Dash Lights issue - 2011 F250
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Fort Worth
Ya! My 2011 is coming and I have a two year old. No Latch! That is a huge oversight. With so many things that they thought off...No Latch was a huge oversight for sure.
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Joined: Aug 2008
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From: Sunny, Snowy, CO
It's sad, but I'm serious. Because I have "complained" several times, and there is apparently no problem found, they're going to charge me for the next one.
And I read the manual.
I never use the auto headlights, and the dash lights won't come on if I turn the headlights on during overcast or dark days. Yet the 2011 I drove the other day as a loaner worked fine. The one in their showroom worked properly as well. Three trucks, and mine is the only one where the dash lights don't come on when the headlights are turned on. Powers of deduction.
We'll see if I get any response from Ford of Canada, who have received a lengthy email on this whole adventure.
And I read the manual.
I never use the auto headlights, and the dash lights won't come on if I turn the headlights on during overcast or dark days. Yet the 2011 I drove the other day as a loaner worked fine. The one in their showroom worked properly as well. Three trucks, and mine is the only one where the dash lights don't come on when the headlights are turned on. Powers of deduction.We'll see if I get any response from Ford of Canada, who have received a lengthy email on this whole adventure.
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2010
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When I drove the '11 to determine whether or not to buy it that was the only thing about the interior that I did not like. I hope when I get mine soon that I will be able to get used to it. It seems like someone at Ford thought that it might be high tech or something but it is counterintuitive for sure.
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Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 25
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From: Edmonton, AB
Agreed. The gauges look really sharp at night.
Turn signal stalk was annoying at first, but I'm used to it now.
And I don't think anything will come of it when Ford finally do respond. i think the question I have is why the demo I had the other day worked "properly." As did the truck in the showroom.
Ah well.
Turn signal stalk was annoying at first, but I'm used to it now.
And I don't think anything will come of it when Ford finally do respond. i think the question I have is why the demo I had the other day worked "properly." As did the truck in the showroom.
Ah well.
New User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 11
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Sorry to bring up an old thread, but did you get anywhere?
I've got the exact same problem with my truck and it's going in next week to have the dealer look at it. The tech told me he's never heard nor seen of this problem before (understandable as it's a new truck).
I do know our Company Truck (2011 F250 as well) has the upgraded dash with the LCD productivity screen and the gauge lights are always on.
There's no reason to spend this kind of money on a brand new truck and have this problem. If I can't read the gauges because they are dark then something is wrong. If it's the design of the truck then the Engineer that screwed it up needs to come up with a fix or a reprogram.
I've got the exact same problem with my truck and it's going in next week to have the dealer look at it. The tech told me he's never heard nor seen of this problem before (understandable as it's a new truck).
I do know our Company Truck (2011 F250 as well) has the upgraded dash with the LCD productivity screen and the gauge lights are always on.
There's no reason to spend this kind of money on a brand new truck and have this problem. If I can't read the gauges because they are dark then something is wrong. If it's the design of the truck then the Engineer that screwed it up needs to come up with a fix or a reprogram.
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Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 25
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From: Edmonton, AB
Well, did I ever solve the problem? Yes and no.
The dealers I visited never did solve the problem.
However, it is a problem I no longer have to deal with. I punted the truck last week. The dealership knows how I look after my vehicles, plus there's a shortage of F250 XLT crews around here, so they gave me a hell of a deal on a brand new F150 SuperCrew King Ranch! I got a new truck and some cash in my pocket. And I have a guaranteed trade on a 2011 F150 when they start arriving. I may end up with a 2011 F150 Crew FX4 with the Ecoboost. I've got my name on one right now, so we'll see. The King Ranch is a great truck, but the colours choices and cowboy junk isn't my thing. If it wasn't two tone, and there were no King Ranch logos in the leather, I'd probably just keep it.
And my dash lights work when I expect them to work! Ultimately, this truck is better suited to me anyway. It's a far more comfortable ride, gets better fuel economy, and still tows my cars around with no problems.
The dealers I visited never did solve the problem.
However, it is a problem I no longer have to deal with. I punted the truck last week. The dealership knows how I look after my vehicles, plus there's a shortage of F250 XLT crews around here, so they gave me a hell of a deal on a brand new F150 SuperCrew King Ranch! I got a new truck and some cash in my pocket. And I have a guaranteed trade on a 2011 F150 when they start arriving. I may end up with a 2011 F150 Crew FX4 with the Ecoboost. I've got my name on one right now, so we'll see. The King Ranch is a great truck, but the colours choices and cowboy junk isn't my thing. If it wasn't two tone, and there were no King Ranch logos in the leather, I'd probably just keep it.
And my dash lights work when I expect them to work! Ultimately, this truck is better suited to me anyway. It's a far more comfortable ride, gets better fuel economy, and still tows my cars around with no problems.
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Pflugerville, tx
sam
New User
Joined: Oct 2010
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Well, did I ever solve the problem? Yes and no.
The dealers I visited never did solve the problem.
However, it is a problem I no longer have to deal with. I punted the truck last week. The dealership knows how I look after my vehicles, plus there's a shortage of F250 XLT crews around here, so they gave me a hell of a deal on a brand new F150 SuperCrew King Ranch! I got a new truck and some cash in my pocket. And I have a guaranteed trade on a 2011 F150 when they start arriving. I may end up with a 2011 F150 Crew FX4 with the Ecoboost. I've got my name on one right now, so we'll see. The King Ranch is a great truck, but the colours choices and cowboy junk isn't my thing. If it wasn't two tone, and there were no King Ranch logos in the leather, I'd probably just keep it.
And my dash lights work when I expect them to work! Ultimately, this truck is better suited to me anyway. It's a far more comfortable ride, gets better fuel economy, and still tows my cars around with no problems.
The dealers I visited never did solve the problem.
However, it is a problem I no longer have to deal with. I punted the truck last week. The dealership knows how I look after my vehicles, plus there's a shortage of F250 XLT crews around here, so they gave me a hell of a deal on a brand new F150 SuperCrew King Ranch! I got a new truck and some cash in my pocket. And I have a guaranteed trade on a 2011 F150 when they start arriving. I may end up with a 2011 F150 Crew FX4 with the Ecoboost. I've got my name on one right now, so we'll see. The King Ranch is a great truck, but the colours choices and cowboy junk isn't my thing. If it wasn't two tone, and there were no King Ranch logos in the leather, I'd probably just keep it.
And my dash lights work when I expect them to work! Ultimately, this truck is better suited to me anyway. It's a far more comfortable ride, gets better fuel economy, and still tows my cars around with no problems.
I was hoping they had an answer for you that I could use to circumvent having my truck at the dealership for an extended period of time while they diagnose it.
I hope they get it figured out; I'll post here on the results. The dealership where I bought the truck seems to be much more helpful than what you've posted. The tech did mention something about having to remove the dash if the lights aren't coming on. He also mentioned that the dash lights "should" not be controlled by the auto light feature, but we'll see what they come up with. I may just go out and check the fuses and relays just to make sure nothings blown or out of whack, but don't hold out much hope on that being the cure.
In the end I want to keep the truck, this is the first brand new vehicle I've ever bought and I'd like to keep it. Plus I had to wait a little bit for the dealership to find this one. I'd hate to downsize or wait for another one the way I want it.
Thanks for your update though.
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2007
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In the 8 weeks/5000km I've had my truck, I've pretty much determined that the dash lights run independent of the autolamp feature.
Autolamp does exactly what you expect on the headlights.
The dash itself seems to be that the blue indicator needles are always lit and the gauge faces are lit when ever the truck decides that it is dark. I've learned to live with it, although why someone somewhere decided to do it that way is beyond my imagination.
Autolamp does exactly what you expect on the headlights.
The dash itself seems to be that the blue indicator needles are always lit and the gauge faces are lit when ever the truck decides that it is dark. I've learned to live with it, although why someone somewhere decided to do it that way is beyond my imagination.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 109
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From: Tucson
I'm glad to see I'm not the only one dealing with the dash light issue. I noticed it on my 2011 about a week ago and thought I was imagining things. I even had the blue lights on the pointers go out once or twice. I don't know if I like this feature or not, but if the truck was designed that way at least I don't have to start the fight with my dealer, I already know I would lose.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 6,521
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From: Greenwood, SC
Wow, you buy an SD because you need one. It does the hard things very well, so well that when you run the truck hard and you find something superficial that you don't like, you just swallow it because it pales in comparison to dragging around 14K trailer for 2K miles so you can complete a job that you bid $12K to complete.
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Joined: Oct 2009
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ruschejj...you sound like me
superdan....When a family's on board there's not too much payload left for luggage in the F150...hope you aren't contractor who hauls and tows daily...that said, sorry you had issues and hope the new one is more to your liking as that's what matters and it's still one good looking Ford
superdan....When a family's on board there's not too much payload left for luggage in the F150...hope you aren't contractor who hauls and tows daily...that said, sorry you had issues and hope the new one is more to your liking as that's what matters and it's still one good looking Ford
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Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 25
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From: Edmonton, AB
Wow, you buy an SD because you need one. It does the hard things very well, so well that when you run the truck hard and you find something superficial that you don't like, you just swallow it because it pales in comparison to dragging around 14K trailer for 2K miles so you can complete a job that you bid $12K to complete.
I'm not basing my living on a truck, and an SD isn't totally neccessary for my needs.
superdan....When a family's on board there's not too much payload left for luggage in the F150...hope you aren't contractor who hauls and tows daily...that said, sorry you had issues and hope the new one is more to your liking as that's what matters and it's still one good looking Ford
My truck needs to carry me, wifey, a 3 year old and a 6 year old. Plus tow a two axle flat deck trailer that carries either a VW Passat or a Porsche Boxster, plus tires and some other gear. The F150 is more that adequte to tow what I need to tow. We have a lightweight camper that comes in around 6500lb wet. Again, no worries.
I didn't really need an SD truck, but went with one for that "just in case I ever need one" scenario. I'll take the truck I'm happy with and risk the "what if" situation.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 6,521
Likes: 11
From: Greenwood, SC
I'm glad you didn't take my post to be hateful. Just so you know, I have been messing with my dash lights and here is what I find. My instrument cluster lights are always on, day or night, brightness is adjusted with the dimmer thing. As far as lighting the radio/HVAC/etc... I don't know how that is controlled and those things are not illuminated during the day.
I agree that the dimmer switch thing is strange, much prefer the dial type potentiometer. And, my lights are always on "Auto". I just like it that way.
Good luck with your 150. My father is looking into getting one when the new engines are available too. I am looking forward to checking it out.
I agree that the dimmer switch thing is strange, much prefer the dial type potentiometer. And, my lights are always on "Auto". I just like it that way.
Good luck with your 150. My father is looking into getting one when the new engines are available too. I am looking forward to checking it out.