95 MTX WEIRD electrical problem..

[mroldan9]

Ok so yesterday I notice the clock in the dash is not working so I check all fuses, replaced one of the fuses for the air conditioning in fuse position 17 as it was the only one that was blown. After driving the car I notice a kind of clicking noise coming from inside the dash about behind where the clock would be. I unplugged the fuse I replaced and the noise went away.. WELL, later on that night I turned on my car again and now the rear lights, license plate lamp, cluster lights, and the keypad entry lights do not work, as well as the clock still. I have checked ALL fuses, including the high current fuses and nothing is blown.. I have kind of inspected the wiring, although with limited time and knowledge I have come across a dead end I just bought this car not too long ago.. Any ideas at all before I have to take it to a shop and pay big $$?

 

[lowc]

i belive all of the above run through the dimmer switch and head light switch. check connections there first

 

[mroldan9]

Yeah that crossed my mind too.. are you referring to the multifunction switch in the steering column?

 

[luigisho]

No the headlight and dimmer switch should be on the dash to the left of the steering wheel. You may have a faulty switch. It could be something else but that is where i would start.

 

[lowc]

No the headlight and dimmer switch should be on the dash to the left of the steering wheel. You may have a faulty switch. It could be something else but that is where i would start.

^^ this

 

[mroldan9]

Thanks guys will try to check that out tomorrow morning.. hate that I work from early in the morning and get out when it is dark, but I will sure check those switches out. Thanks!

 

[mroldan9]

Ok so I checked the dimmer switch it looks good, nothing wrong with it that I can see. It actually looks like it might have just recently been replaced. As for the headlight switch, I can't figure out how to remove that without having to take the whole dash apart!? Am I missing something? Or do i really need to take everything apart?

 

[luigisho]

I don't have that info at my fingertips but this is not SHO specific. You should be able to get this from a Haynes or Chiltons regarding dash components. A switch can look fine to the eye and still malfunction. Not saying that is the culprit, just sayin'.

 

[mroldan9]

So I have so far replaced the headlight switch, the ribbon connection for the headlight switch (the old was had a burn in the middle), the dimmer switch, and the multifunction switch. And i still have no dash lights, tail lights, license plate lights, keypad lights, or chime for the lights on with the key in the ignition. I have ran out of things to replace (or so I believe).

This is about the only thing that looks like it needs replacing. Its got a yellow wire, and a blue/brown wire with a fuse at the end, have no idea what its for but it looks a little burnt on the inside where the fuse is.

Any more suggestion. If anybody has any more suggestions that'd be great! :thankyou:

 

[mroldan9]

Alright! I have solved the problem finally! It was not the fuse or any of the switches.. it was the wire coming from the back of the tail light fuse I think it was a brown one that came loose from the fuse box. Easy fix made hard by not having the proper tools (volt meter). But thanks for the help you guys guided me in the right direction. :thankyou:

 

[luigisho]

What a pain to figure out! Glad you found it.