Guage Lights

[PBurns]

When I had an '04 Expedition I found it rather difficult to read the gas and the other peripheral guages. I asumed the manufacturer would have become aware of that and have corrected it, so I neglected to check when I traded for an '08. It is even worse, what with no dedicated lights and a black background. When the light is wrong, I can hardly read anything except the speedometer and tachometer--which have white backgrounds.
This may seem minor, but when towing I really have to watch the gas consumption. Is it just my eyes or have others had problems with this. Any way to resolve it?
Thanks

 

[ELVATO]

Is this at night or during the daytime? I can read mine fine in the day.

 

[PBurns]

I read it fine at night. I think it is the daylight that somehow affects it. Maybe it is my eyes if you can read it OK, though my vision is 20/20 (corrected) and I am cataract clear..

 

[ELVATO]

Is this what yours looks like?

I could maybe see how it could be difficult to read that. Maybe you could get something like a Scanguage. You can have 4 different parameters monitered, one of them including "miles to go." It even has an instantaneous MPG, so you can find a sweet spot when towing.

 

[PBurns]

Poorly lit panel

Yes, that is the panel. I am not sure what a scanguage is but I will Google it. Thanks for the lead.

 

[PBurns]

I emailed the Ford Motor Company yesterday to ask if there is a way to rewire the dash panel lights so that they light up whenever the ignition is on.

 

[PBurns]

I emailed Ford Co. and its reply was that 1) I should take it up with the Service Dept of my local Ford agency and, if they cannot satisfy, go to another Ford agency; and 2) any post-factory modifications may invalidate the warranty.
I forwarded that message to the service manager of All American Ford here in Tallahassee several days ago and am still waiting (but not holding my breathe) for his reply.
Thanks a bunch, Ford.

 

[ELVATO]

In the meantime, you could run with your parking lights on, that way your cluster would at least light up. I'm sure there's a way of making the cluster lights stay on when the truck is on.

Just need to see what wire is telling the cluster to light up, and somehow hook it so it gets power from the ACC/ON position of the key.

 

[PBurns]

No sooner did I send my last message, than in comes one from the local service manager:
"I have reviewed your situation and after looking at a wiring diagram I have
determined that rewiring your instrument panel lights is not an option. The
way that engineering has all of the lighting in your vehicle channeled
through an electronic module called the smart junction block, if you were to
rewire the circuit for the panel lights it could ultimately effect several
other circuits and cause them to malfunction. I would not recommend this
modification to your vehicle."

I was wondering about running with the foglights on. One comment about that on a Ford truck site was to be careful about state laws since some states forbid running with six lights (two fog ,two dim, two brights I guess) but I never tow after dark, and that was my concern. So, with rewiring apparently not an option, I will try the fog light and parking lights suggestions. Thanks

 

[ELVATO]

Don't worry, unless you do the "Bambi mod", you'll always run with 4 lights. If you have your fogs on, and you flip your high beams on, the fogs turn off. The parking lamps don't count as lights, btw.