Light switch question

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Supermike
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Light switch question

Post by Supermike »

$^%*@$ electrical stuff!! :x

Please forgive me as I learn my way through this stuff. I've spent too many years letting others do all my work for me that I'm now rustier than my truck when it comes to this stuff.

Anyhow... so now I'm having an issue with my light switch. My headlights turn on and off fine, as do my brights. No issues there. My problem is with my instrument panel lights and, occasionally, my courtesy light.

Sometimes my courtesy (cab) light will come on when I turn the switch to the left, sometimes it will not. Sometimes I have to jiggle it on and off about 4-6 times. When it does come on, though, it works fine.

The bigger issue is the instrument panel lights... they don't work, except for one little spot that is kind of like hitting the g-spot. :lol: I have to twist and turn that dial like I'm tuning in a radio station from Egypt to hit one little spot where the lights will come on. I know the fuse is good... I just replaced it.

So simple question... do I need to replace my light switch, too??
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A_G
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re: Light switch question

Post by A_G »

yea your switch isnt making a good contact.
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Supermike
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Post by Supermike »

Thanks... So the problem is most likely in the switch, and not in the wiring? I need to order a couple of things from DC, so I guess I can add one of these to the lot if I need to.
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67F250CS
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re: Light switch question

Post by 67F250CS »

The local NAPA should have this switch. There is a coil spring in the switch that wears out. It acts like a resistor turn it a little and there is more resistance so the lights dim. Or is it the other way around? Anyway,iIt sounds like its worn out. Common on our old trucks.
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Supermike
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Post by Supermike »

Thanks, fellas... I swear, I haven't even gotten started doing the stuff I WANT to do to the truck for having to replace things I NEED to in order to make it safe to drive.

At this rate, I'll have a new truck in no time. :lol:
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re: Light switch question

Post by ICEMAN6166 »

when your at the parts store getting the switch,get some of the little bulbs for the instrument panel too.only one little bulb working would make me go nuts in the dark.
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Post by Supermike »

hehe... good suggestion... that one little light IS pretty dim. :lol:

I'll probably try to pull out the instrument panel tonight and pull the flasher and bulbs, then head over to autozone tonight or tomorrow at lunchtime.

I'm hoping this turns out to be "normal" and I don't end up finding the "mystery flasher" config.
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re: Light switch question

Post by 390Nut »

It's amazing what new bulbs will do to your dash. Mine are original as close as I can tell, but I plan to replace them soon, with LED's. I imagine the difference will be night and day (pun intended :D ) Not sure if I'll go 4 or 5LED bulbs, but I intend to try both to see what works better. The 4LED bulbs have all four LEDs pointing upwards, away from the base. The 5LED bulbs have one pointing up, and the other 4 pointing outward, in all directions, so it will be interesting to see what happens.

I'm also thinking about the white faces for the gauge panel, and some colored LEDs to mess around with. 8)
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Post by Supermike »

Are the LED's plug-n-go? Or will you have to modify the wiring? Can you send me a link or picture of what you're talking about?

Colored LED's would be cool... blue would be pretty sweet.
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re: Light switch question

Post by cooltoolguy »

new switch :thup:
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re: Light switch question

Post by Jake11 »

New switch. They do wear out after 30+ years. :thup:

194 bulbs in the cluster. Theres some guys on here that did the white
guage/led thing and I think they were happy with it.
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Post by Supermike »

Ok... after 15 minutes of playing contortionist with my hand and back, I got the switch out. I think you guys are right... it's kinda green and the spring part is bent in one place. It appears to be the original 40 year old switch. Part number starts w/C5...

I'll pick one up from Autozone tomorrow.

194 bulbs in the cluster?! How?! Please tell me that's a size number, and not a sum. hah!
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Post by rjewkes »

be careful of the blue ones on the whitegauges. The white leds are kinda blue and bhard to see of course i went with one big multidirectional Ones.
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Post by fordman »

yea thats a bulb number. the regular ones look like these. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... &rd=1&rd=1
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Post by Supermike »

haha! I feel like an idiot... I thought he was saying like 194 led's... that would glow like the taj mahal at sunset.

:doh:
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