This is my first time posting to this forum so I hope I do this right. BTW thank you for the Happy Birthday greeting a few days ago although I would rather not count them anymore. My grand kids bought me a detail job on the interior of my 2000 XLT which desperately need to be cleaned. You know its dirty when the 3 and 7 year old grand kids get you a detail package. Now however, I’ve run into a problem which I hope someone can help me to resolve. When I turn on my headlights, the radio lights go so dim as to be almost invisible. It works perfectly with the headlights off. Further, the instrument cluster does not light at all. All of the indicators work, turn signals, seat belts etc, but the dash lights themselves fail to appear. I’ve check the fuse, 11 I believe if I can read the owner’s manual correctly and it is not blown. Oh yes, I’ve reseated the fuse to no avail.
Now my knowledge of electrical components is pretty much limited to the occasional shock and replacing light bulbs under careful supervision. Quite frankly I don’t know where to look next so I’m hoping someone can point me in the correct direction.

Thanks!
Bill

 

sounds like while cleaning someone rolled the dimmer wheel down to it's dimmest point roll it up and lights should get bright again its next to headlight switch

 

Boy, I hope it's not going to be that easy for the OP! He's not going to feel good if it's the dimmer switch turned down!

However, its rare that all the bulbs would blow at once in the cluster, so that dimmer wheel at the headlight switch is most likely the culprit.

And yes, when the headlights/parking lights are off, the radio lights do become brighter; its supposed to help to see the buttons during the day when driving in dark conditions that don't warrant the parking lights to be on.

 

It's probably the dimmer switch, believe me I did the same thing. It happens, lol.

 

must have been , he never posted anything back

 

Sorry about the late post my wife has been in the hospital. Happy to say she is home now and feeling better. You were all right. The dimmer switch. What a moron! I've owned the truck since it was new and the dimmer switch never crossed my mind. Thank you all for the response and sorry about my tardy reply.

Bill

 

glad to hear all is well with wife, and truck.