Whole dash went dead!
 

I was driving home and the whole dash (and backlit AC controls) went dead. So I get out the manual and there are two fuses in the interior fuse box that control the dash. Both are intact! It's not a fuse in the interior box. I went ahead and checked ALL of the fuses because I just can't believe it wasn't a fuse. ALL are intact. I have no idea how this could have happened. Is it possible to blow all of the dash bulbs? I thought that's what the fuses were supposed to prevent.

The blinker bulbs work but all of the others (even the cruise control bulbs) are totally non-functional. Any ideas on this one? I don't see anything in the distribution box that might help but I'm completely open to suggestions.

Well I figured it out. I have a Python alarm system with auto-starter on the truck and it controls the dash lights. The alarm has gone bad and it is turning off the dash lights. Looks like I'll need a new alarm. Weird one!

Well I take it back. It isn't just the alarm. I had a whole new alarm installed and it is still doing it. The dash works fine until I step on the brake pedal. Any ideas? I need to know how fast I'm going at night. :(

I was having some similar problems, checked all my fuses and did not find anything, so I took it to a shop and they found a hairline crack in one of the maxi-fuses that I missed,

I appreciate the input. I've replaced the fuses and still no dice. I wonder if replacing the bulbs (all of them) or maybe replace the brake switch behind the pedal would help?

maybe the bulbs, but I have replaced my brake switch before and the only problem I was having with that was no brake lights, so I am not sure if it could cause other problems as well, but electrical is weird though.

Noticed something else today. The headlight switch stays lit until I turn it to the running light position. Then even that light goes out. I wonder if this new headlight switch has gone bad already?

I replaced all of the rear bulbs and it didn't make any difference. I'm going to place the headlight switch this week and the brake light switch in the morning. Not sure what else to try. I also found out when I press the brake, the dash lights go out and SO DO THE RUNNING LIGHTS IN THE FRONT AND REAR! This is getting dangerous. I can't drive at night (legally) until I figure out what's causing this.

To make matters more confused, I got into the truck this morning to go see a client and the dash lights stayed on and worked perfectly on the way there. And they didn't work on the way home. (sigh)

Hoping anyone can chime in here. I replaced the brake switch to no effect. I decided to replace ALL of the bulbs and noticed the two bulbs on the drivers side (the running light and turn signal running light filament) were blown. I figured that was the problem. I replaced all of the bulbs and IT WORKED! Then I stepped on the brake and the dash went out...again. Now I noticed that also blew the running light filament in one of the bulbs on the drivers side again. Could this be a ground issue? All of the other bulbs seem to be working fine. I'm going to replace that bulb in the morning and see if it blows again but I don't see why it wouldn't.

Well this is ridiculous. I just KNEW it couldn't be the headlight switch because I replaced it about a year ago (the original Ford one fell completely apart) with a Standard model. I knew it was part of the system so I went ahead and repalced it with a Motorcraft one anyway (it was only $40 or so and worth a try) and it fixed the issue! Dash lights and driving lights are back to normal. That'll be the last time I buy a Standard headlight switch!