Parking light issue
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 177
Likes: 3
From: Tornado USA
Parking light issue
I have an 82 F100. The parking lights and the dash lights quit working all of a sudden. Break lights, turn signals, and headlights work fine. I checked the fuses, and they are fine as well. Anyone have any suggestions as to where to look next? This truck has low miles, and the wiring looks to be untouched for the most part. Are there any fuseable links that I may be missing? I find it odd that both the parking and dash cluster lights quit working together, as they are fused separately.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,271
Likes: 2
From: Mexia, TX
If I recall, the park lights, side marker lights, and dash lights all get power from the same wire, but based on what you say, I guess it splits off to two circuits. You might check for any bad grounds.
Also clean and make sure the large "(" shaped wiring harness under the hood below the brake booster is connected securely. I've had a loose one cause my brake and turn functions to not work at the rear of my truck. Not sure if it could cause your dash lights to go out, but it's worth a try. If anything, you'll get better electrical contact after cleaning it.
There may be a chance it could be the headlight switch, since I've seen a bad one cause some pretty odd problems; when mine went out, the headlights didn't work but everything else did, and on my uncle's 70s Chevrolet, his headlights worked but nothing else did (dash lights, parking lights, etc.)
Also clean and make sure the large "(" shaped wiring harness under the hood below the brake booster is connected securely. I've had a loose one cause my brake and turn functions to not work at the rear of my truck. Not sure if it could cause your dash lights to go out, but it's worth a try. If anything, you'll get better electrical contact after cleaning it.
There may be a chance it could be the headlight switch, since I've seen a bad one cause some pretty odd problems; when mine went out, the headlights didn't work but everything else did, and on my uncle's 70s Chevrolet, his headlights worked but nothing else did (dash lights, parking lights, etc.)
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 177
Likes: 3
From: Tornado USA
If I recall, the park lights, side marker lights, and dash lights all get power from the same wire, but based on what you say, I guess it splits off to two circuits. You might check for any bad grounds.
Also clean and make sure the large "(" shaped wiring harness under the hood below the brake booster is connected securely. I've had a loose one cause my brake and turn functions to not work at the rear of my truck. Not sure if it could cause your dash lights to go out, but it's worth a try. If anything, you'll get better electrical contact after cleaning it.
There may be a chance it could be the headlight switch, since I've seen a bad one cause some pretty odd problems; when mine went out, the headlights didn't work but everything else did, and on my uncle's 70s Chevrolet, his headlights worked but nothing else did (dash lights, parking lights, etc.)
Also clean and make sure the large "(" shaped wiring harness under the hood below the brake booster is connected securely. I've had a loose one cause my brake and turn functions to not work at the rear of my truck. Not sure if it could cause your dash lights to go out, but it's worth a try. If anything, you'll get better electrical contact after cleaning it.
There may be a chance it could be the headlight switch, since I've seen a bad one cause some pretty odd problems; when mine went out, the headlights didn't work but everything else did, and on my uncle's 70s Chevrolet, his headlights worked but nothing else did (dash lights, parking lights, etc.)
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,271
Likes: 2
From: Mexia, TX
No problem.
Back when my headlight switch was going out, during the time it was finally frying itself, it was causing a 17 volt overcharge. The voltage regulator was apparently trying to compensate for the huge short circuit. It blew out both of my headlights.....which were Sylvania Silverstars...
Back when my headlight switch was going out, during the time it was finally frying itself, it was causing a 17 volt overcharge. The voltage regulator was apparently trying to compensate for the huge short circuit. It blew out both of my headlights.....which were Sylvania Silverstars...
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 177
Likes: 3
From: Tornado USA
No problem.
Back when my headlight switch was going out, during the time it was finally frying itself, it was causing a 17 volt overcharge. The voltage regulator was apparently trying to compensate for the huge short circuit. It blew out both of my headlights.....which were Sylvania Silverstars...
Back when my headlight switch was going out, during the time it was finally frying itself, it was causing a 17 volt overcharge. The voltage regulator was apparently trying to compensate for the huge short circuit. It blew out both of my headlights.....which were Sylvania Silverstars...
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,271
Likes: 2
From: Mexia, TX
Yea it was a first for me. I'd had charging system problems in the past due to bad regulators and a dead alternator, but that 17V overcharge freaked me out lol. We had went to be with a friend that had gotten stranded on the way to our house, and everything was fine til we parked. I noticed the aftermarket voltmeter I had put in was pegged...we tried to drive it home, and for a very short time, boy were those headlights bright. LOL
I had one guy tell me it was the regulator, but there's two reasons I didn't believe him. One, my uncle said it was the switch, and he's been working on vehicles for 50 years...the other guy was in his 30s. Second, the overcharging stopped when the switch blew.
I had one guy tell me it was the regulator, but there's two reasons I didn't believe him. One, my uncle said it was the switch, and he's been working on vehicles for 50 years...the other guy was in his 30s. Second, the overcharging stopped when the switch blew.
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 177
Likes: 3
From: Tornado USA
Yea it was a first for me. I'd had charging system problems in the past due to bad regulators and a dead alternator, but that 17V overcharge freaked me out lol. We had went to be with a friend that had gotten stranded on the way to our house, and everything was fine til we parked. I noticed the aftermarket voltmeter I had put in was pegged...we tried to drive it home, and for a very short time, boy were those headlights bright. LOL
I had one guy tell me it was the regulator, but there's two reasons I didn't believe him. One, my uncle said it was the switch, and he's been working on vehicles for 50 years...the other guy was in his 30s. Second, the overcharging stopped when the switch blew.
I had one guy tell me it was the regulator, but there's two reasons I didn't believe him. One, my uncle said it was the switch, and he's been working on vehicles for 50 years...the other guy was in his 30s. Second, the overcharging stopped when the switch blew.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,271
Likes: 2
From: Mexia, TX
A tip, in order to remove the headlight switch ****, you have to reach up under the dash and press the small button on the bottom of the switch. It takes a little fiddling, but be patient and it will come out. Putting it back on is just a matter of pushing it back into the switch til you feel it click.
I hope you can get this fixed soon, it's always a pain when stuff goes bad.
I hope you can get this fixed soon, it's always a pain when stuff goes bad.
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 645
Likes: 2
From: Richlands, NC
Hello!
I had this same exact problem!
They all just stopped working except for what is working on your truck!
Do you know how I fixed it?
Shaking the headlight switch... not kidding...
So, I agree with everyone that says it's the switch.
I had this same exact problem!
They all just stopped working except for what is working on your truck!
Do you know how I fixed it?
Shaking the headlight switch... not kidding...
So, I agree with everyone that says it's the switch.
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 177
Likes: 3
From: Tornado USA
A tip, in order to remove the headlight switch ****, you have to reach up under the dash and press the small button on the bottom of the switch. It takes a little fiddling, but be patient and it will come out. Putting it back on is just a matter of pushing it back into the switch til you feel it click.
I hope you can get this fixed soon, it's always a pain when stuff goes bad.
I hope you can get this fixed soon, it's always a pain when stuff goes bad.
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 177
Likes: 3
From: Tornado USA
Believe it or not, I actually tried that...lol. I will have to check it out this week and post my results. Thanks!
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 177
Likes: 3
From: Tornado USA
Welp, it was the headlight switch. If you push the switch in a little with the headlights on, the parking lights work. So, off to get a new switch I go!
Thanks for the help guys!
Thanks for the help guys!