dash lights don't work
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
dash lights don't work
Ok guys, I have a 1991 F250, the dash lights don't work. None of them not even the climate control panel. I figured since none of them worked it must be the switch. When I pulled the old switch out to replace it the spring on the wheel that (I guess) controls the brightness of the lights fell out. I just knew that that was the problem. When I put the new switch in they still didn't work. I don't believe all of the bulbs blew at once so what else do I need to check. I really don't want to pull the whole dash out to check every wire. I hope one of you have a solution for me, this is really bugging me. All help is appreciated.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 4,092
Likes: 0
From: Olympia
I had a truck that had this problem. A new switch did not fix it but i'll tell you my story.
Switch in all the way is off right?
Pull it out one spot, and it should be marker/gauges.
Pull it out again and it should be headlights/everything.
Well with mine, when you pulled it out all the way just the headlights came on. No tail lights or gauges. But screwing with the switch I found that if the switch is sliiiiightly out farther then the second spot the lights came on and everything worked.
(But if you bumped it your headlights would shut off or your gauge lights would.)
I'm not sure the cause, but maybe you can benefit from this by screwing with the switch to see if they work in any position. Just move it as slow as possibly possible and see if the lights come on.
Switch in all the way is off right?
Pull it out one spot, and it should be marker/gauges.
Pull it out again and it should be headlights/everything.
Well with mine, when you pulled it out all the way just the headlights came on. No tail lights or gauges. But screwing with the switch I found that if the switch is sliiiiightly out farther then the second spot the lights came on and everything worked.
(But if you bumped it your headlights would shut off or your gauge lights would.)
I'm not sure the cause, but maybe you can benefit from this by screwing with the switch to see if they work in any position. Just move it as slow as possibly possible and see if the lights come on.
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
all of the lights work but the dash lights. The fuse is not blown, I checked it before and after I replaced the switch. I don't think the dash lights would be wired in series. I have seen other trucks that had a blown dash lightbulb and it didn't blow the other bulbs. I think the previous owner used it to pull a fifth wheel travel trailer (holes in the bed for the fifth wheel carrier and the light hookup). I'm not sure if they might have had a trailer brake controller hooked up or how they had it hooked up if they did. I kind of wonder about how to check the current flow through the plug at the switch. What are the chances of getting a bad switch? Maybe something else I could check for without taking the dash out. Thanks for the replies guys!
New User
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Same issue on my 1990 f250. All lights worked fine until I hit a bump at night and lost tail lights and dash lights. Swapped the switch just to have the same issue. If I pull the switch half way out than I get either headlights or dash and tail lights (but not both at once). My solution is a toggle switch that takes the tail and dash light connections off the headlight switch and runs it through it's own on/off circuit.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
mountain dewd
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
10
Feb 11, 2018 07:44 PM
Bmamer196
1994.5 - 1997 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
6
Jan 20, 2018 09:12 AM
natrcrider
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
10
Jan 6, 2018 12:26 PM
Critterhunter
1983 - 2012 Ranger & B-Series
38
May 26, 2017 01:05 PM
