An interesting find on old problem(int. lites)

xibbumbero · #1 12-17-2006, 05:05 PM

Like some people here,I had the same problem w/my interior lights staying on. Along with that,they would stay on after I started my engine and drove.
What I found was my dimming control was turned all the way up. For whatever reason this kept my interior lights on. After I turned it down,the lights returned to normal. Go figure. X

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SSCULLY · #2 12-18-2006, 10:30 AM

I just read the PDF of the 1997 Owners Manual, and it makes no mention of how to turn on the interior lamps.

I checked this against the 2001 Owners Manual, which does make note of this.

Strange how the 1997 Owners Manual does not tell the owner how to turn on the interior lights, which in Ford truck is the way you note, rotate the dimmer all the way bright, and one click up from that.

Page 18 -> Control and Features -> PANEL DIMMER CONTROL

1997 Text :
Panel dimmer control
Turn control up to brighten panel.
Turn control down to dim panel.

2001 Text :
PANEL DIMMER CONTROL
Use to adjust the brightness of the instrument panel during headlamp and parklamp operation.
- Rotate up to brighten.
- Rotate down to dim.
- Rotate to full up position (past detent) to turn on interior lamps.

1997 & 1998 Owners Manuals seem to be about the worst thing out there. 1997 & 1998 no note of what the aux relay panel is ( trailer tow relays ).
1997 no note of the Aux mini fuse panel ( has the trailer tow parking lamp fuse in it ).

You are point out something that I forget sometime. It could be the simple things causng a problem. I don't think I have ever asked anyone if they checked that the lights were turned on. Thanks for reminding me to start at the begining.

GIJoeCam · #3 12-18-2006, 11:57 AM

Ummm, FWIW, the dimmer all the way up is how you turn the lights on in just about ANY Ford built in my lifetime. (At least in the last 20 years or so) Pretty much since the dimming dash lights came to be in the lat 70s and early 80s. The first vehicle I drove was an '86 E-150, and I know that had it.

Glad she's fixed though!

-Joe