Dash light not lighting??!! HELP!!

[ranger_68_f100]

My 68 ranger interior dash light is not lighting up as i pull parking lights and headbeams on...
Can someone give me a hand or trouble shoot me. Thanks!!

[basketcase0302]

First check the tiny 2A fuse in the fuse panel, (most the time it's too hard to test visually-test with a multimeter to make sure it's good. Then check wire# 19 here, (blue with red stripe) for power coming from the headlight switch. Heads up...most the time it will be a faulty rheostat, (the spring looking part of the headlight switch) as the contact loses it connection there. Try spinning the dimming part of the switch back and forth a few times as sometime you can get it to a "happy spot" and leave it there to get the instrument panel lights to work-then leave it there.

[michael69]

Sorry deleted. Misread post.

[ranger_68_f100]

Thank you for the diagram, very useful info. I will tinker with switch and check fuse.
Let you know what i came up with.

[bluef250]

Did you check the bulb?

[ranger_68_f100]

Its not the bulb as the entire illumination of instrument cluster and heater control lights would all be on or off, this
time it hasnt come back on, all of the lights.

[bluef250]

The rheostat in the switch might be bad. Try turning the switch all the way on. If dash lights are on with the switch on, then the rheostat is bad. The rheostat is a variable resistor and they just burn out. I think they get dirty and which burns them.

[bjde0b]

Pull the switch from the dash but leave plugged in. Pull lights on and check voltage going to the coil. I cleaned the corrosion off of the contact last night and my dash lights work again now.