Dash lights...
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Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Biloxi, MS
Happened to a friend of mine, turned out was only the fuse... Happened to another friend of mine, and we still haven't figured the damn thing out yet, he gave up and bought those cheap lights that plug into your ciggarette lighter and point at the dash...
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Joined: Jun 2006
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My guess would be the connector on the back of the headlight switch, or the dimming resistor in the switch has failed, assuming the fuse for the instrument lamps isn't blown. This is apparently a common problem on our trucks, apparently, albeit I have a '92 that has NEVER experienced a single electrical problem. Other things are on the circuit with the instrument lamps, which you may need to find and disconnect to locate your short if a new fuse blows (assuming you replace the old one). These little blade type fuses have a habit of cracking and looking like they're good. Get something to check continuity (a volt-ohm meter), or just replace the fuse (about 25 cents). Make sure you put the right size fuse in there, otherwise you're flirting with a fire in your dash wiring.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: McNairy county, TN.
Also remember, that when your dash lights go out on most cars, you do not have tail lights either. If there is a problem in the tail light circuit (wiring/fuses/burnt bulbs on both sides), the dash lights go out. That way you will immediately notice dash lights out and fix it before you notice the tail lights. Kind of a safety failsafe.
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Originally Posted by westtntrucker
Also remember, that when your dash lights go out on most cars, you do not have tail lights either. If there is a problem in the tail light circuit (wiring/fuses/burnt bulbs on both sides), the dash lights go out. That way you will immediately notice dash lights out and fix it before you notice the tail lights. Kind of a safety failsafe.
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Joined: Jan 2006
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From: McNairy county, TN.
The dash lights and the tail lights are the same electrical circuit. If the fuse is ok, then your gonna have to start chasing wires.
Check to make sure there is power to the fuse circuit in the fuse box itself.
Could be something as simple as a little bit of corrosion not allowing the fuse to complete the circuit.
A friend had a 2004 Dadge that the heater blower motor stopped working. we first checked the fuses, none blown, but the heater started working when that fuse was reinserted into the socket.
Check to make sure there is power to the fuse circuit in the fuse box itself.
Could be something as simple as a little bit of corrosion not allowing the fuse to complete the circuit.
A friend had a 2004 Dadge that the heater blower motor stopped working. we first checked the fuses, none blown, but the heater started working when that fuse was reinserted into the socket.
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Originally Posted by westtntrucker
The dash lights and the tail lights are the same electrical circuit. If the fuse is ok, then your gonna have to start chasing wires.
Check to make sure there is power to the fuse circuit in the fuse box itself.
Could be something as simple as a little bit of corrosion not allowing the fuse to complete the circuit.
A friend had a 2004 Dadge that the heater blower motor stopped working. we first checked the fuses, none blown, but the heater started working when that fuse was reinserted into the socket.
Check to make sure there is power to the fuse circuit in the fuse box itself.
Could be something as simple as a little bit of corrosion not allowing the fuse to complete the circuit.
A friend had a 2004 Dadge that the heater blower motor stopped working. we first checked the fuses, none blown, but the heater started working when that fuse was reinserted into the socket.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Orangeville, Ontario
So from what you're saying trucker if he had a bulb out would it cause the same thing? Just curious because my dash lights ain't workin'.. last I checked my tail-lights did. I'll have to go check again.
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From: torrington,ct
i pulled the fuse for my dash lights and didn't relize it, i was doing some rearanging because the p.o. had all the wrong fuses in the wrong spots... but i still had taillights, i wonder if he's got that all wired up wrong too??
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From: McNairy county, TN.
I am not sure when they started the wiring the dash lights and tail lights in the same circuit. 80's - early 90's? When i said the bulbs may be out, I was talking about both bulbs at the same time, again, some manufacturers started this before others did. Just one bulb out would not break the circuit.
