Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Electrical problems!! Help!!!!

Hi, Where should I start? The instrument panel lights went out at the end of August. I have replaced the fuse TWICE, but it still blows. The mechanic at the dealership wasn't much help and told me about a "switch", but again, it wasn't much help because he would not tell me where, how, etc. The headlights, tail lights, blinkers and dome lights still work, just the instrument panel lights. Also, I recently discovered that my back-up lights are now out. The bulbs are not burnt out, and the fuses are fine. Has anyone else ever had a problem like that? Is it common with Contours? HELP!!

There is the dimmer switch, but I presume he wasn't talking about that.
Your car & year, ATX or MTX might be relevant, pls post.
I had headlight switch replaced under a recall on my '97. I had not experienced problems with it and forget why they recalled it.
Just to confirm; turn signals, hazard lights and your licence plate lights are OK? as well as PW and PL button lights on drivers door?

I've already tried the dimmer switch and that's not it. Headlights, taillights, hazards, blinkers inside dome lights and and license plate lights still work. It's a '96 contour. When was the last recall? Did you have these same problems with yours before the headlight switch recall? Did that seem to fix the problem.

Sounds like a possible Transmission Range Selector switch on the transmission. Also seen the wiring near the switch messed up. Located on top of trans. Usually have to remove the battery/air cleaner box for easier access.

A little confusing here, have we 2 members with same problems?

F-TECH's answer only applicable to back-up light problem not instrument panel problem, on ATX, which you have yet to advise on. MTX is different.

Please re-read my post re my headlight recall.

PL & PW door switches lightup?

Has there been any work in dash area recently?

sorry for the confusion sfh2598 is my girlfriend. she just forgot to change names. thanks for all the help so far!!!

Okay-- my 96 model is an automatic, and in reference to your previous post, no, the PL and PW switches do not light up either. When was your 97 recalled? Did you experience the sort of problems in your car that had any relevence to the recall? If so, what was replaced and have you had any problems with it since repair?

Haven't forgot you but got sidetracked today.

please re-read my posts re my headlight switch recall.

If you haven't been the registered owner (with Ford) of your car since new you should go to a Ford dealer and find out what recalls are outstanding on your VIN and also get registered. You can check at web page to see the items on the list some of which may not apply to your particular model. A dealer has more info available.

Back to your fuse blowing situation:
I have been asking questions to try and isolate the problem area and find out if your '96 is close to the wiring diagram of my '97, for which I have the Ford wiring manual. (The manual however has proven itself to be unclear in spots and innaccurate in others.) Tracing shorts are more difficult than open circuits.

What size and positon is blown fuse - 7.5 amp position 31?

In order to isolate problem we are going to have to pull a few under dash electrical connectors - are you up to the task? Do you have a couple of spare fuses? The first is the connector to dimmer switch, remember these have plastic locking tabs that must be released before and while you are pulling the connector off the switch terminals.

I can't check accessibility of this connector now but will try tomorrow. If you can pull connector then insert new fuse and see what happens.

I'll have to end here tonight, will continue tomorrow if you post.

p.s. BTW we are talking about guage lights only right, all dash control lights (e.g. HVAC switches) are OK right?

Thanks for getting back to me on this, and I'm really sorry it's taken me so long to get back with you. It's kinda late right now, but if I remember correctly, it's a 7.5 fuse, and brand new ones blow as soon as I put them in and turn on the lights. The headlights, hazards, parking lights and brake lights still work. It's just the whole instrument panel. The radio buttons and the door locks and shifter don't illuminate. My owner's manual is no help at all, so I'll have to get out there and look at things some time tomorrow. Again, thank you so much for your help!!

I have the same problem! I think it might be because I have a water leak on my passenger door causing a ground or something, not sure though.