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Old Feb 5, 2008 | 08:10 PM
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No dash lights

After installing a new radio, I no longer have dash lights. I've pulled the radio and checked all connections and there are no loose wires. I've checked what I believe is the fuse for the dash lights(don't recall the #) and it appears to be good. What else could it be? Is there more than one fuse for trhe lights?
 
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Old Feb 5, 2008 | 08:17 PM
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Not being a smart ash but did you happen to turn the dial on the dash during your install that dims the dash lights?
 
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Old Feb 5, 2008 | 08:31 PM
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That was actually the first thing I checked. Thanks for pointing it out though.
 
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Old Feb 5, 2008 | 08:41 PM
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How are your grounds? What did you ground the new one to?

Joe
 
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Old Feb 5, 2008 | 08:41 PM
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Then it could be the timer relay that controls component auto shut off feature once key is removed.
 
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Old Feb 6, 2008 | 04:41 AM
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Everything is hooked up to the factory wiring through an adapter.

Where is this relay located at and how is it tied into the instrument cluster lights?
 
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Old Feb 6, 2008 | 05:02 AM
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My marker light fuse was blown and it killed the dash lights. Check that out.
 
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Old Feb 6, 2008 | 04:35 PM
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Originally Posted by Ford79
Everything is hooked up to the factory wiring through an adapter.

Where is this relay located at and how is it tied into the instrument cluster lights?
I'm not 100% sure but I think it is one of the 3 square relay looking things that sit side by side under the dash kind of at the top of the tranny hump. I noticed my door panel lights were not working early one morning and that afternoon I found those three relays and removed and replaced them one by one. It made something start to make contact again because now they are working again.
 
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Old Feb 6, 2008 | 07:00 PM
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I should also point out that the radio has lights, which I find odd because the rest of the dash doesn't.
 
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Old Feb 13, 2008 | 06:44 PM
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I still haven't found the cause of the no dash lights. I did stop by a dealer today and the service advisor mentioned the GEM, which is located somewhere under the dash(apparently). He said he couldn't say for sure without having a tech tear into it. All I see with taking it there is a bunch of cash out of my pocket and into theirs and hopefully working dash lights.
 
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Old Feb 13, 2008 | 07:00 PM
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I only see two fuses that have anything to do with the dash lights, # 15 and 16. Have you noticed anything else not working? You could check you light switch for power to dimer wheel then power out of dimmer, just in case one of those are bad.
 
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Old Feb 13, 2008 | 07:04 PM
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I haven't noticed anything not working, the switches for the windows/locks on the door work and the aftermarket radio is lit up. I'm going to pull the radio again and double, triple, quadruple check the wiring and also hook the stock radio back up to see if that does anything. My thoughts (today) were to remove the head light switch assembly and test the dimmer, maybe it went bad.
 
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Old Feb 13, 2008 | 08:14 PM
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You really need to check all fuses, not just the ones that say the dash lights. Ford does not do a good job of labeling all of the circuits that run off the fuses.
 
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Old Feb 13, 2008 | 08:38 PM
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Did you ever check the park/marker light fuses like I suggested? Thats what killed all the dash lights for me.
 
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Old Feb 13, 2008 | 08:55 PM
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Also when you check these fuses use an ohm meter just looking at a fuse sometimes can fake you out.
 
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