Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Crazy problem with Wife's Ford Tempo! Please help

This post is also over in the Northeast Forum, But LUCA said i may have better luck with this over here... Thank's Christine!


Help folks, I know this isnt a Contour problem, but a Ford problem indeed. Can anyone around here lend me a hand with this, please???

Exhibit A: 1991 Ford Tempo, Yes go ahead and laugh...

Anyhow, last night my wife was going to the grocery store, and when she proceded to leave the store, and was halfway out into the busy highway, the lights in the car just died, but the car was still running. I had to come out and rescure her. Here is what does and doesnt work now.

The fuel pump primes and the car starts and runs fine! No alt light is on. Thank god.

WORKS: Trunk popper, air conditioner controls, (AC is broken but vents work), wipers and squirter, brake lights, turn signals, emergency flashers, brake lights.

DOESNT WORK: Headlights, horn, interior lights, trunk light, radio top dash lights, power door locks, lights on bottom of floor to light interior, dome light.


here is the crazy thing, i checked all the fuses and they were fine! I was experimenting around and i forgot i left the headlights on, and i tried to turn on the high beams, they go on!!!!! if u try to click them to stay on, nothing happens. Only if u hold the stalk in do they stay on and the little blue high beam indicator lights, if you pull back even harder on the turn signal stalk, EVERYTHING WORKS AGAIN!!!!! the radio, headlights, interior lights, power door locks, EVERYTHING!!! What the hell is going on here?? did i blow a module or one of those gigantic silver fuses??? Please help me, i'm not very good with this stuff and my wife needs the car to get back and forth. I also replaced the multifunction switch that is attached to the turn signal lever, jusr replaced the whole thing from a wrecked car, but still no dice! does the exact same thing. Maybe a wire fell out or something, or a crossed wire?

My wife thanks u in advance.....


Thanks so much!

Chris

UPDATE: I replaced the multifunction switch with one froma yard, still no dice! Only thing now is the blinkers click off when turning, and i dont have to do that manually....

Not familier with Tempos but if you can't find a blown fuse you have to consider fusible links. They look just like wire and should be near the battery. Sometimes the insulation on them will melt some when they blow.

Is there a separate headlamp switch like our Contours? Maybe that is the problem.

Edit. Headlight switch removal

http://www.faqfarm.com/Q/What_is_the_best_way_to_replace_the_light_switch_in_a_1991_Ford_Tempo

Yes there is a seperate switch! Thank you for responding. I have also heard that may be the culprit, as when it pulled out, and i push the turn signal stalk all the way back hard to activate the highbeams all the lights come back on. I guess if power can find a way to go, it does right????


Im gonna check out that link right now.

I'd reply but I'm still too busy laughing that you let your wife drive a TEMPO!

I had a similar issue with a 93 taurus. Though mine went gradually, not all at once. It ended up being some module in the steering column. Sorry I do not have the specifics, I was not involved in the repair. I heard it was an easy swap though. Hope this helps a little.

Multiple electrical glitches in older Fords are often caused by the piece of crap ignition switches they used at the time. The switch consists of two halves that are held together by metal tabs bent over a plastic frame. The switch overheats so much that the plastic melts and the pieces begin to separate. It's possible that pulling on the highbeam dimmer flexes the wiring harness enough that it temporarily reconnects the switch.

Remove the steering column cover. The ignition switch should be on the underside, about 6-8 inches down from the key cylinder (they're connected by a linkage). If it looks or smells burned, that's almost definitely the culprit.

My first car was a 89 tempo. Tempos are netorious for electrical problems.

I had almost the exact same problem w/ my 93 escort GT, except my park lights would still work! I changed the stalk and everything just like your doing but it ended up being a relay under the dash. There is a cluster of them under there and one of them had actually bursted and was leaking a dark fluid. I don't know that the tempo's were set up the same but most of the fords from this decade had relays as well as fuses, hope this helps & good luck!