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        General >> Problems >> Tail/Instrument Lighting
        
(Message started by: panther on Jan 10^th, 2007, 2:10pm)

Title: Tail/Instrument Lighting
Post by panther on Jan 10^th, 2007, 2:10pm

I have an R rge 2.3 Ultima and a strange lighting problem. I found that the instrument panel lights would go off and be reset by a firm tap on top of the dashboard. What I didn't realise, until my wife was warned by knights of the road flashing her, that when the panel lights were off so were the tail lights! Any one got any thoughts please?? ::)

Title: Re: Tail/Instrument Lighting
Post by scorpio_man on Jan 10^th, 2007, 2:49pm

hi there

i would have a look at the headlight switch first. take it off as sometime you find a burnt out connector in the rear.

http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/manual/electrical/intbasic/Switch-Light.pdf

http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/faultfinds.htm

Title: Re: Tail/Instrument Lighting
Post by philgood on Jan 10^th, 2007, 9:03pm

Scorpio man is right. I have had the same problem and traced to the multipin plug on the loom to the light switch had a bad/burnt connector in it. I got round it with careful manipulation with a small screwdriver.

Title: Re: Tail/Instrument Lighting
Post by panther on Jan 10^th, 2007, 9:22pm

Thank you guys for such a prompt and succinct response. I will feedback when I've done that
Cheers
Bob

Title: Re: Tail/Instrument Lighting
Post by panther on Feb 5^th, 2007, 5:01pm

I've checked the light switch and that's OK. The dash lights and rear lights did operate fine for a while and so I left well enough alone. It's starting to become a problem again and would light up when I first started and then stop working (Dash & tail lights) Now it will come on and the flicker and fade away. Fuse? Relay? It seems progressive and I'm foxed. Could a wron or faulty fuse or relay affect the two items which I would have thought may be separate?

Title: Re: Tail/Instrument Lighting
Post by solarpanel on Feb 5^th, 2007, 7:11pm

if the multi plug is not showing signs of burning then i would say its the switch because inside the switch it has contacts to more than one point in the plug,on inspection of mine i found the switch made no contact.hth

Title: Re: Tail/Instrument Lighting
Post by Simmo on Feb 5^th, 2007, 8:13pm

As Solar panel says you need to check the mutiplug connector for signs of overheating. Next step would be to obtain a switch from someone on the site and swap it to see if that solves the problem.

Title: Re: Tail/Instrument Lighting
Post by panther on Feb 5^th, 2007, 9:04pm

I've now spotted that the side lights do not operate without the ignition being turned on. Before selecting headlights without igntion would display sidelights

Title: Re: Tail/Instrument Lighting
Post by Simmo on Feb 5^th, 2007, 9:21pm

Have a read of THIS (http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/hlampfunc.htm). It may help. Does your car have the dim-dip feature? ie: when ignition is switched on the side lights are augmented by a dimmed level of the dipped beam.

Title: Re: Tail/Instrument Lighting
Post by Baz on Feb 5^th, 2007, 11:14pm

Check the wiring at the back of the ashtray for damage and wear. I had a fault on my old red S reg that when I pushed the ashtray in, all the dash lights and outside lights went off and on!!

Do you smoke a lot ;)?

Title: Re: Tail/Instrument Lighting
Post by panther on Feb 8^th, 2007, 4:44pm

We don't smoke at all and only use the ashtry - very occasionally - for charging the mobile. I suspect a relay in the auxillary fuse box but have to identify which one. I say this as the fault has got progressively worse. :-/

Title: Re: Tail/Instrument Lighting
Post by Simmo on Feb 8^th, 2007, 5:08pm

Panther, Why in the Aux fuse box?. The relay for the Dim/Dip is No 7 in the main box as are all the lighting fuses. Just a thought.... have you looked at the wiring in the boot?. The loom runs close to the offside hinge of the boot and can be damaged by the movement of the hinge. You need to pull back the trim and possibly undo some of the outer covering of the loom to reveal the multitude of wires inside. Check for any signs of damage. This is a known fault caused by the loom having been moved or by not having been clipped back far enough.

Title: Re: Tail/Instrument Lighting
Post by Simmo on Feb 8^th, 2007, 5:22pm

There is wiring diagram HERE (http://www.carsoft.ru/avtorepair/sierra_el.html) if that helps. I suggest you look at the rear light cluster on the car,get the colour of the wire to the rear lights and then find the same colour in the 'hinge' area. I think it may be Orange/Green but a check at the lamp unit should establish. (Although the diagram is headed Sierra it IS for the Scorpio).

Title: Re: Tail/Instrument Lighting
Post by panther on Feb 22^nd, 2007, 12:47pm

Hi Simmo

Firstly I really appreciate your help with this and the unselfish way that you and the other members share their knowledge. It's a real comfort knowing that, for non mechanics, there are good people out there.

I really think the fault is in the dash area simply because of the fact that in the early days of this progressive fault, a good thump, would bring the lights back on. My guesses are the relay (I've looked at the fuses) or the main light switch :-/

Title: Re: Tail/Instrument Lighting
Post by panther on Mar 3^rd, 2007, 10:12am

;D
Hi - problem solved thanks to the light switch some of you suggested and very many thanks to 'Chaps' for the very reasonable replacement sent very quickly. Although I don't have the parking light facility anymore, it's great to have resolved the problem. Thank you all
(Never used parking lights anyway)

Title: Re: Tail/Instrument Lighting
Post by Simmo on Mar 3^rd, 2007, 11:27am

Good to hear you've resolved it. ;) Mike