Dash lights

andys1971f100 · Post by **andys1971f100** » Wed Apr 17, 2013 6:44 pm

I have a 1971 Ford F100. 360V8 automatic tranny 2wd. The Dash or Instrument panel lights dont work. I looked at the bulbs and they look good and the fuse in the fuse box is good too. Is there a way to test them to see if they work or not? All the gauges work fine just no light.

bluef250 · Post by **bluef250** » Wed Apr 17, 2013 10:13 pm

Use a Volt Ohmmeter set on resistance and test for continuity between the 2 sides of the bulb. The should read zero.

Set meter to DC volt, then test to see if you have power to the bulbs. There should be 12 volts.

Do you have power at the fuse block? Sometimes the fuse block can be bad.

Remove ground terminal from the battery and Check the light switch. I like to replace the switch with a unit that a know is good. Press button on top of switch to release knob. Sometimes you have to wiggle it a bit. Unscrew the retaining nut beneath the knob. Pull out the switch and remove and replace the switch. Reconnect the switch and see if the switch is bad.

andys1971f100 · Post by **andys1971f100** » Thu Apr 18, 2013 8:04 pm

Thanks for the info bluef250. Ill do that soon. we are getting more snow again!

so for now the truck will have to wait. I will let you know what progress i make.

andys1971f100 · Post by **andys1971f100** » Sat Apr 20, 2013 2:53 pm

Tried the dash lights light bulbs. They all work when individual tested. I looked at the fuse block and the fuse was gone. Tried to put in a new glass tube fuse but the fuses i have are the standard normal size and not the shorter size that the panel lights require. Who was the genius that decided to put two different length fuse in there. I did take a volt meter and test light to all the fuses in the block and noticed all but the panel lights had power. So now to figure out which wire supplies the power to the block that supplies power to the panel lights.

sweetlou · Post by **sweetlou** » Wed Apr 24, 2013 6:56 am

andys1971f100 wrote:Tried the dash lights light bulbs. They all work when individual tested. I looked at the fuse block and the fuse was gone. Tried to put in a new glass tube fuse but the fuses i have are the standard normal size and not the shorter size that the panel lights require. Who was the genius that decided to put two different length fuse in there. I did take a volt meter and test light to all the fuses in the block and noticed all but the panel lights had power. So now to figure out which wire supplies the power to the block that supplies power to the panel lights.

Just for a quick test, I have used rolled up aluminum foil to replace the fuse. Only to test mind you.

sargentrs · Post by **sargentrs** » Wed Apr 24, 2013 10:22 am

You could also test the fuse socket itself. Ground your black lead to a solid ground and touch your positive lead to one side of the fuse socket. Should get 12V on one side or the other. If it's hot, the block is probably good.

andys1971f100 · Post by **andys1971f100** » Sun Apr 28, 2013 9:10 am

I find that the specific fuse connection in my fuse block is not getting power from the fuse block. While all the other fuses in the block are getting power this one is not. I took a small piece of wire and touched one end to a working powered fuse in the block and touched one of the connectors for the fuse in the spot for the dash lights. The dash lights lit up. So just gonna figure out away to fix the power issue and the fuse block. I plan to go back out the junkyard and yank out the fuse block in a truck there to examine it before i go messing around with mine.

The FORDification.com Forums

Dash lights

Dash lights

Re: Dash lights

Re: Dash lights

Re: Dash lights

Re: Dash lights

Re: Dash lights

Re: Dash lights