Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Flashing O/D light on a 5 speed ????

The message preety much explains the problem

there's a green O/D off light in the right corner of my dash that started to come on and off intermitantly.

what could cause this ??
is it serious ?

i drive a 96 contour se with a manual trany

any feedback would be appreciated
thanks

O/D light only applies to auto, has someone replaced instrument panel on your car? Where exactly is light?

wow that was fast!

no its the original instument panel.
nothings ever been done behind there, and i've never seen the light before. thats why im so confused.

it's the green O/D off light. its the farthest light to the right in the instrument panel.
(the one that's only supposed to apply to the automatic transaxle)

That *IS* weird!

First I've heard of this!

I'll look in my service manual and see if there is any mention of it.

-Lance

Well the reason I asked the second question is because some owners have switched instrument panels and found that check engine and o/d light have reversed positions. My cars have them in different locations.
I guess there is the possibilty that bulb is in panel for all models, but not wired up. I presume you have tach and that o/d light does NOT light up when you initially turn ignition to run position.
According to the wiring diagram I'm looking at for '97s o/d light goes to instrument interface module/PCM/atx. You don't have last part of that circuit since you have mtx, but maybe front part is installed for all models.
One side of bulb is always at 12+ so it would need a ground connection to illuminate. Possible problem with instrument interface module would be my guess at this point.

Spilled any liquids on dash recently? Has your low coolant light been OK?

Akward item to diagnosis because you have to remove instr. panel, but you would have to do that even to remove bulb.

p.s. Re speed, gosh your only 50 miles away.

thanks for the reply

it was giving me the problem alot this morning, and a couple times around lunch, but since then i haven't seen it.

horesydug, your right about the light not lighting up when i start it. i've never seen it before. I did't think ford would waste a bulb in there.

i've never spilled any thing back there. but there might be something else that's noticable. this weekends supposed to be nice, ill probably take a look at it then. im just kinda hesitant to get into it without a schmatic.

hopefully i don't see the light again. That way i can pretend it never happened.

as for the coolant light, i leared to ignore that a long time ago.

Nor does mine unless I operate atx o/d off switch (which you don't have)

Nor did I

You shouldn't live with that problem read this for usual solution http://www.contour.org/forums/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=006997

Pick up a Haynes manual <$20 at Cndn Tire, re schematics.

Repost if we can be of further assistance.

p.s. Crappy weekend ahead, curl up with a good book - Haynes.