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Dashboard lights not working?

Tiny
ALLENKALE
  • MEMBER
  • 2005 FORD RANGER
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • MANUAL
  • 57,841 MILES
When I start my truck in the morning, I turn on the lights but the parking lights and dash lights wont come on until I either hit the steering wheel or open and slam the door shut or hit the dash and when they do come on then the horn wont work. I was thinking a fuse but they are all good or maybe the ground, but where would I look for the ground if that would be the problem?
Thanks
Al
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Wednesday, February 18th, 2009 AT 8:16 PM

50 Replies

Tiny
DAVE H
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,383 POSTS
There is a # f7 fuse in the under dash fuse panel that needs to be checked here is a guide to help you and the fuse location with the dash light wiring diagrams so you can see how the system works.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-fuse

Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know what happens.

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Thursday, February 19th, 2009 AT 8:29 AM
Tiny
ALLENKALE
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Ok I took off the panel and all I see are fuses and I check the owners manual and it doesnt show a park lamp relay and I looked for it online and cant even find a picture of it to know what to look for?
Al
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Thursday, February 19th, 2009 AT 1:09 PM
Tiny
DAVE H
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,383 POSTS
I also cannot find a diagram of this junction box ... while i am trying to locate one please check fuses #1 and # 31 in the same junction box also if you can see it, the ground for thse circuits which is located under front centre of console ?


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/266999_ranger_4.jpg

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Thursday, February 19th, 2009 AT 2:45 PM
Tiny
ANGELAVV
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
  • 2002 FORD RANGER
  • 3.0L
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 170,000 MILES
Bought this truck and only a small area of the dash lights work. I replaced the dash lights with LED lights but the exact same area is all that comes on still. Thinking it is somewhere in electrical? Saw posts to check headlight switch, dimmer switch and ground under driver seat. Headlights work, taillights work. Dimmer works to dim the lights that are on and turn on inside light. Will check ground. Is this correct for my problems? Not sure it matters, but the third brake light is on very dim when headlights are turned on. Thanks for your help!
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Thursday, November 26th, 2020 AT 8:48 AM (Merged)
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,414 POSTS
If you mean that only certain sections are working, like the left side lights up but not the right side it is likely that you need the cluster replaced as it has a failure on the circuit board itself as all of the lights are powered from the same power feed on the board.
The dim third brake light sounds like there is a bad ground that is feeding power into the brake light circuit.
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Thursday, November 26th, 2020 AT 8:48 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ANGELAVV
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Thank you Steve! I will replace the cluster and check the ground for the third brake light. Will let you know the results!
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Thursday, November 26th, 2020 AT 8:48 AM (Merged)
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,414 POSTS
You might be able to repair the current cluster if you were to trace the lines on the board from light to light. It only takes a hairline crack in a circuit trace to knock out a section. Use a magnifying glass to search. But it can be very hard to find and repair. That is why replacement may be easier and much faster.
Keep us in the loop either way, please.
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Thursday, November 26th, 2020 AT 8:48 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ANGELAVV
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
I just got a replacement cluster and plugged it in to my truck and the exact same couple of lights are coming on. So I am thinking this must be in the power supply. Make sense?
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Thursday, November 26th, 2020 AT 8:48 AM (Merged)
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,414 POSTS
Pulled factory wiring diagrams and it shows there are two feed pins to the board but they feed from the same circuit through a splice. It's possible the splice failed. On the board itself there are two grounds used as well. Does the high beam indicator work? How about the right hand turn indicator? Those are on the same grounds that also come out on two pins but go to a splice.
The power wires are Light Blue with a red trace on pin 4 in connector 220B and pin 8 in connector 220A. A test light connected to a ground should show power with the headlights on on both of those.
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Thursday, November 26th, 2020 AT 8:48 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ANGELAVV
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Thanks for your research and diagrams Steve! We will check all of that and let you know what we find. Ordered the Chilton manual for this truck also since it appears we might need it in the future!
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Thursday, November 26th, 2020 AT 8:48 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,256 POSTS
Please let us know what happens.
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Thursday, November 26th, 2020 AT 8:48 AM (Merged)
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,414 POSTS
ANGELAVV, Have you had any luck or no time to play with the dash?
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Thursday, November 26th, 2020 AT 8:48 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ANGELAVV
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Have not had time yet. My husband is going to check that there is voltage coming through also. Will let you know what we find.
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Thursday, November 26th, 2020 AT 8:48 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ANGELAVV
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Sorry for such a long delay! Been cold here and my truck sits outside so didn't get back to it until things warmed up. What I found is that after we checked the voltage, more of the lights started working. So I figured the plug connections were the issue. Used a screwdriver to lightly scratch the metal connections on the plugs and more lights started working! Now, just the section that was working to start with has stopped. I'll pull it apart again and see if I can get that working too, but if not, it is much better than it was! I noticed my 'theft' light blinks now when truck is off. Truck still starts and runs. Is that flashing light a problem?
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Thursday, November 26th, 2020 AT 8:48 AM (Merged)
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,414 POSTS
Yeah it's no fun working in the cold. Hard to pay attention when your teeth are chattering and your hands shake !

Nope, that theft light is supposed to tell a thief to "stay away I'm armed". It should go out when you use the key and it recognizes it. Corrosion is always an issue on vehicles. There are contact cleaner sprays like Deoxit and CRC, they work reasonably well. Then once you get them all working a little dab of dielectric grease on the connector will keep the contacts clean.
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Thursday, November 26th, 2020 AT 8:48 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RANGER78
  • MEMBER
  • 14 POSTS
  • 2001 FORD RANGER
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 90,000 MILES
I have a 2001 Ford Ranger Edge with a 3.0L engine. The lights on my instrument panel went out this week along with the lights for my heating and A/C unit. The fog lights and parking lights are also out the headlights, brake and turn signal lights all continue to work. No fuses are blown and I replaced and checked all the lights in my instrument cluster to no avail. Whats wrong with my lights?
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Thursday, November 26th, 2020 AT 8:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RACEFAN966
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,029 POSTS
Ok first I need you to check fuse number 11 it is a 7.5 amp, it is in the central fuse box behind the left (drivers) side of dash. If this fuse is good then I need to know if you have a digital multi meter so we can look at the instrument cluster dimmer and dimming module, this on the top left side of dash. If you have meter I need you to check the brown wire going to it. With the lights on does this wire have voltage? Also the ground for the instrument cluster is below the left front seat make sure it is good and secure. Get back to me and we will take it from there.
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Thursday, November 26th, 2020 AT 8:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RANGER78
  • MEMBER
  • 14 POSTS
Ive already checked that fuse and it seemed to be fine I'm going to check that brown wire and the ground and I'll get back to you. Thanks
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Thursday, November 26th, 2020 AT 8:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RACEFAN966
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,029 POSTS
Ok great let me know what you find and we will go from there.
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Thursday, November 26th, 2020 AT 8:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RANGER78
  • MEMBER
  • 14 POSTS
So it turns out that it was the headlight switch. There must have been some sort of short part of the switch had melted. I replaced the switch and everything is working again the only thing is that there is a little green light on the swith that is always on now (while the truck is running). I'm not sure if thats the way it's supposed to be?
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Thursday, November 26th, 2020 AT 8:49 AM (Merged)

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