Tail lights and instrument panel lights out
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Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
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Tail lights and instrument panel lights out
Hi! I need help! The other day I thought my dash lights had blown so I bought new lights and proceeded to install them. Afterward the lights still didn't work, so I again checked the fuses and the one for the instrument panel showed as dead, so I went to the store bought fuses and replaced the blown one, although it looked fine, lo and behold it wasn't the problem either. That fuse and others are still showing as out but look fine and still don't work when replaced. I'm now pretty certain that the problem is actually a short somewhere especially since finding out that my tail lights are also not working. Any suggestions on where to start?? I'm at my wits end with this truck and not driving at night isn't an option due to the fact that I work nights!!
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 7,295
Likes: 125
From: St. Louis (Out in the woods)
You need to identify your vehicle. We are not psychic and there are many variations over the years.
If it were a "short" you'd have either a blown fuse or fried wiring. Doesn't sound likely at the point. More likely, you have an OPEN CIRCUIT.
Steve
If it were a "short" you'd have either a blown fuse or fried wiring. Doesn't sound likely at the point. More likely, you have an OPEN CIRCUIT.
Steve
Technical Article Contributor
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 10,511
Likes: 10
From: Under the flightpath of old ORD 22R
Along with the info you have provided ( what Steve asked for ) we need to know :
1. Which fuse is the one you "replaced the blown one" ?
1.1. Need to know which fuse box, and the fuse number.
The instrument lights
The Battery Junction Box ( in '97 terms, Power Dist box, or the under the hood fuse panel ) fuse # 7, 15 A feeds the main headlamp switch.
From the main headlamp switch, to the instrument illumination, this is Central Junction box ( in '97 terms junction box or cab fuse panel ) Fuse # 18 5A continues on to the instrument panel.
It looks like ( crap test drawing )
BJB Fuse #7 15A---headlamp_swx---CJB Fuse #18 5A---instrument panel lights---ground
The parking lamps :
BJB Fuse #7 that feeds the main headlamp switch also feeds the parking lamp circuit on the other side of the main headlamp switch.
It looks like ( crap test drawing )
BJB Fuse #7 15A---headlamp_swx---parking lamps---ground
The common fuse seems to be BJB Fuse #7 out of the 2.
The other question, is have you done any work to the truck lately ? ( added a gauge, new head unit, fog lamps, etc ).
Few more bits of info would help in diagnosing the problem, let us know these, and it might help things along a bit quicker.
Good luck
1. Which fuse is the one you "replaced the blown one" ?
1.1. Need to know which fuse box, and the fuse number.
The instrument lights
The Battery Junction Box ( in '97 terms, Power Dist box, or the under the hood fuse panel ) fuse # 7, 15 A feeds the main headlamp switch.
From the main headlamp switch, to the instrument illumination, this is Central Junction box ( in '97 terms junction box or cab fuse panel ) Fuse # 18 5A continues on to the instrument panel.
It looks like ( crap test drawing )
BJB Fuse #7 15A---headlamp_swx---CJB Fuse #18 5A---instrument panel lights---ground
The parking lamps :
BJB Fuse #7 that feeds the main headlamp switch also feeds the parking lamp circuit on the other side of the main headlamp switch.
It looks like ( crap test drawing )
BJB Fuse #7 15A---headlamp_swx---parking lamps---ground
The common fuse seems to be BJB Fuse #7 out of the 2.
The other question, is have you done any work to the truck lately ? ( added a gauge, new head unit, fog lamps, etc ).
Few more bits of info would help in diagnosing the problem, let us know these, and it might help things along a bit quicker.
Good luck