I have seen a few threads about replacing bulbs in the speedometer cluster, but there are a couple of other questions regarding interior lighting I haven't seen:

1) is there a bulb behind the headlight knob?

2) is there a bulb inside the rear defroster button?
(there is a small amber one that illuminates only when activated but otherwise this button is dark)

I never noticed whether these things used to be illuminated or but I noticed tonight that they are not now.

Hi Tim,
Welcome to the site.
Yes the pictures on the light switch are supposed to light up. I don't know if it's a light right behind the switch or optics coming from somewhere else. Mine don't light either, but they did, just haven't bothered with fixing it.
My defroster button is the same way, but my new Ranger also has the same button, I will check it out when I get home and let you know Monday if it lights or not.

ya, I have no light in my light swtich (go figure), but I do have one in my defroster.

hey, ray, I haven't seen a tread about this, any way we can replace the little explorer icons with a pic of our ride like that? thats really cool...

All of the switches light up in my '97 Sport including the 3 headlight positions and the rear defrost button (which also has an orange LED when it is on). It is very common for the light bulb to go out on the headlight switch and most dealers will tell you that you can't just replace the bulb. They will tell you that you have to replace the entire switch. I had them replace mine while it was under warranty since my light was out. There was a post on the Newsgroub bulletin board with a Ford part number for the light bulb. You have to take apart a big part of the dash to get to the headlight bulb. I don't know what would be involved to replace the defroster bulb since mine hasn't failed. Probably not as involved as the headlight bulb though.

replace the entire switch for a bulb? no thanks.. I just memorized where mine is :P

The light behind my headlight switch and my rear defroster lights are out in my '95 too. They've been out since I got the truck two years ago so I just thought that they weren't supposed to light up.

I also have a problem with my dash lights being dim. My dimmer switch works fine, but even with it turned all the way up, the lights are still dim. The 0 - 40 section of my speedo and my fuel gauge are barely illuminated. Has anyone ever replaced their dashboard lights??

I think I will try to give it a shot. I have to replace a light behind the speedometer panel anyway, so while I have the dash off I will see what can be done...

Stephen, there are a couple of threads on here with detailed instructions on removing your dash and replacing the bulbs. Try searching....I can't recall what I searched for to find it....

Could someone tell me what the part numbers are...or where I could find them....and where these bulbs can be purchased (Pep Boys?)???

[Edited by Tim K on 12-11-2000 at 07:14 PM]

Did any of you guys ever find out if you can change the bulb in the rear defrost switch? I never knew it was even supposed to light up until I saw one the other night that was lit up.

Yes, you can change the bulb itself behind the headlight switch. It's a bi@tch to get to it though, so it's not worth it unless you already have the dash apart.

Yeah, but good luck finding the bulb. I went to two dealers before getting one that fit. The parts guy pulled a complete rear defroster switch for me...and after opening it up, found that they used a different switch/bulb in the replacement part. There was no part number in the computer for the bulb itself either. Its just this tiny little thing. He ended up pulling a similar bulb out of the rear defroster swith from some other car...like a taurus or something...it worked for me but you'll have to find a parts guy willing to help you.

Also, the bulb I replaced in the headlight switch died within a month....so much for all that work.

My headlight switch bulb lasted about a month too. What a waste.

Is there any way you could find out what that bulb for the defroster switch came out of? That way I'll know what to order when I go to the dealership.
How did the switch come apart to get to the bulb?

The Bulb is mounted to a plastic base, and the base screws into the Switch. I do not know of any part numbers for the bulb, your best bet is to raid a junk yard.

here is a Post that will be somewhat useful when you raid the junk yard.
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=32172&highlight=dash+lights