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Topic: Need help FAST !!!!! FIXED !!!! (Read 28917 times) previous topic - next topic

Need help FAST !!!!! FIXED !!!!

Reply #165 –
Yes, tracing the LB/R wire will eventually take you to the problem, however that is a lot of tracing with or without a DVOM. Headlamp switch is a link between interior illumination and tail lamps. It could be the cause, however I feel you have a pinched wire somewhere. Please don't replace the switch until we look a little further into this.
 

Need help FAST !!!!! FIXED !!!!

Reply #166 –
Left, Right..... as long as u know where u are going! lol If you have a spare headlight switch, it would be worth a try.

Need help FAST !!!!! FIXED !!!!

Reply #167 –
I swapped the headlight switch. No change. Maybe it was bad as well.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Need help FAST !!!!! FIXED !!!!

Reply #168 –
You might also try looking at the white/light blue wire and the orange/light blue wire coming from your turn signal switch. The white/light blue wire is the one that feeds the right front turn signal and the green turn signal indicator in the cluster. The orange/light blue wire is the one that feeds the right rear turn signal. Since it is the right side that is messinng things up the problem has got to be a short between one of these two wires and the blue/red stripe one everyone else is talking about. Note: that orange/light blue wire also feeds the brake lights on the right side, so unless your dash lights come on when you hit the brake it's more likely in the white/light blue wire. You might find it easier to trace that one white/blue wire than tracing all of those blue/red ones that go everywhere. While tracing wires pay particular attention to any areas where the harness may have been pinched, or even punctured by a too-long screw (I've had these dashes out and know how easy it can be to use the wrong screw in the wrong hole)

One other consideration: Check any related connectors you've had unplugged (turn signal switch, headlight switch, insrtrument cluster, etc) for bent or misaligned pins. When I put my 88 back together one of the pins in the wiper switch got bent over. The connector still went together fine but the bent over pin was touching another pin and was causing lots of wierd wiper issues. It's not too much of a stretch to say a bent pin in a lighting related switch could cause wierd lighting issues as well.
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

Need help FAST !!!!! FIXED !!!!

Reply #169 –
Here is another suggestion that will greatly help in narrowing it down:

Turn on your turn signals so that the dash lights are acting up. Now move the dimmer wheel in the headlight switch up and down. If the dash lights stay bright (do not change) then the problem is somewhere on the "LOAD" side of the circuit (AFTER the dimmer switch). If they change in brightness the short is on the "FEED" side of the circuit (Before the dimmer switch).
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

Need help FAST !!!!! FIXED !!!!

Reply #170 –
I JUST dropped the Sport of to have the a/c charged (only time he had to get it done)....which sucks because I am on my last day off til Monday and had hoped to find this problem. Anyway...... When I get her home, I'll check those things. I haven't checked the dimmer switch like that.

As far as the plugs go, the only things I unplugged were the small plug that goes to the floor light under the glove box, and a two wire plug over there (the plug was flat and rectangular). That's it. I just pulled the dash back far enough on the passenger side to access the heater box. ....

....BUT, When I lowered the column, I had it resting on the seat, but the seat got moved back and it was hanging. Maybe it pulled something loose. I don't know. I'll check the wires you just mentioned when I get the Sport back and will report in as soon as I do.

Thanks a lot !!!!
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Need help FAST !!!!! FIXED !!!!

Reply #171 –
Vinnie
I spend money I don't have, To build  cars I don't need, To impress people I don't know

HAVE YOU DRIVEN A FORD LATELY!!

Need help FAST !!!!! FIXED !!!!

Reply #172 –
[qu
I spend money I don't have, To build  cars I don't need, To impress people I don't know

HAVE YOU DRIVEN A FORD LATELY!!

Need help FAST !!!!! FIXED !!!!

Reply #173 –
Hey Tom. The fuse did blink. It was also blown. I replaced it, and it to blew. Not sure what caused it to. When the car gets home I'm going to swap the fuse again and check one switch at a time and see what's blowing it.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Need help FAST !!!!! FIXED !!!!

Reply #174 –
Tom, I have to go get my wife from work. I'll be back soon with any info I can pass along to you. I hope to have the Sport back by then as well. Stay tuned.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Need help FAST !!!!! FIXED !!!!

Reply #175 –
Thu
I spend money I don't have, To build  cars I don't need, To impress people I don't know

HAVE YOU DRIVEN A FORD LATELY!!

Need help FAST !!!!! FIXED !!!!

Reply #176 –
O.K., sorry for the delay. I will replace the fuse and see if the dimmer works. I did find something....two of the little copper contacts on my Sentry panel where the plug goes in are missing. Can that cause this?
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Need help FAST !!!!! FIXED !!!!

Reply #177 –
Alright, I'm home !!!

I did the following...

1. Installed a new #13 5 amp fuse.

2. Turned on the headlights and the dash lights came on.

3. Pulled fuse and checked it.....still good.

4. Turned on the headlights and rotated the dimmer.

5. Pulled fuse.fuse still good.

6. Started car and turned on the right signal.

7. Pulled fuse.....fuse good

8. Turned on head lights, turned on signal.....signal doesn't flash.

9. Pulled fuse....fuse still good.

10. Turned on emergency flashers.

11. Pulled fuse....fuse still good.

12. Pushed the brake pedal

13. Pulled fuse,.....fuse still good

14. shook head in disbelief.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Need help FAST !!!!! FIXED !!!!

Reply #178 –
Hey Vinnie,
So it sounds like you still have a problem...how about pulling out all of the fuses that have to do with tail lights and signals, looks like #1, 4, 5 and 15 all have to do with the rear lights in one way or another, and #11 and 13 because of the cluster lighting problem (I am suggesting #11 because the radio has a dimmer lead or leads that also is tied into the dash/marker lights).  Turn on your turn signal with all of the fuses out and try installing each one by itself and see what happens.  I'd try the #5 turn signal fuse first with all of the others out and see if you get any flash.  If not, try each one by itself with the signal still turned on and see if you get the dim flashing to come back.  If it does, it would seem logical that the circuit on that fuse is the one with the short or ground problem.  If you go through all of the fuses with no change, maybe try leaving in #5 and do the same thing with the others.  If all of that fails, I seem to vaguely remember having a similar problem on my first cougar back in about 1992, so it's a little foggy, but I seem to be remembering that it was either a bad 4-way module or a problem with my radio dimmer wire (I had installed a new stereo about that time).  Is your stereo factory or aftermarket?  Possibly could do it.  Otherwise, I'm pretty sure all of the lighting goes through those big blue plugs on your steering column up near the wheel.  I'd just make sure that maybe a cover screw didn't graze the insulation on one of them or maybe has rubbed a bare spot.  And of course, the already mentioned loose pins in the plugs.  Wish I could give a better answer, but hope this may help.

Need help FAST !!!!! FIXED !!!!

Reply #179 –
I have an aftermarket CD player. I installed it about 4 years ago. Never had an issue, but after this core swap, mayeb something happened. The stereo still works great.

I'll check the fuses after work tomorrow. I'll also try to check the wires....again.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..