Many people complain that the dashboard lights of their Ford F150 trucks flicker, and they cannot start them. Moreover, these also become dim and show loose electric connections in your vehicles.
Ford F150 dashboard light flickers and won’t start because of a blown-out fuse, bad starter motors, ignition switches, spark plugs, control module malfunctioning, weak batteries, and failed alternator. Moreover, poor ground connections, low fuel levels, and corroded or loose battery terminals cause the problem.
Dashboards in your trucks are equipped with various lights, including brake, engine, oil, and pressure gauge.
| Problems | Solutions |
| Blown out fuse | Locate the fuse box and replace it |
| Bad starters | Replace the starter relay and clean their connections |
| Bad ignition switches and spark plugs | Replace the ignition switch and spark plugs |
| Control module malfunctioning | Ensure voltage supply and check wiring harnesses |
| Weak Ford batteries | Completely turn off the truck at night |
| Failed alternator | Add new alternators |
| Issue with ground connections of engine | Check ground connections with an ohmmeter |
| Low fuel levels in the tank | Refill tank and check spraying nozzle, fuel pumps, and filters |
| Corroded and loose battery connections | Tighten the loose and clean corroded terminals |
Blown out fuse
Ford F150 contains several fuses to protect the various electric components from malfunctioning. The fuse is the safety device that protects the different electric parts from alterations in current.
The frequent spikes in the current supply can damage these parts, which are costly to replace. Fuses can prevent the spikes and blow out to protect the respective component.
The fuse blows out because of damaged wirings and short circuits in them. Moreover, the fuse also blow-out when you add aftermarket accessories to the vehicles, and they are drawing excessive current.
Avoid using devices that draw excessive power from the batteries and cause the fuse to blow out. Instead, open the fuse box and remove the burnt-out fuse from them.
Add the new fuse of the same amperage for compatibility with the respective system.
Bad starters
The starter is the small electric motor that takes power from the batteries and starts the engine. The starter relays sit between the starter and motor, and the battery.
Starter relays are the switches that activate the starter for power transmission. The bad relays and motor cannot transmit power and cause the dimming and flickering of dashboard lights in a Ford F150.
The bad or worn-out relays affect the functioning of the starter motor. In addition, the loose and corroded wiring connections also make them bad.
Oil leakage on the starter motors makes them malfunction. Tighten the mounting bolts of the motor to keep them in their place.
Clean the connections present between the motor and batteries to remove corrosion.
Bad ignition switch and faulty spark plugs
The ignition switch power the engines and operate various electric features of your trucks. These can go bad and cause dashboard lights to dim instead of turning them off completely.
You cannot start the Ford F150 when there is not enough power from the engine. In addition, the ignition switch goes bad because of temperature changes and worn-out springs.
The spark plugs provide the spark for burning fuel and air mixture. However, the worn-out spark plugs cannot provide enough ignition to blow the various lights and accelerate pickups.
Replace the ignition switch and avoid frequent pressing because it can wear down the springs. Clean the spark plug and remove carbon deposits to it provide enough spark.
Control module malfunctioning
The control module is the integral component of Ford F150 that controls brakes, engines, transmission systems, and powered doors and windows.
The lights of these systems are present on the dashboard, and these become dim when the control module is faulty. Therefore, it does not collect information from the respective sensors of these electric components.
The control modules are prone to failure because of faulty sensors, excessive overheating in engines, insufficient and excessive power supply to the modules, and exposure to moisture.
Check coolant to maintain the engine temperature. Ensure the proper voltage supply and check wiring harnesses to avoid loose wires and short circuits.
Weak batteries
You often face dim lights on your dash screen and poor acceleration because the batteries are weak.
These do not have sufficient charge and voltage supply to run electrical components. As a result, your truck’s batteries become dead when you add the high current drawing equipment to your vehicles.
Moreover, the issue comes when you leave the headlights and other powered items turned on. The problem comes when you do not turn off the ignition completely while parking.
The extremely hot and cold temperatures affect ions’ movement and weaken them. Turn off the pickup truck so the sensors and hidden accessories do not drain or weaken the battery’s power.
Failed alternator
The alternators are the charging devices that help charge the batteries to distribute electric charges.
The batteries supply power to various electrical components, including dash lights and starter motors. The failed alternators cannot recharge the battery, and you can see bulbs dimming and poor acceleration.
The alternator failed to perform the function when you charged the old and weak batteries with them. The weak batteries need more charging time as compared to new ones.
Moreover, the problem comes from aftermarket accessories, using the wrong cables for jump-starting and overloading the circuits.
Replace the alternators with new ones to prevent electric issues. Inspecting and ensuring their failure before replacing them is necessary because the replacement procedure is expensive.
Issue with ground connections of engine
The engine also has the ground connections like batteries to prevent current flow between the metal chassis and frame.
Sometimes the engines do not need ground wires because of the mounting techniques. It contains non-conducting rubber bolts and mounts that prevent current flow into the chassis frame.
The solenoid and starter motor cannot supply power to the engine if the ground connections are bad. You can face issues in starting the Ford F150 and flickering dashboard lights because of poor ground connections.
The ground connections become bad because of loose ground wires. In addition, corrosion can damage the wires and cause an issue in the current supply.
You can ensure the ground connections by connecting the ohmmeter with the battery’s negative and positive terminals.
Low fuel levels in the tank
Low fuel levels in the tanks and issues in their delivery cause ignition problems. The ignition in the combustion chamber won’t start when there is no correct mixture of air and fuel.
The insufficient fuel supply causes interruptions in truck starting, poor idling, and flickering of dashboard lights. The issue in fuel delivery comes from clogged fuel filters and fuel injection systems.
These can get clogged over time and when using contaminated and low-quality fuel. Moreover, the stuck fuel pump also causes issues in their delivery.
Replace the fuel pumps if they get stuck for efficient fuel delivery. You can also add new fuel filters and change the spraying nozzle of fuel injectors.
Corroded and loose battery connections
The corroded and loose terminals of truck batteries cannot supply sufficient voltage to power components.
As a result, the current cannot move through these terminals, leading to the flickering of dashboard lights and poor starting of vehicles.
The terminals of the Ford F150 batteries become corroded when toxic and harsh chemicals move outside from overcharging, leaking, budging, warping, and cracking.
The terminals also become loose because of poor roads and irregular maintenance and servicing. Tighten the terminals by disconnecting the power supply and cleaning the terminals with cleaners.
It is also better to replace the caps if the electrolyte comes from them.
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