Dash Lights issue - 2011 F250
#1
Dash Lights issue - 2011 F250
Not sure if this is the right spot. I did a search and came up with nothing.
Just picked up a 2011 F250 Crew with the 6.2L gas. Only 400km on it, and I have an issue.
My dash lights don't like working. At first I thought it was me, so I actually read the owner's manual. Nope, it appears to be the truck. The overhead dome lights work as they're supposed to, but the dash lights do not work. Much.
When you first start the truck, they light up, then shut off immediately. I had the lights on this morning driving to work, and everything worked for about 10 minutes. They came on by themselves, then shut off by themselves.
And no, it's not on the auto headlight setting. Ford have already checked it out and have said they cannot replicate the problem. Even when I had the technician with me and I showed him the lights were not on and he admitted they should be.
It's my first Ford, and even though this is minor, it's not endearing the truck to me.
Anyone have any suggestions?
Just picked up a 2011 F250 Crew with the 6.2L gas. Only 400km on it, and I have an issue.
My dash lights don't like working. At first I thought it was me, so I actually read the owner's manual. Nope, it appears to be the truck. The overhead dome lights work as they're supposed to, but the dash lights do not work. Much.
When you first start the truck, they light up, then shut off immediately. I had the lights on this morning driving to work, and everything worked for about 10 minutes. They came on by themselves, then shut off by themselves.
And no, it's not on the auto headlight setting. Ford have already checked it out and have said they cannot replicate the problem. Even when I had the technician with me and I showed him the lights were not on and he admitted they should be.
It's my first Ford, and even though this is minor, it's not endearing the truck to me.
Anyone have any suggestions?
#2
Awesome. Had it in at a second dealer today to get this issue sorted out. They looked at it and told me everything works fine. So I asked the technician to come out and show me. So he does, and the lights don't work. So they hook it back up and tell me they cannot find a fault and that it would be hard to diagnose without a fault code or something. So I told him I really wasn't concerned with how difficult it was to diagnose, it's a new truck with full warranty that's less than a week old and needs to be 100%. And they hummed and hawed and are taking it in tomorrow to fix.
Is this pretty standard for Ford dealers? Two dealer so far and both tell me my problem is solved when it clearly isn't, then stammer for an answer when shown they're wrong.
So how soon after purchase does Ford call the customer with a satisfaction survey? Looking forward to that call.
Is this pretty standard for Ford dealers? Two dealer so far and both tell me my problem is solved when it clearly isn't, then stammer for an answer when shown they're wrong.
So how soon after purchase does Ford call the customer with a satisfaction survey? Looking forward to that call.
#5
Well, well. I have discouvered the source of the problem.
Turns out my truck thinks it's a teenager, and that it knows better than me what I want.
The dash/instrument lights are tied in to the automatic headlights. Interior lights will not come on unless the truck feels it is dark enough. Even when I turn the headlight switch to the "on" position.
This is dumb. There are times when it's dark outside, and I feel I could better see the instruments, especially the four smaller gauges, yet the truck won't let me.
It's almost as dumb as not included LATCH anchors on the rear seats. How any manufacturer could build a vehicle in 2010 and not have those is beyond me.
Turns out my truck thinks it's a teenager, and that it knows better than me what I want.
The dash/instrument lights are tied in to the automatic headlights. Interior lights will not come on unless the truck feels it is dark enough. Even when I turn the headlight switch to the "on" position.
This is dumb. There are times when it's dark outside, and I feel I could better see the instruments, especially the four smaller gauges, yet the truck won't let me.
It's almost as dumb as not included LATCH anchors on the rear seats. How any manufacturer could build a vehicle in 2010 and not have those is beyond me.
#6
#7
I haven't tried that yet. I know on our old 2000 Firebird, that trick didn't work. The headlights kept popping up in the middle of the afternoon and it looked ridiculous. And on the GMs, disabling the sensor just meant that the lights stayed on all the time. I dislike cars that babysit me.
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#9
Well, well. I have discouvered the source of the problem.
Turns out my truck thinks it's a teenager, and that it knows better than me what I want.
The dash/instrument lights are tied in to the automatic headlights. Interior lights will not come on unless the truck feels it is dark enough. Even when I turn the headlight switch to the "on" position.
This is dumb. There are times when it's dark outside, and I feel I could better see the instruments, especially the four smaller gauges, yet the truck won't let me.
It's almost as dumb as not included LATCH anchors on the rear seats. How any manufacturer could build a vehicle in 2010 and not have those is beyond me.
Turns out my truck thinks it's a teenager, and that it knows better than me what I want.
The dash/instrument lights are tied in to the automatic headlights. Interior lights will not come on unless the truck feels it is dark enough. Even when I turn the headlight switch to the "on" position.
This is dumb. There are times when it's dark outside, and I feel I could better see the instruments, especially the four smaller gauges, yet the truck won't let me.
It's almost as dumb as not included LATCH anchors on the rear seats. How any manufacturer could build a vehicle in 2010 and not have those is beyond me.
#11
Well, I had the truck in for an oil change and they gave me a 2011 F250 to drive for the day. Interior lights work exactly how I would expect them to work. ie, they come on when the headlights come on. So I talked to the dealer and told them to check the lights again for me. They told me everything was functioning normally. So I told them the demo I had for the day was faulty because the dash lights worked with the headlights. Again, they told me that was normal.
I asked how it was possible for two different situations to be normal.
And I was told that if i wanted more investigation done on the dash lights, they would start charging me diagnostic time, as the truck has been looked at many times and shown to be normal.
Needless to say, this dealer will not be visited again. I'm contemplating dumping this truck. I can't stand things that **** me off and this truck and Ford service is doing just that.
I asked how it was possible for two different situations to be normal.
And I was told that if i wanted more investigation done on the dash lights, they would start charging me diagnostic time, as the truck has been looked at many times and shown to be normal.
Needless to say, this dealer will not be visited again. I'm contemplating dumping this truck. I can't stand things that **** me off and this truck and Ford service is doing just that.
#12
#13
Anywho, your dash lights are probably like the ones in the 09+ F150 and don't come on regardless of the headlights being on if there is ambient light inside the cab when the headlights are in AUTO...
#14
Seriously? No, they didn't tell you that they would charge you diagnostic time to troubleshoot something under full warranty. I don't believe you. Seriously.
Anywho, your dash lights are probably like the ones in the 09+ F150 and don't come on regardless of the headlights being on if there is ambient light inside the cab when the headlights are in AUTO...
Anywho, your dash lights are probably like the ones in the 09+ F150 and don't come on regardless of the headlights being on if there is ambient light inside the cab when the headlights are in AUTO...
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.
#15
SuperDan - I've noticed the same behaviour in my 2011 F250.
Even if I put the headlights on, no dash lights until it is dark. Seems non-intuitive, but I've already gotten used to it. I have noticed that if I go under an underpass, the blue arrows on the guages are lit, but it is not the same thing at all as the dash lighting.
I will say that I love the instrument panel 100 times better in the 2011 than in my old 2005. The gauges are downright sexy looking at night, and are always easy to read.
Good luck fighting Ford on this one; I suspect that this behaviour is "by design"
Also...how about that turn signal lever?? Haven't decided whether I like it or not. It certainly screws me up for any other vehicle
Even if I put the headlights on, no dash lights until it is dark. Seems non-intuitive, but I've already gotten used to it. I have noticed that if I go under an underpass, the blue arrows on the guages are lit, but it is not the same thing at all as the dash lighting.
I will say that I love the instrument panel 100 times better in the 2011 than in my old 2005. The gauges are downright sexy looking at night, and are always easy to read.
Good luck fighting Ford on this one; I suspect that this behaviour is "by design"
Also...how about that turn signal lever?? Haven't decided whether I like it or not. It certainly screws me up for any other vehicle