Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting clock on the dashboard....

ok...i'm sure everyone knows about the little digital clock in the middle of the dashboard. well..mine used to get bright when the key was in the "on" position so that it was easier to see. a couple of days ago, it stopped getting bright. when the car is off or when the key isn't in, the clock is on, just not bright. it is very dim and hard to see. anyone know what it could be. at first i thought fuse, but then figured that all the accessories would be out then, so i knocked that off of the list of possibilities. any help??....

blown bulb. Search is your friend. Try prying off the assembly and getting the old bulb out. Remove the green sheath and buy a new bulb from a dealer at the oh-so-high price of 5 bucks a wack. Put the sheath on and replace. Problem solved.

Just be careful prying out the clock so's you don't gouge your dashboard, and IIRC you'll need a small flathead screwdriver to twist the bulb holder so it will pop out of the clock. Save the green "bulb condom," place the new bulb in the bulb holder, reinsert bulb holder, plug in clock, reinsert clock into dash, voila!

The bulb is also available from Lincoln-Mercury dealers. Search the archives and ye shall find...

if i put a blue "condom" on the bulb instead of green, will the light be green then? that would be niiiice