I am trying to get my dash/instrument lights in my 57 Fairlane 500 to light, so far no luck.  I'm wondering if my headlight switch is partially defective.  I have turned the rheostat back and forth many times to wipe the contacts and that didn't help.  Do the circuit breakers in the light switch reset automatically?  I replaced the 7 1/2 amp fuse, the old one looked OK.  My gauges work, my head, parking and tail lights work.  The high beam, turn signal, and gen and oil lights work.  The heater motor works and the pilot light in the T&C radio works, but not the radio.(that's another issue)  There is a bulb socket on a short wire lead near my ignition switch.  It didn't have a bulb in it, but I put a #57 in it and it doesn't light...perhaps the socket needs to be grounded to work.  I pulled the ignition switch, but still can't see where that bulb goes.  Perhaps it is for an accessory that my car doesn't have. or for the switch ID above the ignition switch.  My shop manual hasn't helped me very much. I have been on my back upside down trying to figure out where that bulb might go.  I am also trying to get my cigar lighter to work.  I believe the manual said it was integral to the lighter recepticle.  I have looked at it and tugged on it and I can't see where it would come apart and if there is room for an internal fuse.  I want to use it for my Garmin GPS/navigation unit.  I thought I was going to have to call for help to get me out from under my dash, at 6'4" and 250 lbs, I don't fit in there very well, but I have done it a few times now so I have the technique down.

Thanks, 

Paul J. - '57 E Code

Paul:

If the socket hanging down has 1 wire going to it, it has to be grounded for the light to work.  Have you checked all the bulbs?  It's possible they are all burned out.  Don't laugh, I have seen it when I worked on cars professionally.  They would go out one at a time, and suddenly when the last one goes out, people realize they don't have dash lights.  I think the radio light is wired through the rheostat, so that would indicate the rheostat is working.  Unless someone has changed the wiring in the radio, like I did my T-Bird.

John

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

Tom & John,

Thanks for the pointers.  I had the thought in bed last night, that as John mentioned, the bulbs could all be bad.  Good idea to watch the radio pilot light while adjusting the rheostat. I'll try that and replacing a bulb.  I think that it is appropriate that it uses #57 bulbs.

Thanks again, 

Paul J. - '57 E Code

UPDATE:

The radio light is totally separate from everything else, and not affected by the rheostat.  It must be wired directly, it turns on with the radio, even when no other lights are turned on.  I grounded the bulb housing on the bulb with the short lead and it didn't light.  I think I'll concentrate on trying to go to Columbus.

Paul J. - '57 E Code

Paul,



I had the same problem with my 56. The rheostat will corrode on these. My was all green.

A new light switch solved the problem. I purchased a new switch from Larry's T-Bird and Mustang parts. $57.95 www.larrystbird.com

It came in a motorcraft box with a current part number. Let me know if you need it.

I would try the local Ford dealer first.



Good Luck!

  Jim Rowe Elkhorn, NE