Notices

Dashlight Gremlins

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 3, 2001 | 06:28 AM
  #1  
MSTRAWN's Avatar
MSTRAWN
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
25 Year Member
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 166
Likes: 0
Dashlight Gremlins

Last night my dash lights started acting funny. The right turn signal indicator light came on while driving. It was bright and constant. Moving the signal switch arm to the right turn position provided normal operation but when the turn signal switch was returned to the center position the light came back on bright again. The next time I started the truck, the light was on again but now much dimmer. Any ideas appreciated.

1977 F-100
300 I-6 / C-4
Offy intake w/holley390
Hedman headers w/duals
MSD6
Whiter whites/Brighter brights
 
Reply
Old Feb 3, 2001 | 08:42 PM
  #2  
Art's Avatar
Art
Senior User
25 Year Member
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 472
Likes: 1
From: USA
Dashlight Gremlins

[font size="3" color="#191979"]

Check and see if the front & rear turn signals are doing the same thing at the same time. If so, the problem might be in the turn signal switch or the wires between the switch and the lights.

If it is just the instrument light and the front & rear turn signals are OK, then pull the instrument cluster and check the printed circuit on the back of the instrument cluster. If I remember right, the instrument cluster lighting bulbs are adjacent to the turn signal bulbs. Bad ground connections can do wierd things.

Art
 
Reply
Old Feb 4, 2001 | 12:05 AM
  #3  
nitro94's Avatar
nitro94
Posting Guru
25 Year Member
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 1,100
Likes: 0
From: Wichita USA
Dashlight Gremlins

Check the bulbs and operation of the lights on the effected side, looking for bad grounds or possibly a filament broken and laying on the other which will cause back feed from one circuit to another.


2000 XLT Flare Supercab Sport 5.4-Auto-355LS-Tow pkg-Bedrug-Xtang Tonneau
 
Reply
Old Feb 5, 2001 | 12:46 PM
  #4  
Franklin2's Avatar
Franklin2
Moderator
25 Year Member
Photogenic
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 57,023
Likes: 2,754
From: Virginia
Club FTE Gold Member
Dashlight Gremlins

My truck was doing this and I had to take out the front turn
signal bulbs and scrape the bulbs and socket connections. Like
the others said, it must be a bad ground on the front bulbs.
 
Reply
Old Feb 6, 2001 | 04:28 AM
  #5  
MSTRAWN's Avatar
MSTRAWN
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
25 Year Member
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 166
Likes: 0
Dashlight Gremlins

Thanks guys. It turned out to be just as you said. Bad bulb with crossed filaments and corrosion in the socket. Problem fixed. I also applied this advice to my daughters 66 mustang and she now has fully functional dash lights.

1977 F-100
300 I-6 / C-4
Offy intake w/holley390
Hedman headers w/duals
MSD6
Whiter whites/Brighter brights
 
Reply
Old Feb 8, 2001 | 11:22 PM
  #6  
thecoppercowboy's Avatar
thecoppercowboy
Junior User
20 Year Member
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
Dashlight Gremlins

What else is on the dashlight circut? Seems that dimming lights in the dashboard are commonplace. I've got dashlights, but they're not glaring like they use to.
 
Reply
Old Feb 14, 2001 | 08:37 PM
  #7  
MSTRAWN's Avatar
MSTRAWN
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
25 Year Member
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 166
Likes: 0
Dashlight Gremlins

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 14-Feb-01 AT 09:38 PM (EST)[/font][p][font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 14-Feb-01 AT 09:38 PM (EST)[/font]

>What else is on the dashlight
>circut? Seems that dimming lights
>in the dashboard are commonplace.
>I've got dashlights, but they're
>not glaring like they use
>to.

There is a voltage regulator(something like that) on the back of the instrument cluster. Let me know if you need the procedure for troubleshooting this item.

1977 F-100
300 I-6 / C-4
Offy intake w/holley390
Hedman headers w/duals
MSD6
Whiter whites/Brighter brights
 
Reply
Old Feb 15, 2001 | 12:26 AM
  #8  
Franklin2's Avatar
Franklin2
Moderator
25 Year Member
Photogenic
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 57,023
Likes: 2,754
From: Virginia
Club FTE Gold Member
Dashlight Gremlins

The instrument regulator is for the guage/sending unit circuits
only, not the dash lights. The dashlights run off a potientometer made into the headlight switch. I would mess with the headlight switch **** and see what happens.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ways Ford is LOSING to the Competition

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now

 Brett Foote
story-2

This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

 Brett Foote
story-5

10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-6

Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

 Brett Foote
story-7

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Feb 20, 2001 | 06:08 PM
  #9  
MSTRAWN's Avatar
MSTRAWN
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
25 Year Member
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 166
Likes: 0
Dashlight Gremlins

Please excuse that previous post. Where could my brain have been? Gremlins in the brain now. You are right of course, the guage regulator has nothing to do with the dashlights.

1977 F-100
300 I-6 / C-4
Offy intake w/holley390
Hedman headers w/duals
MSD6
Whiter whites/Brighter brights
 
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2001 | 10:41 AM
  #10  
nomotorhead's Avatar
nomotorhead
New User
25 Year Member
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Dashlight Gremlins

 
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:03 AM.

story-0
10 Ways Ford is LOSING to the Competition

Slideshow: 10 ways Ford is losing to the competition

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 09:52:01


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now

Some great targets in today's expensive world.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-15 09:35:19


VIEW MORE
story-2
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level

Slideshow: The VelociRaptor Expedition gains a lift, upgraded suspension, Brembo brakes, and trail-ready equipment while retaining the stock 440-horsepower EcoBoost V6.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-12 11:01:55


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

Slideshow: Top 10 Fords at 2026 Ford Nationals

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 11:10:08


VIEW MORE
story-4
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

Based on years of owning multiple modern Ford products.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 10:53:36


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

SPONSORED: From muddy boots to rain-soaked cargo, these upgrades address some of the most common frustrations Ford truck owners face every day.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-06-08 18:50:34


VIEW MORE
story-6
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

Here's everything you need to know about every Ford engine available for the 2026 model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-05 12:58:01


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-9
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE