i got in my maverick a few days ago and turned the lights on none of the cluster lights come on now .where do i check first
What happens if you rotate the dimmer rheostat ? Sometimes the contacts get dirty. Check the fuse too. I don't recall what is all on that circuit.
There's 4A fuse that feeds cluster illumination, PRN321, radio etc... As mentioned often the dimmer rheostat is dirty/corroded, a couple dozen rotations from dim to bright may restore operation. If neither help, possibly light switch has failed.
Yes, built into the light switch - the thing you rotate to adjust the dash brightness. The name for that part of the switch is a rheostat.
ok thanks! at one time before they stopped working completly when i would turn the headlights on i would have to rotate the rheostat a few times to get the cluster lights to come on ,but nothing happens now if i rotate it
Headlamp switches do go bad. Fortunately, they are easy to find and relatively cheap. I recommend if you decide to replace it, to buy the Motorcraft brand one. Aftermarket in my opinion are not worth the couple of bucks you would save. If you can't find a Motorcraft, Standard Motor Products makes a decent one too. Get the best one you can find, not the economy branded. They are cheap - $15 to $20 at the most. They are also pretty easy to replace once you know how they come apart with the release button on the side for the knob shaft. Check that stubby little fuse to make sure that is OK too before replacing anything.
ok i have been on vacation got back today and went out and rotated the light switch back and forth a few more times,every once in a while the cluster lights would light up but would only for a quick second ,so the light switch must be bad ,the littl efuse i checked and it was ok . now i have another question i have been trying to find the source to a issue my car has had for a while now and i was wondering if u guys think it could be related to the light switch as well, driving sometimes my car will shut down lik eit has a short somewhere and sometimes it will lose all power by just turning on the light switch but either way the car shuts down while driving when i have lights on its never done it with daytime driving .
I have read the posts on here and followed your instructions for diagnosing no dash light issue. The fuse is good, new headlight switch, new dimmer switch, and new bulbs. Before I send the cluster out to be refurbished, can someone tell me which wires are hot to the cluster. The top right wiring harness wire is hot within the headlight switch off. The top right wire, the one below it and the 4th one down is hot with the headlight switch is on. This is looking at the harness in the same position as it plugged into the cluster. On another note, this forum is amazing. My first place to check when working on the Maverick.
