Originally posted by outdoorxman:
Here's the background. I have a '96 Contour with 130,000 miles. Runs great but when I turn on the head lights none of the interior lights turn on. If I open any of the doors the courtesy lights come on. All other indicators on the dash work. All of the outside lights come on too. At first the interior lights would flicker a minute before coming on. Then they would slowly brighten. Then I had to move the interior main fuse panel up and down and they would come on. Now none of them work.

At first I thought it was a bad light switch and replaced it. Then it looked like a sporatic open on one of the wires to the fuse panel. Still not sure. I have tried wiggling the wires to the fuse panel but it doesn't affect it. I also noticed that the Key-In alarm isn't working nor the Lights-On alarm after the vehicle is shutdown. Disconnected the fuse panel and examined it last night. There are two connectors that seem to be overheating because the plastic around them is disformed. They are on opposite ends and sides on the panel. One is on the underside, it is the red wire on the red and green wire connector. The other is on the long bar on the top closest to the relays. I believe it is the one almost at the top colored Orange/White. Not sure if it is related though. And yes, I did check the fuse. Even tried a different fuse (one known to be good). I checked the two connectors going to the cluster to make sure they were seated.

Could I have a bad bulb in the instrument cluster? Help! And thanks!


so you say u replaced the door switches? check them to see if they are corroded. if so, take some sand paper and clean the edges

f250 4x4 muddin anyone?