54 PM
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Check for power at the Blue/red wire coming out of the headlight switch in the on position.

Is your headlight switch **** turned to maximum illumination ?
 
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Old Aug 28, 2007 | 11:19 PM
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the headlight switch is probably goin out, what you are describing is a perfect symptoms of it going out.
 
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Old Aug 29, 2007 | 12:18 AM
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From: Murray
Try turning on the lights...and turning the headlight switch to the right...maybe they just got bumped to the "dim" setting on accident? You can adjust how bright or dim the gauges are by turning the headlight switch..so maybe give that a try...sometimes its the simplest answer to the most complicated problem.
-Chris
 
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Old Aug 29, 2007 | 06:46 AM
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I have the same problem. Except mine was caused by Aamco shorting out my entire electrical system. I checked te fuses, replaced the bulbs, checked the wires and the only two things I think it could be would be the factory resistor or the headlamp switch.
 
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Old Aug 30, 2007 | 03:02 AM
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well its not the dimmer switch i have it on bright side. i gues i can change the dimmer switch or even disconect it and clean the contact and try that out...
 
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Old Aug 30, 2007 | 05:24 AM
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The "dimmer switch" is on the floor, it activates the high beams. The switch that controls the dash lights is a part of the headlamp switch. When you turn the headlamp switch ****, that activates a rheostat inside the switch. Over time corrosion causes failure. The rheostat itself is of a plastic type material, and will age crack into pieces.


D3AZ-11654-A .. Headlight Switch 1978/79 only (Motorcraft SW-1226)
 

Last edited by NumberDummy; Aug 30, 2007 at 05:28 AM.
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Old Aug 30, 2007 | 10:52 PM
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only about 20 bones at your local parts store.
 
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Old Aug 31, 2007 | 06:25 AM
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I'd support Ford, they don't make many things for our trucks and not buying them will make sure a high quality product goes away.
 
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Old Aug 31, 2007 | 01:30 PM
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well guys i will install another headligth switch and see what happens.
thanks,
Jimmy
 
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Old Sep 1, 2007 | 01:24 AM
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From: Murray
Originally Posted by 1978fordf250
well its not the dimmer switch i have it on bright side. i gues i can change the dimmer switch or even disconect it and clean the contact and try that out...
The "dimmer" for the gauges is the **** for the headlights...you twist it while its pulled out... counter clockwise to dim the dash lights...clockwise to brighten them...it isnt a seperate switch they are one in the same. If you turn it all the way to the right the dome light will come on. And if that doesnt happen then Id bet it was the switch.
-Chris
 

Last edited by 73f350sc; Sep 1, 2007 at 01:26 AM.
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Old Sep 1, 2007 | 03:29 PM
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You mean like was mentioned on Post #2 ?
 
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Old Sep 2, 2007 | 11:17 PM
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From: Murray
Yes...exactly like that....but from the "sound" (wording) of his post...he might not have known what you were talking about...I was simply trying to explain what you meant in more detail as you werent terribly specific.

For someone who may not be familliar with the function of that switch it can be a bit confusing trying to get to the point of how to adjust it.

Not only that but I was clarifying my earlier post that I had made as there had been a mixup as to which switch I was referencing. The OP had been talking about the switch for the brights in a previous post...not the headlight **** itself.
-Chris
 
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Old Sep 3, 2007 | 04:15 PM
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check your grounds. my dash lights went out and i replaced the ground wire to a more sturdy ground under the dash. the little nuts that hold the dash pad work great for grounds also
 
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Old Sep 3, 2007 | 06:46 PM
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Exclamation As well as

Originally Posted by jcduerr
check your grounds. my dash lights went out and i replaced the ground wire to a more sturdy ground under the dash. the little nuts that hold the dash pad work great for grounds also
Just to add to that post....make sure to scrape the paint away to bare metal so it doesn't cause improper ground as well.
 
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