Dash light mystery

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Aug 20, 2008 | 10:39 PM

66f-100

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From: Montpelier, VA

Dash light mystery

I have been slowly repairing things one by one on my truck since I bought it. The other day I took out the speedometer cluster to clean it up and repaint the faded needles on the gauges. I repainted the needles with fluorescent red paint and it looks almost new. Anyway, as I am putting the gauges back in, I noticed something strange. There is an extra dash light socket with a bulb in it that I can't account for. It's a confirmed custom cab with custom cab speedo. The whole dash is illuminated by 2 bulbs. The only gauges I have are the fuel gauge and temp gauge. Oil and alt are idiot lights. I don't see any place for the extra bulb and socket to go. The wire is blue with a red stripe just like the dash lights. All the lights and indicator lights on the dash are working properly. I am puzzled.

Aug 22, 2008 | 11:16 PM

66f-100

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From: Montpelier, VA

Ah, come on now.... one of you boys must know the answer.

Aug 23, 2008 | 03:42 AM

NumberDummy

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From: Simi Valley, CA

Does your high beam indicator light work?

It only lights up when the headlamps are on Hi-Beam.

Aug 23, 2008 | 09:05 AM

Sam_Fear

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From: Davenport, IA

Seems to me this was discussed and resolved about 6 months ago. Don't recall the answer though.

Aug 23, 2008 | 12:03 PM

66f-100

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From: Montpelier, VA

Quote:

Originally Posted by NumberDummy

Does your high beam indicator light work?

It only lights up when the headlamps are on Hi-Beam.

Hi beam indicator works, turn signal indicator works, even the light inside the cigar lighter socket works. This definitely has the color combo for a dash light (blue with red stripe). I can't figure it out. Did they use the same harness for the round speedo and the rectangular speedo? Maybe the round one uses 3 bulbs?

Aug 23, 2008 | 01:54 PM

gangstakr

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From: Hemet ca.

Could it be for Hazard Lights? Do you currently have a hazard light indicator anywhere on dash?

Aug 24, 2008 | 02:45 AM

NumberDummy

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From: Simi Valley, CA

Quote:

Originally Posted by 66f-100

Did they use the same harness for the round speedo and the rectangular speedo?

No, it's a different main wiring harness.

When I converted my '65 over to a Custom Cab (in 1983), I found a CC harness and the sweep speedo gauge cluster in a wrecking yard, and had the electrician at the dealer I was then working at splice the parts of the CC's dash loom that pertained to the CC dash to the Standard Cab's harness.

I then replaced the cluster bezel, its lens, the gauges and speedo head with new parts, all of which were still available from Ford back then.

The 1964/72 Ford truck parts catalog illustration of the CC cluster (only), shows 6 bulbs (Section 106, page 5).

Two bulbs for the speedo head, two for the turn signal indicators, one each for the fuel & temp gauges.

This illustration does not include the optional alternator and oil gauges.