Light switch question
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- Supermike
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Light switch question
$^%*@$ electrical stuff!!
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. 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??
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. 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??
Former owner of a '67 F100 Camper Special
Current owner of a '06 F150 King Ranch 4x4 SuperCrew
Current owner of a '06 F150 King Ranch 4x4 SuperCrew
- A_G
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re: Light switch question
yea your switch isnt making a good contact.
"The happiness of a a man in this life does not consist in the absence, but in the mastery of his passions"
~Alfred Lord Tennyson~
Caterpillar Diesel Haul Truck Mechanic
~Alfred Lord Tennyson~
Caterpillar Diesel Haul Truck Mechanic
- Supermike
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- 67F250CS
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re: Light switch question
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.
1967 F250 Camper Special
10MPG with key off, in neutral and going downhill!
10MPG with key off, in neutral and going downhill!
- Supermike
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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.
At this rate, I'll have a new truck in no time.
Former owner of a '67 F100 Camper Special
Current owner of a '06 F150 King Ranch 4x4 SuperCrew
Current owner of a '06 F150 King Ranch 4x4 SuperCrew
- ICEMAN6166
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re: Light switch question
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.
http://fordtruk.com/forums/album.php?ca ... user_id=26
you can ford a river or stream and get to the other side, if you dodge it you will not, and if you drive a chevy to the levee it will run dry and the music will die.
you can ford a river or stream and get to the other side, if you dodge it you will not, and if you drive a chevy to the levee it will run dry and the music will die.
- Supermike
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hehe... good suggestion... that one little light IS pretty dim.
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.
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.
Former owner of a '67 F100 Camper Special
Current owner of a '06 F150 King Ranch 4x4 SuperCrew
Current owner of a '06 F150 King Ranch 4x4 SuperCrew
- 390Nut
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re: Light switch question
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 ) 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.
I'm also thinking about the white faces for the gauge panel, and some colored LEDs to mess around with.
Paul
`69 F100 390 4spd driver
http://www.fordification.com/galleries/ ... ?cat=10251
Dura-Spark II Conversion info at:
http://home.comcast.net/~390nut/Dura-SparkII.htm
Pipes71 did once say, "bumps and bikes.. what a great combo!"
`69 F100 390 4spd driver
http://www.fordification.com/galleries/ ... ?cat=10251
Dura-Spark II Conversion info at:
http://home.comcast.net/~390nut/Dura-SparkII.htm
Pipes71 did once say, "bumps and bikes.. what a great combo!"
- Supermike
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- cooltoolguy
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re: Light switch question
new switch
72 Ford F-350, 2WD, 4 speed 360, Dump truck
76 Ford F-350, 2WD, Cab and Chassis <--gone
76 Ford F-350, 2WD, Cab and Chassis <--gone
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re: Light switch question
New switch. They do wear out after 30+ years.
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.
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.
- Supermike
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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!
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!
Former owner of a '67 F100 Camper Special
Current owner of a '06 F150 King Ranch 4x4 SuperCrew
Current owner of a '06 F150 King Ranch 4x4 SuperCrew
- rjewkes
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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.
"It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt." - Mark Twain
'70 f250 4x4 Crew cab 460/C6 '72 F100 390/C6 9.8 MPG AVG. '89 Mercury Cougar LS Dual Exh. V6 . 18.9 MPG AVG. In Town.
I don't want to give em a heart-attack. That is what would happen if I answered the door in the buff. Heck it almost scares me to death when I step out of the shower and look in the mirror.~Mancar1~
fuelly.com
'70 f250 4x4 Crew cab 460/C6 '72 F100 390/C6 9.8 MPG AVG. '89 Mercury Cougar LS Dual Exh. V6 . 18.9 MPG AVG. In Town.
I don't want to give em a heart-attack. That is what would happen if I answered the door in the buff. Heck it almost scares me to death when I step out of the shower and look in the mirror.~Mancar1~
fuelly.com
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yea thats a bulb number. the regular ones look like these. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... &rd=1&rd=1
- Supermike
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