Help! My electric system is possessed!

[Jeanette]

Ok here's the problems, first the problem started as when my lights came on either auto or I manually turned them on my clock, dash and ac lights went off - still have this problem. Now my radio turns off by itself. Actually, the dial stays lit but you can get any sound. If I leave the radio off for a minute or two I can listen again for a couple of minutes then it goes off again. The radio plays longer in cold weather too. Also, my right front head light is only partically working. Bulb is not blown but it doesn't light up all the way.

I've already been pulled over twice for speeding because I can't see my speedometer at night. Fortunately, I was able to get out of getting a ticket even while doing 82 in a 55 -

Jeanette
Cary, NC
1989 Ford SHO -86,000+ sMiles

 

[JaySHOguy]

For your dash lighting problem, it sounds as if the dimmer switch is bad. If you play around with it, the lights should come on. Try turning the dial all the way, so that the rest of your interior lights work. The dash should then light up also. I have bad switches in the '89 SHO and also in my '90 Taurus GL...

The headlight problem sounds like you have a wire that is shorting out. Have you tried changing the headlight bulb yet?

Radio: shrug Maybe you need a new one?

 

[Jeanette]

Hi Jay. The dimmer switch turns on my overhead lights but does NOT turn on the clock, dash or ac lights when on. The only time all these lights light up is when my head lights are off.

Checked bulb in headlight and it is not blown.

Radio works better in cold weather so I'm wondering if my electrical problems have to do with some wires somewhere heating up?

Thanks so much for your response
Jeanette

 

[JaySHOguy]

I still say try changing the dimmer switch. It is only a 10-15 minute job.VERY easy to do. The part should be not too expensive either.

The wires going into the headlight could be rubbing on something, and shorting out just a tad.

If you are not capable of checking the wiring harness yourself, have a shop look at it(not a hack shop). It could be something as simple as the ground not being properly grounded...

 

[projectSHO89]

Jeanette,

Your car is indeed "possessed".

You have three different non-related problems, IMHO.

1) Dash lights - Either the dimmer is bad, the LCD dimming relay is bad, or you have an open wire somewhere. Check fuse # 13 in the fusebox also, it runs all of the above.

2) Radio - Either the amp or the head unit has a thermal intermittent. Time for a new stereo as the factory one isn't worth fixing. Bypass the amp when you get the new stereo.

3 Headlight - Since one bulb is fine and the other is dim, you have either a bad bulb (weak), a bad connection (corrosion), or a bad wiring harness or ground connection (excessive resistance due to corrosion, most likely). A short would cause either smoke or a blown fuse.

Steve

 

[sdpatt]

Have you checked the voltage of the battery and the alternator lately?

 

[Jeanette]

STEVE and JAY, I'm gonna try y'alls remedies. I'm very mechanically inclined and love getting my hands dirty; although my SHO is a first for me and she is certainly a different animal. I'm use to working on my 1992 Jeep and my 1997 Kawasaki Vulcan 800 (my other baby).

The LCD dimmer is fine - I've checked that already. I've already replaced the fuse (#13) too. I'm not happy with the radio so it's history.

I appreciate your time in responding. It will be a couple of weeks before I have time to work on it but I'll get too it for sure.

Thanks again!
Jeanette