No parking/tail lights!

[mendyrips]

Hey guys, I'm new to this forum, but not forums in general.

And, yes I DID SEARCH.

Here's the prob, I have no tail lights and no parking lights.

I just bought an '89 SHO, and I don't have a manual yet.

I have checked all of the fuses, they are good. Which fuse handles these
lights? Where else can I look?

Thanks.

 

[mendyrips]

Alright, who has a picture of the fuse block, preferably a diagram, that lists the amperage of each fuse and its use?

 

[mendyrips]

14 views and no responses? wtf??

 

[qiksho]

I cannot help you with a wiring diagram. HOWEVER....

I have had a no brake lights problem on two different SHO's and both were fixed with a new brake light switch that connects to the brake pedal.

Another way to test and make sure that the brake light switch is indeed your problem is to see if you can shut off the cruise control via the brake pedal. When mine failed I had to use the OFF button on the steering wheel.

The switch is relatively cheap from Ford (less than $20) and takes less than 5 minutes to replace

 

[mendyrips]

Thanks for the response. I have no problem with my brake lights though.
I have no running lights, front or rear, no license plate lights and no instrument lights. Backup lights work, as do blinkers/hazards. It looks like fuse #4 is the one that supplies these lights, and it blows when I turn the lights on. Here are a couple items that I was thinking could be causing this: 1. Shorted bulb, I need to check them all. I did check the rears, and they are good. 2. Possible short in the light switch. Anyone else had this kind of problem? Thanks

 

[hawkeye18]

hmm, sounds like you have a bad headlight switch. I would've said your multifunction switch was bad but that's not what it sounds like. You have to take apart your dash bezel (two torx above the speedo, four torx on the knee panel, two torx uncovered under the knee panel). After the bezel comes out, it'll be pretty obvious what you need to do.

They go bad a lot on taurii. all the current from all the lights goes through that switch. Therefore, they tend to fry... good luck.

 

[mendyrips]

Thanks for the tip. I'll give that a shot this afternoon.

 

[qiksho]

I have had 2 multi-function switches fail. Both failed much like the symptoms you are describing except I didn't lose brake lights. Many times if you take the column apart you will see the connector fried as the wires tend to get hot and short out the switch.

 

[crazy_canadian]

For info, the Parking lights wire at the headlight switch is the brown one. Apply +12V to it and see if they lights up.

 

[mendyrips]

How much should a new switch cost me?

 

[mendyrips]

So I pulled the switch out today, and found that there is some melting on the plug. Doesn't appear to be shorting out in the switch. Put a new switch in, same symptoms.

Now I think that it might be a bad bulb someplace. The rears appear to be fine. Haven't quite figured out how to remove the front headlights, without busting something up. Is there an easy way?

Now, remember, I am new to this car, so I don't know which lights should be on, in front, when the lights are on. I know the headlights work, normal and brights. My turn indicators work, inner light next to grill and the outer light as well. Which one of these are my parking lights? The lower one on the bumper, sides, come on only when the headlights are on and I use the blinkers. Is this correct as well? On the rear, which light is supposed to be my parking light?

Thanks guys...

 

[crazy_canadian]

The parking light wire powers tail lights, lisence lights, front amber light (both in headlight and in the corner) and also all the dash illumination.
Do you have autolamps ? Do they work ?
Try to remove the kick panel (metal one held with 4 torx) and look around to see any broken wire. If you see another brown wire under the dash a bit on the left side, splice it (but don't cut it) and take a constant +12V (like on of these yellow one on the ignition system, or the *********/orange (I think, need to verify) that is the +12V of the headlight switch.You might have a short somewhere. Should be an easy fix, but finding it is what's complicated.

 

[mendyrips]

Yes, I have autolamps, and they work.

I am going to pull all of the bulbs, and switches coming off of fuse #4, to find the bad guy.

Thanks for your help.

 

[ViPER1313]

I had this exact same problem when fixing my friend's 89. One thing to try - pull the autolamp relays out from behind the glovebox and see if the fuse still blows when the switch is still turned on. With the relays out the lights will still work with the switch but the autolamp feature will not.

An easy way to remove the headlights is with a piece of speaker wire and a screwdriver. There are 3 metal clips that hold the headlight adjusters into the header panel. Wrap the piece of wire through the hole in the top of the clip and pull upwards - the clips should pull out without bending or breaking. You might have to expand the bottoms of them slightly with a flathead screwdriver while pulling on the wire. Once all three clips are out you can remove the headlight out of the front of the car.

 

[mendyrips]

Wow, I didn't think about the autolamps. I will check this out. Is it one relay or a couple. Pretty easy to tell which one/ones? Is it pretty easy to get to the relay? Do I have to remove the glovebox?

 

[ViPER1313]

They are behind the glovebox to the left if I remember correctly. No need to fully remove the glovebox - just open it and pull the tabs in - the glovebox should rotate 180 degrees towards the floor giving you access. One relay is for the autolamps, one is for dimming the LCDs on the dashboard. I only needed to remove 1 relay IIRC but I forget which one it was. Just try removing them one at a time - hope this helps you out!

 

[mendyrips]

Thanks, for the tip. I will do this in the morning. I finally got my shop manuals, so now I can find everything

 

[mendyrips]

Alright guys,

I've got the parking lights working. Turns out that the LCD Dimmer Relay is shot.

Thanks for all of your help.

Mike