Hey everyone,
today after backing in and loading the boat on the trailer, I went to turn on my headlights and they turned on just fine, but the dash did not light up. It’s completely black with no lights for the ambient lighting behind the speedo and other gauges. There is power getting to the cluster (gauges work fine, and if I put my brights on it lights up) but cannot get it to light up otherwise. I can turn my key into on position and other lights turn on like CEL and 4x4. My dimming dial still turns on my dome light when clicked on. Could this be a bad headlight switch not communicating to the dash to light up? I checked fuses under dash as well as under hood and nothing blown. Just don’t know where to go from here.
EDIT: the dimming dial has no impact on odometer, but odometer does work

JB

 

It might help if you EXPLICITLY identify what you are working on....

 

my bad, 2002 f150 lariat supercrew 4wd 5.4

 

Check fuse F18 under the dash. Verify that it is HOT (and passing power) when the main headlight switch is in the park or headlight position.

After that, you'd have to make readings directly at the switch to see what's going on so you might was well inspect those connections for visible damage.

 

Try putting the steering wheel all the way up and see if it works. I had a wire pull lose at the base and had the same issue.