Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting dome light troubles

Has anyone solved the no stereo/clock/dome light/ mirror problem? It sounds like a very common issue with zetec tours. I have narrowed my short down to the dome light, but cannot find exactly where the short is. Any suggestions?????

It is the dome light fuse. replace it and every thing will work.

I just read your post and I have a short too. when I play my radio full blast the fuse pops. Tell me how to do that dome light thing you did so I can test it out.

Negative on the fuse. The fuse was simply the sympton, not the problem. Every time I replaced the fuse it would pop before I could even close the cover. There is a short in the system causing the fuses to blow.

It sounds like you have an entirely different problem than me. Your problem sounds like a power supply problem, not a short.
But if you wanna do what i did (not sure why you would), There is a wire that plugs into the rear of the fuse panel.(cant remeber exactly what one right now, I would hanve to go and look) I unplugged that, and the short stopped, It would no longer blow fuses, I just have no dome light now. Everything else is working great except for the dome and map lights.

I'd have to look into how the harness runs from the dash fuse panel up to the dome light. I'll check into it. It probably runs along the top of the windshield and down the driver's A-pillar. Could be the famous early-Contour cracking insulation problem causing a short, like what happened on the main engine harness.

Get a tracer and go to work!

I had a problem similar to this that took out the radio, interior lights, & mirrors. Only mine would all go when I put it into gear.
Do you notice a clicking noise coming from the center console now when it is in drive and you step on the brake?

I originaly did notice the gear shift mechanism clicking, there is a relay in there, I thought that might have been the problem, but I checked it out and it was not. Since I unplugged the dome light, that noise has gone away, I just have no dome light now. The problem is definalty some where between the dome light and the fuse box, because evertyhing else on that cicuit works fine when I unplug the power supply (at the fuse box, not at the dome light itself)

In your case, I would wager that it is the relay in the center console, I read an older post where that was the problem. THe give away symton for you is that the fuse only blows when you press the brake. In my case, the fuse would blow the instant it was inserted in the fuse box. Apparently the center console has to be removed to fix that relay.