wyattjo

i had a flat battery the other day and couldn't figure out what caused it until i noticed my interior lights and bed lights started flicking on and off then slowly staying on... now they intermittently turn themselves on and i can't figure out for the life of my why... the only thing i have discovered is that if i give the bottom on the dash a light smack they go off for a random period of time again... has anyone experienced this or have any ideas what it could be? its 2004 xlt Scab i tried searching but didn't have any luck, any help is appreciated

mbarbera

Is the door ajar switch on when the lights are on. Could be a door ajar switch or the relay for the dome lights.

bobkyle2

....did you replace the battery??...these trucks are very weird when the batterys go bad...

GATORB8

Could be a bad dimmer switch, when you roll it all the way up it turns on the dome/cargo.

wyattjo

i'm not sure what it is... i know it has an aftermarket battery in it as its not the ford original but i didn't change it, i bought it with this one... and the door ajar switch isn't on when the lights are on so it has to be something quirky with the dome light switch/ dimmer switch... i'd like to get a new one but don't want to spend the money if thats not it

GATORB8

You could probably return it to the dealer if the dimmer is not what is wrong.

pushnf8

If hitting the dash affects the lights then thats where I would start. Sounds like a loose wire. Maybe ground is poor. I would just pull it out and inspect it. When you turn them on via the dash switch, do they flicker when you hit the dash? Havent had one out yet but seems that a bad wire, loose connection, bad ground, or just a dirty connection. If the setup runs through a relay those go bad also (not usually intermitant though)

wyattjo

to pull it out can i just pull the trim piece in front of the switch out or do i need to take out more of my dash?
they don't flicker when i turn them on... i can usually make them come on by smacking the dash as well... its weird and just a case of narrowing down

GATORB8

In the service manual it looks like its an assembly with the trim and the headlamp switch. The whole thing just pulls out.

wyattjo

thanks i'll check it this week and let you know if i see anything weird