please help

[billybob11971]

can anyone help me?
I have a 1998 contour and none of the gauges work.no speedo,fuel,or temp gauge.
It also keeps blowing the rear defroster fuse.could this be something as simple as a fuse or is it more serious?
thanks in advance for any help

 

[mjwood0]

I'd start simple. Many electrical problems start with a blown fuse or a bad ground. You mention that the rear defroster fuse is blowing. Are any other ones blown?

Also, I'd be sure to remove the ground wire near the battery and really clean up the contact points. I'm a little new to this car, so I'm sorry I don't have any more ideas!

Good luck!

 

[projectSHO89]

Check fuse F30 (7.5) in the under-dash fusebox. It supplies all the instrument cluster.

As for the rear defroster, you have a short to ground on the load side of the fuse.

The circuits are not interconnected so that a fault on one affects the other.

Steve

 

[billybob11971]

I changed the f30 fuse and still nothing.My owners manual says that fuse is the engine management system.Ireally don't care about the rear defrost not working but would really like to have the gauges working.(fuel and speedo for sure!)

 

[Tony2005]

Welcome, billybob11971.

Check/change Fuse 29, 31 and 34.
Read this Fuse Diagram.
http://www.contour.org/ceg-vb/showthread.php?t=2518&highlight=fuse+diagram

 

[FavoriteMystaque]

Did F30 blow? If so there is a short to ground somewhere in here:

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[billybob11971]

i don,t think you guy's understand,it's not the dash lights not working,it's the gauges themselves.I've checked all of the fuses and the only one that is or keeps blowing is the rear defroster fuse.(don't care if rear defroster works,but would like the gauges to work).If anyone knows why let me know.
Thanks again.

 

[Tony2005]

The connector behind the instrument panel came loose. Push it back in and you should be golden.

Read this from M&M how to for removal and reinstallation.

http://www.contour.org/ceg-vb/showthread.php?t=202

 

[billybob11971]

I pulled the cluster out and both plugs were plugged in but i removed them and tried again to no avail.Should I just buy another cluster from the junkyard?