Troubleshooting the lights on a Ford F-150 is typically related to problems with the bulb, fuse, or both. Determining the problem, and fixing it, should take no more than 10minutes for each light. Replacement bulbs or fuses can be bought at most automotive-parts suppliers. Be sure to wear gloves when replacing halogen bulbs as the oils from your fingers can cause damage to the bulb itself.
Open the hood. Put on the gloves and use a socket wrench to disconnect the F-150's battery by removing the black negative terminal. Remove the push-pin that holds the protective cover from the upper inboard corner of the headlamp assembly and remove the cover. Use a Phillips screwdriver to loosen the three retaining screws above the headlamp assembly and slide the assembly forward, disconnecting the two snap clips securing it to the fender.
Disconnect the wiring connector from the assembly by pulling it off. Remove the socket from the assembly by twisting the socket to the left and pulling it out. The headlight socket is the largest socket on the headlamp assembly. Pull the bulb out of the socket, and replace the old bulb with a new H13 bulb. Place the socket back into the assembly and rotate it clockwise to secure. Reconnect the wiring connector to the assembly and push the assembly back into the F-150. Secure the snap clips, screws and protective cover. Reconnect the battery and close the hood.
Open the driver's side door. Remove the cover from the fuse panel located on the driver's side of the vehicle to the left of the steering wheel. Locate the fuses numbered "7," "8," and "23." The "7" and "8" fuses are the right and left-hand headlamp fuses. The "23" fuse is the high-beam fuse. If any of the fuses are blown out, they will have to be replaced. A fuse is blown out if the metal inside is broken.
Pull the fuse out of the panel and reinstall a replacement fuse. Fuses "7" and "8" use 10A fuses. Fuse "23" uses a 15A fuse. Place the cover back onto the fuse panel and close the driver's side door.
Repeat steps 1 and 2 from Section 1. Disconnect the wiring connector from the assembly by pulling it off.
Remove the desired bulb socket. The turn signal is the middle socket. The front parking lamp is the bottom socket. The side marker is the smallest socket on the assembly. Rotate the socket counterclockwise to remove it from the assembly. Pull the old bulb out of the socket and install a new bulb. The parking lamps and turn signals use 3157NA bulbs whereas the side markers use 168-type bulbs. Place the socket back into the assembly and rotate it clockwise to secure it.
Reconnect the wiring connector to the assembly and push the assembly back into the F-150. Secure the two snap clips, three screws, protective cover and push-pin. Reconnect the battery and close the hood.
Open the driver's side door. Remove the cover from the fuse panel on the inside of the vehicle to the left of the steering wheel. Locate the fuse numbered "22." The fuse is blown if the metal inside is broken.
Pull the fuse out of the panel and reinstall a replacement 15A fuse. Place the cover back onto the fuse panel and close the driver's side door.
Turn off the F-150's engine. Open the hood and disconnect the negative terminal from the battery with a socket wrench. Put on the gloves and open the tail gate to expose the tail-lamp assembly.
Remove the two screws from the tail-lamp assembly with a Phillips screwdriver. Pull the assembly out of the vehicle, disengaging the two snap-in retainers. Disconnect the wiring connector from the rear of the assembly. Remove the desired bulb socket from the assembly by twisting it counterclockwise. The top socket is for the turn-signal, middle is for the backup lamp and bottom is for the brake light.
Replace with a new bulb. The backup lamp uses a 3156-type bulb. The other two lights use 4057K-type bulbs. Install the socket to the assembly by twisting it clockwise. Reattach the wiring connector and place the assembly back into the F-150. Reattach the two screws and close the tail gate. Reconnect the battery and close the hood.
Open the driver's side door. Remove the cover from the fuse panel to the left of the steering wheel. Locate the fuse numbered "6." If this fuse is blown, it will have to be replaced. A fuse is blown if the metal inside the fuse is broken.
Pull the fuse out of the panel and reinstall a replacement 20A fuse. Place the cover back onto the panel and close the driver's side door.
