Hey all Ive just picked up my first 83 4x4 about two months ago and its great. I had a bad voltage regulator which dramatically failed with a new alternator. It blew every bulb (except headlights and signals) and two of them literally shattered. Well now that ive got the volts under control Im still left with no tail and dash lights. I have figured out im getting power into/out of the TAIL fuse so i assume what ever wrong is after. But what could it be? Im at a loss any and all help is appreciated

 

Check your tail light relay. It should be under the dash, above the steering column. There's two of them, one is for the head lights, and the other one is for the tail lights.

 

Okay ill do that right now thanks for the quick reply. How do you test to see if its no good tho?

 

It should click when you turn on the tail lights. Use a test light to see if the wire to the tail lights gets hot when you turn them on. I don't have a wiring diagram in front of me, so I can't tell you what wire goes to the tail lights.

 

If it is like my 1980 the headlight and tail light relays are identical in size, thus if your headlight work, simply switch both relays. If after switching the headlights stop working and the tail lights start, then you know that that relay was obviously fried. There are many relays that click that do not work properly. Burned contacts inside the relay itself can allow it to click but will prevent it from providing the correct ammount of current to the circuit.

A problem that I am having with my 1980 is loose contacts in the fuse box. Even though across the fuse says hot, you literally have to wiggle the fuses to get the functions to work. You could have burned some of the contacts in your fuse box.

Instrument lighting could either be the bulbs themselves, or if you checked that already it could be the main relay. If you temporarily disable your truck's "buzzer" - located somewhere near the steering column under the dash, then when you turn the key to the on position you should hear a distinct click from the main relay. I think on the 1980 that the heater control is routed through this relay so testing the blower motor could give you a clue on this too.

Best of luck!

 

Thanks for the helpful replys and sorry for the delay. I did look for the relays with no avail I guess i dont know what im looking for does anyone happen to have a photo of the location? Much appreciated, Alan

 

I had the same problem on my 81, and it turned out to be the headlight switch. I ran a jumper wire from the hot for the headlights on the headlight relay, to the hot for the taillights on the taillight relay, and that fixed it for now.

 

Thanks for the replies all it was the taillight relay. Its great to be legal at night again, i was getting tired of lightly holding the brakes lol

 

where would the relay be located
Thanks