instrument cluster lights.
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Junior User
Joined: Jun 2009
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instrument cluster lights.
1968 f250-
the lights in my cluster had always been a bit touchy. after i pulled out the **** to turn on the lights i would have to twist the **** a little to get the lights in the cluster to come one. i few days ago it the dash lights completely went out and then did this little flicker every couple of seconds. the headlights still come on but will lightly flicker like the dash (although the dash lights were out with a tiny bit of light flicker while the headlights are all the way on and only dimmed a little with flickering). the dome light would come on but flicker like the headlights did. i replaced the light switch and everything worked for about a day and now its doing the same thing again. do you think i got a bad light switch or is there another problem that i should look for?
the lights in my cluster had always been a bit touchy. after i pulled out the **** to turn on the lights i would have to twist the **** a little to get the lights in the cluster to come one. i few days ago it the dash lights completely went out and then did this little flicker every couple of seconds. the headlights still come on but will lightly flicker like the dash (although the dash lights were out with a tiny bit of light flicker while the headlights are all the way on and only dimmed a little with flickering). the dome light would come on but flicker like the headlights did. i replaced the light switch and everything worked for about a day and now its doing the same thing again. do you think i got a bad light switch or is there another problem that i should look for?
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Northern California
The thermal circut breaker is in the light switch.
If you have a short circut, the heat will rise in the circut, making the light switch break the connection. The circut will cool, the lights will come back on, then the same process repeats. Called flickering light syndrome.
A defective light switch will also cause this. the thermal breaker becomes weak.
Have you replaced your headlights with halogens?? The added draw from the halogen headlamps will cause the thermal breaker to trip.
If you have a short circut, the heat will rise in the circut, making the light switch break the connection. The circut will cool, the lights will come back on, then the same process repeats. Called flickering light syndrome.
A defective light switch will also cause this. the thermal breaker becomes weak.
Have you replaced your headlights with halogens?? The added draw from the halogen headlamps will cause the thermal breaker to trip.
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Junior User
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no halogens. but they did start working agin on my way home tonight. i turned them on and off trying to make it flicker and again but it stayed strong. i don't know what happened. i'm gonna keep an eye on it to see of it does it again later.
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I had the same problem. When I turned my dial, it was kind of choppy and not smooth and they would come on and off with bumps or random!
I ended up getting another one from a junk yard with my other laundry list of parts and that did the trick! I simply turned several of the switches there and found one that you could hear the consistent sound and it was smooth.
Once I took my old one out (HINT: Search this site for Remove + Switch to read about how to get the **** off - there is a button release) the SPRING that is a half-circle that changes the resistance was half-popped out of the switch. I guess that is why it wasn't working!
I ended up getting another one from a junk yard with my other laundry list of parts and that did the trick! I simply turned several of the switches there and found one that you could hear the consistent sound and it was smooth.
Once I took my old one out (HINT: Search this site for Remove + Switch to read about how to get the **** off - there is a button release) the SPRING that is a half-circle that changes the resistance was half-popped out of the switch. I guess that is why it wasn't working!
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I have noticed that in my 67 the lights in the gauge cluster are on bright all the time they don't dim, are they suppose to dim? I like driving at night with my lights really dim or off but just wondered if it was normal not to dim in 67. I have another switch from a 67 f350 and 70 f100 so I might try one of them if they are suppose to dim.
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They dim in my 67. I also fight "flickering light syndrome" but I have not changed out my switch or changed to halogens. I figured it was just the switch but changing the headlights out is a really great Idea.
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someone told be to check the cluster voltage regulator. i needed to replace that anyway so i'll give it a try this weekend.
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My 1968 f250 canper special dash lights are flickering rapidly along with my fog lights and my marker lights. My blinker switch module has melted itself due to this problem as well and I've lost power to my passenger rear blinker, break light, and hazards. I've just replaced the light switch and I'm still having this problem. If anyone has any advice or suggestions I'd love some help!!!
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