Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Blower Motor/Turn signals - 15A fuse

Blower motor and turn signals stopped working simultaneously. My local dealer (Buerge Ford-Santa Monica) was kind enough to change this fuse for me for about $60 and tell me that everything is OK. When I went to start the car after paying my fee guess what didn't work? same two items.

I changed the fuse myself and now have discovered that the fuse pops when I put the car into reverse...any ideas or advice on how to trouble shoot this myself ... or find a tech in west LA who will work a bit smarter to fix my problem?

Thanks,
ms
1995 contour SE, 100,000 miles - new engine at 75K due to the check engine light of death followed by a plugged catalytic converter and burnt piston...


YEP - dealing with the fuse under the dash

the blower motor and the turn signals are also in line with another fuse located under the driver's side dash. Is this the one you've been dealing with?

The manual says absolutely nothing about it so it ain't eay to figure out (the same thing happened to me recently).

I just checked...its the #23 fuse marked BACKUP LAMPS...sounds like the culprit, eh?

Originally posted by marksleeper:

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I changed the fuse myself and now have discovered that the fuse pops when I put the car into reverse.

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I could be wrong, but it sounds like there might be a short somewhere.

VIN # 1FALP67L6SK158738

i also have a broken spedometer cable - is there a recall involving this, can i get it fexed for less that $190 (dealer quote)?

and how the heck do you get the sell of the puke of a seven year old out of the carpet????

Check your trunk for damage to backup light wiring.

Definitely a short somewhere. I hate to say it, but maybe the underhood wiring harness is cracked and causing the short.

All 1995-1998 models were equipped with the wrong insulation material in the wiring harnesses that can't take the heat. It cracks and falls off with time.

There is a recall, but if you're over 100K miles, you have to pay and the wiring harnesses are over $600 alone.

-Lance

I don't know about the smell of puke, but there are those little carpet shampooer machines that work pretty good, What I did becuase my carpet was so bad was take it to the car wash, covered the underneath of my dashboard with plastic bags and hosed off the carpet with the high pressure sprayer. Then vacuumed the heck out of it, then left the windows cracked for a few days when it was parked.
It looks so much better.

Originally posted by horseydug:

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Check your trunk for damage to backup light wiring.

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Short of time last night, let me expand on above.

Shorts a little harder to find than open cicuits and usually cost you a few fuses in process. You have to isolate the problem portion of circuit by disconnecting wires. In your case if physical check reveals nothing obvious, then disconnect electrical connector at left hinge of trunk. If that doesn't work then there is an 8 pin connctor above interior fuse panel that could also be disconnected. This connector has 5 wires going to it colored; p/o, o, o/w, p/bk, o/y. Post again if you need help locating this connector.

Re: speedo cable. Early Contours had mech speedo, later electrical. As I recall from reading old forum posts on replacement it is in 2 parts. One from speedo to other side of firewall, and then from there to speed sensor on transmission. Probably a DIY job, but difficult access to both ends and middle. Dealer probably allowing 2hrs labor + parts.

thanks - 15 year old nephew was horsing aroung with this whole section about a week ago to change the license plate (bolts were rusted on) i bet this is it

the santa monica dealer located the short in the under hood wiring harness - sparks fly when wires are moved, re - "insulated" the wires with magical black tape and life is good. all i need to do now is replace that spedo cable and my tour will be good as it ever was