Hello question for you guys since im a novice . I have a 98 f150 that i just bought and i drove it at night for the first time yesterday and the intrament panel for my gauges isnt lighting up. I checked all the fuses and they all seem to be ok. All the guages work and the lights for like the seatbelt and airbags are all working on the panel. It's hard for me to believe that all the bulbs burned out at the same time so under those circumstances do you guys think i need to replace the cluster? I found one at a junkyard for like $60 bucks but i dont want to buy it until i get some advice.

 

First question, were they working before, or did you just get the truck, and they were dark ?

2nd dumb question, did you make sure the instrument panel dimmer is turned up ? ( you make no note if the HVAC & Radio are also dark or illuminated )

That would the the first & easiest thing to check.

How did you check the fuses for the instrument panel, and which fuses did you check ( 3 listed in the OM ).

 

no they have never worked since in my possesion. yes i have adjusted the dimmer up and down. the hvac and radio are both working. i checked the fuses by pulling them out and looking at them then sticking them back in. i dont have a owners manual so i dont know witch fuses to really check i just pulled them all out 1 by 1 and looked at them if you could list the number slot that the fuses i need to check that would help out emensley. i could be wrong but it looks like slot 18 is the only fuse that is for instument illumination.

 

Without them working, on a '98, yes they can all be burned out bulbs. Since they have not worked since you have owned the truck they might have been burning out one by one, until nothing was left lit.
Don't know why you would find this so hard to believe, those bulbs could be 9 years old, and never changed.

Need an owners manual :
https://www.fleet.ford.com/maintenan...ls/default.asp

Checking fuses by looking at them is not going to tell you too much, unless they blew violently. Bad method for testing a fuse.

How can you tell what fuse number is for what, without an owners manual ?

Once you download the OM for your truck, look at the fuse panel section ( starting on page 132 ).

Pass Compartment fuse panel :

Fuse #2 5 AMP
Fuse #16 20 A ( W/O DRL)
Fuse #19 10 A
Fuse #29 5 AMP

Fuse #18 in the interior fuse panel is for the parking lamps, not the instrument cluster.

Fuse #18 in the under hood fuse panel is a 30 A for power seat control

Don't know which fuse panel you are looking in, when you were checking fuses.

 

Isn't a blacked out cluster a sign that a tail light is out?

 

News to me, never heard or seen that one, but that does not mean a whole lot.

Do Fords do this ? from what I can tell the parking lamp circuit is separate from the instrument cluster circuit, and the ground for the rear lights ( as well as th trailer tow adapter ) are grounded at the frame on the driver's side, about where the wheel hits the frame.

Got me, may e I learned something new. I'd have to pull a bulb out of the rear to see if that happens.

 

No. The circuits have no relevent connection. Where the heck did that idea come from?


Dimmer switches are a common failure. Check for illumination power coming in and going out while adjusting.


Steve

 

lol the whole tail light thing. But about the dimmer switch i tend to not think that is the problem because it dims the hvac. am i correct in assuming that? today im going to buy a fuse tester and try that and if that doesnt work im also going to buy a bulb or 2 and see if that works. if neither of those 2 things work then i guess i have to replace the cluster, i think.

 

For the Dimmer there are 2 circuits out of it.

A Light Blue w/ black wire and a Light Blue with a Red wire.

Light Blue w/ black goes to the radio.

Light Blue w/ Red goes to everything else on the instrumentation illumination
Ash Tray
HVAC
4WD Selector
Cluster
switches in the door
Steering Wheel buttons

I would say that if you are getting HVAC illumination and Radio, and it dims both, that both circuits out of the dimmer are good.

Do your power window switches and steering wheel still illuminate ?
The steering wheel ground is a splice with the gauges prior to the ground point, and the same ground in the cab is used for all instrument illumination.

seems you are back to bulbs being burnt out.

 

Sorry, I guess I should stick to the getting vs giving advice. I'm a confused old man.

 

I had mine go out once on my 99 F150 after replacing the starter solenoid, turned out to be a popped fuse... I actually had to pull the fuse to tell, however.. not sure if you just looked or actually pulled it, but just trying to possibly save you some time.

 

well sscully i bow to your knowledge : it sure enough was the bulbs that were burnt out. every single one, i for one will never doubt you again but again thank you very much for your help and my truck is as good as new. ps i love this site!!!!!!!!

 

Don't get carried away here
Trust but verify. I happen to take a logical SWAG at the problem given the info you gave, but it just as easily could have been someone that the PO did.

Glad you got it fixed for a lot less then the bone yard gauge panel.

 

Hello everyone also new to the board. I am having the same problem with the cluster lights. I replace bulbs a few months ago because some were out. But I was switching out the passenger door and blew out a fuse for the power locks and found latter that the cluster light were out. by the way my truck is 98 f150 replace door was 2000. Any ideas would be a big help

 

Did you check the fuse for the instrument illumination with a meter ( with the headlamps on ) ?

Fuse #18