General Technical & Electrical General technical and electrical discussion for the Ford Ranger that does not fit in any other sub-forum.

No dash lights

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Old Feb 22, 2019
  #1  
dgwestfall's Avatar
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From: Tornado
No dash lights

Hi folks! I have no dash lights (and come think of it, there are no lights on the heater selector either). I checked the fuses on the end of the dash on the drivers side...is there another fuse under the hood for this? If not, could it be the headlight switch? I suppose I should check the bulbs first as well. I haven't purchased a shop manual yet, but how do I access the bulbs in the dash cluster?

Thanks!
 
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Old Feb 22, 2019
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Welcome to the forum

What YEAR Ranger?

Could be head light switch IF..............the head light switch has the dimmer control for the dash lights
Some years have separate dimmer control wheel, it is powered by light switch, but can fail on its own

Test either type to see if it still operates the Dome light

Post the YEAR of Ranger and we can tell you exact fuse to look at in most cases
 
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Old Feb 22, 2019
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Those bulbs are a pain and don’t sound like the issue. Pretty rare for them all to go bad at the same time.
 
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Old Feb 22, 2019
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I see in another post you have a 1996 Ranger

It has a separate dimming module/wheel
Fuse #11, 7.5amp, in cab fuse panel powers those lights
 
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Old Feb 23, 2019
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From: Tornado
Originally Posted by RonD
I see in another post you have a 1996 Ranger

It has a separate dimming module/wheel
Fuse #11, 7.5amp, in cab fuse panel powers those lights
Right, mine is a 96. I checked the #7 and the #11 fuses already and both are good. So maybe the dimmer wheel/module is bad?
 
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Old Feb 23, 2019
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Yes, does it turn on the Dome light?

The power for the dash lights runs FROM the Main light switch to dimmer module, so main light switch must be on for dash lights to get power

The dome light power does not come from main light switch

Fuse--------main light switch---------dimming module-----------dash lights

Fuse-------------------------------------dimming module---------Interior Light Relay-----------dome light

So there will be at least 4 wires at the dimming module

If dome light also doesn't work from dimming switch then higher probability the dimming module is the problem

If dome light does work then Main Light switch could be the problem, not sending power to dimming module when in the 2 ON positions
 
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Old Feb 23, 2019
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From: Tornado
Originally Posted by RonD
Yes, does it turn on the Dome light?

The power for the dash lights runs FROM the Main light switch to dimmer module, so main light switch must be on for dash lights to get power

The dome light power does not come from main light switch

Fuse--------main light switch---------dimming module-----------dash lights

Fuse-------------------------------------dimming module---------Interior Light Relay-----------dome light

So there will be at least 4 wires at the dimming module

If dome light also doesn't work from dimming switch then higher probability the dimming module is the problem

If dome light does work then Main Light switch could be the problem, not sending power to dimming module when in the 2 ON positions
Ok thank you. The dome light does work with the roller switch pushed all the way up. So you think it’s the headlight switch (or a bad connection)?
 
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Old Feb 23, 2019
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Could be either

But Google: 1996 ford ranger light switch removal

From the amount of How-to Videos I would say the Main Light switch was a common problem, lol.
So probably the light switch
 
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Old Oct 17, 2025
  #9  
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No

Originally Posted by dgwestfall
Hi folks! I have no dash lights (and come think of it, there are no lights on the heater selector either). I checked the fuses on the end of the dash on the drivers side...is there another fuse under the hood for this? If not, could it be the headlight switch? I suppose I should check the bulbs first as well. I haven't purchased a shop manual yet, but how do I access the bulbs in the dash cluster?

Thanks!
dash or climate control lights
 
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Old Oct 17, 2025
  #10  
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No dash lights or climate control lights

It's most likely a faulty dimmer switch. That controls all your interior lights.Besides your radio... As long as you've already checked the fuses, and they're not blown.
 
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