With the shorter days I have been running my 46 sedan after dark with no dash lights. I looked under the dash and found a light socket hanging but when I put a new bulb in it did not light. I also saw what looked to me to be two sockets behind the speedometer. Are they lights and do you just pull them out? Is there a fuse somewhere? I just overhauled the engine and the more I drive it the better it runs I have some other brand X cars but lincolns are alot of car. I have only been driving it since the middle of July. Thanks

Besides the various blubs being burnt out, more than likely the rheostat switch for the dash lights is bad. It's located on the left side lower lip of the dash. There are 2 switches, one rotates ( this is the dash lights) and the other just rotates on and off ( fog lights) they are located side by side. Sacramento Ford has replacement dash rheostat switches. The 1942 Ford version has the maroon knob which will match the old one. You can take the switch loose and short the 2 wires together. With the light switch on This will give you power to all the dash light so you check out the blubs and sockets ( yes, they corrode and short) while you're waiting for the new switch. Besure to check the sockets for shorts. I have found that the insulation on the lead wire going thru the metal casing of the socket sometimes "cracks" from old age and the bare wire will short on the socket. If the ammeter goes nuts ( big discharge) when you by-pass the rheostat and pull the light switch on this would indicate a short, probably in one of the sockets. Best to pull all the sockets loose, 2 on the instruments, 2 on the speedo and 2 on the clock. Put a new blub in each and then momentarily ground the socket to check for shorts and a good contact at the base of the bulb. The bulbs draw very little current so you should not see much movement in the ammeter. You can use the "parking" position of the light switch for these checks.