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        General >> Problems >> Weirdest Problem ever!!!
        
(Message started by: geraghtyg on Feb 22^nd, 2005, 5:43pm)

Title: Weirdest Problem ever!!!
Post by geraghtyg on Feb 22^nd, 2005, 5:43pm

I had the strangest problem happen to my car twice today. And I promise, I'm not joking! Pulled into the driveway, turned ignition off and turned headlights off (always drive with headlights on). Opened the door and the lights on ding-ding sounded. Noticed the parking lights were on. The lights were switched off and the key was out of the ignition though!!! Wasn't too sure what to do. For some unknown reason, I was fiddling round with the gear selector and accidently hit off the ashtray. It opened and Hey Presto, the lights went off. Happened again just a few minutes ago. My mate thought it was hilarious that I needed to open the ashtray to turn the lights off!!! There's obviously some sort of loose connection behind the dash!

Title: Re: Weirdest Problem ever!!!
Post by wumpster on Feb 22^nd, 2005, 7:59pm

Had that myself on mine it was the power feed to the ashtray light that was shorting out

Title: Re: Weirdest Problem ever!!!
Post by geraghtyg on Feb 22^nd, 2005, 8:10pm

And how does that make the parking lights stay on? Is it something to do with the multiplex wiring? Have a feeling it's not that though. I might have a mess ound with the ashtray tomorrow so - I'll trawl through this excellent site and find out how to remove the ashtray - Hopefully it's not too difficult! Thanks Wumpster!

Title: Re: Weirdest Problem ever!!!
Post by Baz on Feb 22^nd, 2005, 8:33pm

Same thing happened to my old red one. Everytime I pressed the ashtray in to open it at night the dash lights came on!!

Weird cars these but my silver one doesn't do it!

Baz

Title: Re: Weirdest Problem ever!!!
Post by Snoopy on Feb 23^rd, 2005, 7:58am

There is no easy solution to removing the ash tray, unfortunately you have to remove some or all of the dash to get at it. It is pssible however to get at the ashtray illumination and move that without taking the ashtray out.

Ther was a post on here sometime ago about this very subject If I find it I will put a link up to it.

Here you are http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=Problems;action=display;num=1105708607

Title: Re: Weirdest Problem ever!!!
Post by geraghtyg on Feb 23^rd, 2005, 1:06pm

I might just give that a go but typically, it's working fine now so I may wait to see if it happens again.
Thanks Snoopy

Title: Re: Weirdest Problem ever!!!
Post by wumpster on Feb 23^rd, 2005, 3:16pm

instant fix is dont open the ashtray lmao ;D ;D ;D

Title: Re: Weirdest Problem ever!!!
Post by geraghtyg on Feb 23^rd, 2005, 4:08pm

Ah but I have to open it to switch the lights off ;)
And I'm not leaving it open either - Looks naff. Has been working fine today so I'll wait and see how it goes before I make any rash decisions to dismantle the dash!!! ::)

Title: Re: Weirdest Problem ever!!!
Post by geraghtyg on Feb 23^rd, 2005, 4:09pm

Woo hoo - I've got my 3 stars back :) :D ;D :o ::) :P

Title: Re: Weirdest Problem ever!!!
Post by aukeho on Mar 20^th, 2005, 2:05pm

It's not so weird; i have had the same problem this week. opening the ash tray was the solution! But what is the real problem. The lighter has a constant 12V +. When this gets a short circuit with the + of the little lamp that's around the lighter, the + goes "back" to al the other lights at the same circuit (parking lights etc.)
So new wires, or simply cut off the light of the lighter (not useful at all!) and all your problems are solved.

Sorry for my bad language, but i'm not used to writing in English. Dutch is my language.

Auke

Title: Re: Weirdest Problem ever!!!
Post by Rod on Mar 20^th, 2005, 2:49pm

Well that's put me further up my learning curve because my lighter/ashtray has never been illuminated and I always thought that was a silly design oversight.

But don't panic everyone. I think I'll leave well alone

;)

Title: Re: Weirdest Problem ever!!!
Post by geraghtyg on Mar 20^th, 2005, 4:45pm

I may have fixed the problem regarding my lights. This morning I came down to the car to see that the parking lights had turned themselves on at some stage during the night. It did this a few nights ago but I noticed before I went to bed. However, battery was a bit flat this morning - just under 8volts of juice left so the engine wouldn't turn over. Anyway, I had a fiddle around behind the ashtray after disconnecting the battery and noticed that the wire with the lightbulb for the lighter was just sitting in there not plugged into anything. I found the socket where it should go (I think!) and shoved it in. Got the car started up again and drove round for a bit to charge the battery up. Have just got back from the gym and still no problems so I guess it's a game of waiting to see if I've fixed it or not.