Fuses?

[doritheexplorer]

I recently bought my 2000 Explorer Eddie Bauer model, and I've noticed a few different minor things with it. Among them is that the dashboard lights seem low compared to a friend's 2002 Taurus. I'm considering changing the fuse to see if that helps, so I'm wondering... would it hurt the truck in any way to change all the fuses while I'm at it? I'm not sure how old any of them are, and I'd rather have the knowledge that they're good to go while I'm driving down some dark road rather than not. Knowing my luck, if I keep going with them, I will be driving down a dark side road and have one of the ones connected to a headlight go out.

 

[crunchie_frog]

A fuse is either good or bad, it would not cause the dash lights to dim. You have a "dimmer" control knob which is used to change the brightness of the dash lights. I am guessing you have tried that? If you have tried that, then it is likely some of your bulbs are out. Do some parts of the dash seem dark compared with the others.

As far as changing all the fuses, if the components are working, changing a fuse will not help anything. The fuse goes bad when the current exceeds the rating of the fuse and then the component no longer gets electrical flow to operate.

 

[1992fordgreen]

crunchiefrog +2...

 

[drdoom]

Don't change them because likely all you will able to find for replacement would be Chinese fuses. Keep the ones you have.

 

[koda2000]

even if all 6 of the #198 cluster illumination bulbs are still working, they dim with age. if you remove and examine an old bulb it usually appears to be mirrored, or chrome, instead of clear glass. the more this builds up, the dimmer the light emitted. change the bulbs, you'll be amazed how much brighter they will appear.

 

[doritheexplorer]

Yes, sorry, my mistake. I meant to say bulbs. I'm new to the hands-on car ownership. Most people around here take their cars to the shop to get anything done, but I would rather do what I can myself.