Dash lighting not working!!

[01EB5.0]

Yesterday on the way to work I turn on the truck and the headlights come on like always, but the dash lighting does not come on. I turn the lights off, then on and the dash lights up. After work it lit up as normal. Then I go out that night to drive and the dash doesn;t light up. The turn signals and other warning lights work and the display in the overhead console and radio light up as it would if the headlights were not turned on. I do most of my driving at night and I really need this fixed in 24 hours or less as I am supposed to drive back to school tomorrow night (4 hour drive).
Any help would be very appriciated!

 

[Jason_25]

Sounds like the dimmer switch has gone bad. I've heard of it happening before.

 

[01EB5.0]

How can I check the dimmer switch for propor operation? I went to ford and the parts guys said they have never sold a dimmer switch for an explorer. They also said it was $74.
What do you guys think? Buy the switch or send it to ford?

Also the dash lights do flash sometimes when you first go to start the car. All the warning and indicator lights work except the 4X4 lights. the 4X4 engauges normally, but no lights. Any other suggestions? I have until 3pm to get it fixed before i say screw it and bring it to ford up by my school.

 

[Maniak]

We had a similar situation.. no dash lights.. and I could see the volt meter dropping from a load. Turns out it was the headlight switch that went bad..


some other info..
I'm not sure about the 1995, the on our 1992 when the fuse for the tail lights blows it takes out the dash lights so you know they are down.. (happened to us twice since we've owned the truck).

~Mark

 

[Maniak]

Buy it from a junk yard (just clean it with tuner cleaner first).. mine cost $20

~Mark

 

[XCIX xls]

I had something similar happen to me. Headlights ok but no dash lights and also my parking lights were not working. If thats the case with you and your parking lights dont work then check the fuse inside the hoods fuse box. That took care of my problem.

 

[01EB5.0]

Well, i replaced the dimmer and headlight switches from a junkyard and sure enough it still didn;t work. I took it to a ford dealer, they told me it needed a new dimmer switch and I said that I would just replace it myself. I go get in the truck, start it and guess what?? The dash lights up now....go figure...I dunno what the hell they did to it during diagnosis, but it works! Too bad I wasted $50 on switches from the junkyard in the process.

 

[Maniak]

I was doing normal maintenence on the X this weekend and I think I know why once in a while I blow the fuse to the turn signals and other dash related items (but not the entire dash since i changed the switch).

there is a wire harness that is on the driver side of the vehicle. I don't know what it was connected to before (most likely the inner fenderwell which I don't have anymore) but it was hanging loose. I noticed that it had not only melted, but now it looks like playdoh. All of the wire insulation is now one big glob of multi colored stuff and all 6 wires were bare. I'm sure the wires shorting againts each other wasn't good for the fuses.

~Mark

 

[01EB5.0]

Dang!