Thanks to the person who responded to my question regarding the blower motor on my '77 F-350 Ranger XLT... now I have another.

The other day for the first time in maybe a year or so, I was in the driveway at night and needed to turn the courtesy lights on. I turned the headlight switch to the left, only to find a small amount of resistance. Not thinking anything of it, I turned it a little more and to my very amazement, a nice, red-hot piece of spring came shooting out from underneath the dash. Luckily, I found it and brushed it out of the truck before it did any damage, but now I have no instrument panel lights... making driving at night slightly(!) difficult.

I pulled the dash plate off the next morning and discovered that the spring inside the head light switch was corroded and broken. I clipped it off on both ends so it couldn't do any damage, and put the dash back together. While I had it apart, I tried to figure out how to take the switch out, but really couldn't find an easy way.

My question(s): How DO you take that switch out... is a special tool needed? And once out, can I fix it myself, or am I better off with a new switch. Where is the best (cheapest?) place to find another switch?

Thanks a bunch folks,

Josh Keady

'77 F-350 Ranger XLT Camper Special

 

There is a small metal button on the side of the headlight switch body. Push this button in as you pull out the headlight switch ****. The **** will then come out. Remove the nut that holds the headlight switch body to the dash. Unplug the electrical connector and there you go one removed headlight switch. To install just reverse the order of events. Oh yeah it is better to disconnect the battery first or there will be power at the switch.
Buy a new switch they are cheap. The spring you seen fall out is actually the resistor that dims your dash lights.
Good luck.

 

Good job Sparky, that's exactly what I had to do
to mine. I thought something was wrong when the shaft came out with the **** though, but when I saw how it worked I felt better.

 

Thanks guys, now I have an activity for this weekend!

Josh