FLD Dash Gauge Lights NOT Working?

Discussion in 'Freightliner Forum' started by smctransferllc, Oct 10, 2020.

  1. smctransferllc

    smctransferllc Medium Load Member

    345
    36
    Jul 13, 2009
    KC, KS
    0
    Have searched here and elsewhere online but nothing has solved my issue. Hoping someone here can help. I've replaced all of my relays with brand new ones and have totally cleaned up the circuit breaker block. I've also put in a new circuit breaker, headlight switch, and dimmer rheostat (relay) yet only two or three dash lights work and occasionally flicker. Anyone have any input or know where the grounds might be that run to the breaker box? Thank You!
     
    Last edited: Oct 10, 2020
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Dino soar

    Dino soar Road Train Member

    4,789
    26,859
    Dec 8, 2017
    0
    If it were me I would check for electricity at the switch and I would check for electricity at all of the gauges and check the plugs. Also check the bulbs themselves and see if they have a good connection into the plug.

    If you look on the wiring diagram on the door when you take off for the relays, I think there is one ground wire that runs through all the gauges.

    If you think it's a bad ground then run a separate ground to one of them and see if that helps.
     
  4. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

    28,882
    154,763
    Jul 7, 2015
    Canuckistan
    0
    I'd just take a long test lead, clip it to the battery ground and then clip the other end to the ground on the gauge. If the gauge lights up, its a ground problem.
     
    Last edited: Oct 10, 2020
  5. smctransferllc

    smctransferllc Medium Load Member

    345
    36
    Jul 13, 2009
    KC, KS
    0
    Okay, I'll go through these tests today and report back with what I find. Thanks for the replies!
     
  6. jamespmack

    jamespmack Road Train Member

    19,831
    213,853
    Mar 25, 2014
    OH
    0
    If its the gauges its self, normally the dash dimmer switch is wore out. They don't last long. Explains the flicker. Its a reistat switch.

    If its the switch emblems they are on fiber optics and its a single bulb behind the center panel with stereo. It will have all kinds of white lines coming out of it.


    If both are flicker its normally the adjuster switch.
     
  7. smctransferllc

    smctransferllc Medium Load Member

    345
    36
    Jul 13, 2009
    KC, KS
    0
    Thanks! So, the emblem lights don't work at all and haven't since I've had it. The gauge lights are the ones that are flickering and some are not on at all. I've installed a brand new headlight switch and new dimmer switch, both from the dealer. Bought an extra headlight switch just in case. I've also installed all new relays under the dash.

    I'm chasing grounds right now, but didn't know where the dash ground contacts the frame or where it exits from the dash. The schematic on the door shows white wire 29A from the dimmer branching off to both the tachometer and a ground. No idea where that ground is.

    I've completely changed the ground wire that attaches cab to frame at the left steer tire area. I have checked the ground at the drivers side rear of sleeper. There isn't anything attached to the passenger rear sleeper ground post.

    I went to remove the ground, for what I assume would be the headlights, from the post at the right steer tire by the fan, but that nut and threads are so corroded, it snapped off of the frame. Made no difference to the dash lights, so guess that wasn't it. Luckily there's another ground post close to the now-broken one I can put those eyelets back onto.

    Just about at a loss. What would the adjuster switch be?
     
    jamespmack Thanks this.
  8. jamespmack

    jamespmack Road Train Member

    19,831
    213,853
    Mar 25, 2014
    OH
    0
    Dimmer, I just called it a different name.
     
    smctransferllc Thanks this.
  9. Dino soar

    Dino soar Road Train Member

    4,789
    26,859
    Dec 8, 2017
    0
    If it were me I would pick one of the gauges that is flickering and take the plug out from behind it.

    Then take a long wire from outside grounded to the frame on a spot that you know is good and test for ohms without any electricity on that you find where the ground wire is for that Gauge.

    Once you are sure which one is the ground then take that ground wire from the frame and ground it on that wire or in the back of the plug however you can and plug it in and see if that makes a difference. And see if it makes a difference in the other dash problems you're having.

    Once you know which one is positive you can also do the same thing with a good known positive wire. On my Freightliner on the bottom right side of the relays there are several unused circuit breakers for Key on electricity that are for auxiliary power.

    Also once you find ground then you can test from there to where the electricity is with the key on and wiggle that plug around and see if there's any bad connection while testing for voltage.

    On the ones that are flickering make sure that the plug that fits in there the Spades fit tightly and they are not corroded or damaged.
     
    Last edited: Oct 12, 2020
    smctransferllc Thanks this.
  10. smctransferllc

    smctransferllc Medium Load Member

    345
    36
    Jul 13, 2009
    KC, KS
    0
    Welp, I just found the issue, and BOY do I feel like a REAL dumb ###. So, I bought these blue 1895 LED lights a couple years ago when we bought the truck. Worked great when I put them in. Over a few months time, they would start flickering and dim out to nothing, one by one.

    I found this video on Youtube tonight of a guy changing his LED bulbs. He happened to mention that sometimes they go out, and I thought SURELY my LED bulbs haven't burned out! Because they're LED's, right?? And they're basically still new..!

    I took the one working bulb and swapped it into another plug and I'll be ######!! The sockets work just fine!! Swapped a bad bulb into the socket that had the working light, and sure enough, the bulb was just bad.

    I guess my lesson from this is, sure, check all the things anyway, clean the corrosion, install new parts that were old, and put on some new grounds. But also, check the #### BULBS. Geeezus, two years...

    Thank you all so much for the help and insight. I really did learn more from your all's advice here about troubleshooting some electrical issues on my truck.
     
    Last edited: Oct 12, 2020
    jamespmack and Dino soar Thank this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.