Headlight switch lights on dash burnt out, i think?

[MattStarr]

Ok, on the left side of the steering wheel, on the dash, the headlights control is there. I notice it is black with white on it. Are the white parts supposed to light up? I think they are supposed, but how do you put a new light bulb in there??

 

[yob_yeknom]

As for the knob itself, no it does not light up. The pictures for the knob positions do light up. To change the bulb, all you do is...

 

[TPLYNCH]

???? how come I can't access the link? Tells me I do not have permission? Curious to know fix, cause mine is out too!

 

[MattStarr]

yob- could you please post the pic again, its not showing up. or email me SurferVaBeach@aol.com thanks

 

[yob_yeknom]

Not sure why it won't show up. It's just a link to the search page.

There's many a thread about replacing that little bulb. PITA

 

[Mikes95XLT]

I had a problem with this.... here is my thread on it...

Dead Link Removed

I replaced the bulb, and it burned out like two days later. So I said f**k it. But it's up to you.

 

[tbomb]

im with mikes95xlt. i was gonna replace my bulb, but that bulb is ALWAYS on, so it wont last too long, and im sure i wont forget where the switch is, so i just left it.

 

[Mikes95XLT]

Yea, only reason I really replaced it was cause I was gonna be in there doing my gauges anyways. So I bought the new bulb ($25!!!!!) and then it burned out on me like two days later. What a rip. IMHO not worth the trouble.

 

[MattStarr]

I guess I wont worry about it then.. I have the autolamp anyway so I never have to turn the lights on anyway, it does it for me. It seems like more trouble than its worth. I mean, who really needs headlights at night anyway??? Thats what neons are for

 

[yob_yeknom]

So can any of you see the picture now or have access to the link?

 

[Crankcase]

Originally posted by yob_yeknom
So can any of you see the picture now or have access to the link?

The link works John....and the pic is hilarious

 

['96explorereddiebauer]

Originally posted by Mikes95XLT
Yea, only reason I really replaced it was cause I was gonna be in there doing my gauges anyways. So I bought the new bulb ($25!!!!!) and then it burned out on me like two days later. What a rip. IMHO not worth the trouble.

Are you kidding me?? I bought the bulb for only $5.10 including tax.

 

[Mikes95XLT]

Originally posted by '96explorereddiebauer
Are you kidding me?? I bought the bulb for only $5.10 including tax.

Yea well I didn't know where else to get it from, so I went to Ford. I know I know.....

 

[bluevolume]

I am on my 2nd Explorer with the 'newer' dash style (not my 91 & 94), and I have had to replace the headlight switch bulbs in both of them. I know 3 friends, an Uncle, and 4 people at work with Explorers and every single one of them has the bulb burnt out too. I don't quite understand it, because if I remember the bulb is the same as the ones in the dash, and they last for years.

Luckily the bulbs are cheap.

Blue

 

[alfcapone]

I fixed my bulb this weekend and i modified the holder to be able to mount an regular instrument bulb(atleast regular i european cars) and i didn't remove the whole dash.
I removed the lower plastic and the steel plate under the steering wheel, the five screws to the plastic around the gauges and the fusebox and the mount clips for the fusebox so you can bend it out of the way.

Now you can bend out the plastic around the gauge so much so you can see and remowe the screws to the switch from behind, with a screwdriver from the space where the fusebox used to be.

Then to the tricky part, replacing the bulb with a bulb that is a regular instrument bulb (the same width a bit longer tho, and it ment to be replaced without changing the holder) i removed the org, bulb gently with its tiny wires, and checked the length of the new bulb so it would stick out the same length from the switch as the original bulb.

Then i cut off the org, bulbholder at the right length, cut off the wires from the org, bulb, and mount the wires in the modified holder as they were in the beginning.

Then i put some extra loose wires in the holes in the bulbholder to thigten it up so they wont be to big for the wires on the new bulb, its gotta be tight so its a good conection
(the bulbholder is like a plastic cylinder with two small holes running thru it)
and finally i straigten the small short wires from the new bulb (the are bent and put along side the bulb uppwards) and sticked the new bulb wires in the holes in the modified holder.

Then fasten the new bulb in the holder (i used a glue gun) and you are home free! Maybe this is a loony job
but its a lot cheeper than Fords crappy original bulb, and this bulb is made for cars, the original have i only seen in home stereos and they dont shake a lot...