Dashboard lights poor
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,899
Likes: 12
From: Upstate NY
Dashboard lights poor
I did a quick search but no luck.
My AVATAR truck has really poor dash lights with the headlights on during the day(the way I normally drive) - you really can't see much of the digital display - odometer/information or for that matter, even the analog gauges could be lit better. They seem to be hidden in the "dusk". My wife's '03 Escape doesn't have this problem. Is this a common complaint with these '06 SD's? Do I live with it and just assume that it is an OEM quirk, and never to go away?
My AVATAR truck has really poor dash lights with the headlights on during the day(the way I normally drive) - you really can't see much of the digital display - odometer/information or for that matter, even the analog gauges could be lit better. They seem to be hidden in the "dusk". My wife's '03 Escape doesn't have this problem. Is this a common complaint with these '06 SD's? Do I live with it and just assume that it is an OEM quirk, and never to go away?
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,398
Likes: 317
From: Whittier, CA
The dash lights dim when the headlights are on. The assumption is, if your headlights are on then it's dark and the dash should be dimmer. But there are occaisions when you want/need the headlights on during the daylight, and then the dash is too dim.
Yes it's normal, and yes it's a common complaint.
I don't know how to fix it, but I do know that it is controlled by voltage present on a light blue/red striped wire. If you can find that wire going to the cluster, you could try cutting it. In the absence of that wire, the dash lights should be bright. I know that is how it works on my overhead console.
Yes it's normal, and yes it's a common complaint.
I don't know how to fix it, but I do know that it is controlled by voltage present on a light blue/red striped wire. If you can find that wire going to the cluster, you could try cutting it. In the absence of that wire, the dash lights should be bright. I know that is how it works on my overhead console.
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,899
Likes: 12
From: Upstate NY
The dash lights dim when the headlights are on. The assumption is, if your headlights are on then it's dark and the dash should be dimmer. But there are occaisions when you want/need the headlights on during the daylight, and then the dash is too dim.
Yes it's normal, and yes it's a common complaint.
I don't know how to fix it, but I do know that it is controlled by voltage present on a light blue/red striped wire. If you can find that wire going to the cluster, you could try cutting it. In the absence of that wire, the dash lights should be bright. I know that is how it works on my overhead console.
Yes it's normal, and yes it's a common complaint.
I don't know how to fix it, but I do know that it is controlled by voltage present on a light blue/red striped wire. If you can find that wire going to the cluster, you could try cutting it. In the absence of that wire, the dash lights should be bright. I know that is how it works on my overhead console.
Thanks. Sounds like I need to find a wiring diagram and go from there. This was not one of Ford's better ideas from my perspective.
I can't check the overhead console wiring out as a similarity - I have a useless moon roof - and that was not one of my better ideas but the price was right at the time - $0.00!!
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 325
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From: Lower Hudson Valley, N.Y.
Later...
Brewster...
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,398
Likes: 317
From: Whittier, CA
That light blue/red stripe wire goes a lot of different places, including the automatic climate control if you have it.
Personally, I just live with it, and don't drive in the daytime with lights on unless the law requires it.
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Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Burnsville, MN
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Elder User
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 914
Likes: 1
From: Saskatoon, SK, CA
If you want your headlights on just install the daytime running lights option - it doesn't affect the brightness of your gauges in daylight. In Canada this is a standard option. The headlights aren't at full brightness under this option. Then when you turn your lights on, the taillights and headlights go on and the dash lights dim. Just an option for you if you want to run with headlights.
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