Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

Technical => Electrical Tech => Topic started by: capitlj on December 01, 2006, 10:51:08 PM

Title: Bypass the switch
Post by: capitlj on December 01, 2006, 10:51:08 PM
i want to bypass the dimmer switch on my headlamp switch so i can have dash lights until i can get a new switch is it possible.  I just want them on full blast.
Title: Bypass the switch
Post by: jcassity on December 02, 2006, 02:01:00 PM
87evtm shows a diagram in the pic below.

The  pic is pointing out information you will need to jumper past the dimmer.  If i had to do what you are doing, i would install a jumper between wire colors

BROWN
Light brown/ RED

The 87evtm does not show one single schematic wtih all wires connecting to the main light switch so each feature is broken down into different sections. i can provide a schematic if you need but the below should be good nuff.

if the jumper does not work, then your prob isnt the dimmer. Its either a fuse or cluster illumnation relay and so on , so forth.
Title: Bypass the switch
Post by: jcassity on December 02, 2006, 02:08:42 PM
hmmm,, wait a minute,, something does not add up ,,leme look at some other diagrams.

------------------
ok,, did a stare and compare on different diagrams.  A man can go crazy thumbing through a light switch diagram on most any vehicle.  It appears to me that what you are doing is looping back a fused circuit to a fused cicuit that is supplied by a hot at all times fused circuit that feeds the main light switch.,,,,Make sense?  lol.
Annnnnyyyyyywayyyyy,,,,,,looks ok to me if you jumper the wires i said.  I am 98% sure its ok,,lol.

I would still start here and jumper these two wires without a worry,, i would have no choice based on what i have researched.

Anyone disagree?
Title: Bypass the switch
Post by: capitlj on December 02, 2006, 03:34:11 PM
Thanks for that i will attempt it today and we'll see what happens.
Title: Bypass the switch
Post by: tbirdscott on December 02, 2006, 04:09:50 PM
I've done this before. On my mustang and on a grand am.... now what the hell did I do???


Scott
Title: Bypass the switch
Post by: capitlj on December 02, 2006, 04:59:03 PM
It didnt work I used the diagram to jump the wires to the correct terminals and nothing it still works exactly as it used to, the dash works with the headlights off, but the second you flick the switch the dash goes black.  This wiring is a nightmare.  Arrrgh i'm starting to get frustrated with this car.
Title: Bypass the switch
Post by: Thunder Chicken on December 02, 2006, 05:12:12 PM
Could be the cluster illumination relay as well...
Title: Bypass the switch
Post by: jcassity on December 02, 2006, 09:56:28 PM
ooooooooohhhhhhhhhhh

dash goes dead when you turn on the darn headlights,, why didnt you say so off the top.\
does the dimmer work with no headlamps??????

My first and only guess would be you have more than enough bulbs blown and that causes clusters to go blank when the headlights are turned on.
This is what happened to me a few years ago, i had to replace several bulbs.  I dont know why but when you have several or a few bulbs blown, you get this symptom.  I think it has to do with loading of the IVR ect ,,,dono, i just know that i replaced bulbs and stuff started working again.
everyone agree????????
Title: Bypass the switch
Post by: MasterBlaster on December 03, 2006, 10:08:18 AM
Do we mean the dimmer SWITCH for the headlights, or the dimmer WHEEL for the gauges? When the lights are off, the radio, clock  and speedo get full power. When the lights are turned on, the other dash lights (gauges, heater panel, etc.) are brought into the circuit, and the "cluster illumination relay" switches the supply side to fuse #13, via the probably-broken-wire rheostat behind the dimmer WHEEL in the main headlight switch.
Title: Bypass the switch
Post by: capitlj on December 03, 2006, 05:34:29 PM
Yup that switch it believe it is broken i have no bad wires and i dunno about the bulbs too freaking cold to keep messing around out there.  The other dash lights, i.e. HVAC panel, headlamp switch illumination don't work.