1992 Escort - electrical issues?

That's not helpful.


<pickone.TakeThisOut@kato.com> wrote in message
news:atte31plfvsk881ff99ec7ic5s9mh3er0q@4ax.com...
 > On Tue, 15 Mar 2005 01:39:31 GMT, "kendra" <k18.TakeThisOut@shaw.ca> wrote:
 >
  >>Hi
  >>
  >>I just purchased a Ford Escort for $400...I fixed up the breaks but the
  >>"park"/"running" lights don't work in the back. It's not a fuse. I also
  >>have
  >>problems with the dash lights - if I signal right they go out...and I have
  >>to wiggle them so they come back on. The left side the dash doesn't even
  >>really light up (ie, the fuel and temp). I don't know if they're supposed
  >>to, I haven't looked close at it all. I just wondered if it's a common
  >>problem? I'm scared to let the mechanics go at 'er and charge me $300 in
  >>lookie lou time.
  >>
  >>Oh and this might also be related..I don't think the lighter works b/c I
  >>used plug an CD car adapter into my old car and it won't work in this one.
  >>
  >>Any help or ideas are very much appreciated. Thanks!!
  >>
 >
 > sell it
 > preferably the junk yard
 >
 > hurc ast<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: 1992 Escort - electrical issues? 

Lets see if I have this right:
    1: No rear tail lamps
    2: Right side Inst. Panel lamps go off when you signal Right.
    3: Left side Inst. Panel lamps don't work at all
    4: Lighter socket dead.

Is that correct? Do the Brake lights and front park lamps work? I'll assume yes
since you didn't mention them. Do the lights on the radio and heater controls come on?
It sounds like you checked the fuses. I think the 92 Escort had a fuse panel under the
hood also, take a look. Also, what do you "wiggle" when the lights go off on the inst.
panel?

Symptom 1: First check the bulbs (just replace them, they are old anyway and
inexpensive). While you are doing that look into the sockets, look for any corrosion
inside. Also look for loose wires in that area. If new bulbs don't fix it and there
are no obvious problems, you'll need to dig deeper.

Symptom 2and 3: This sounds like it could be a loose connector on the back of the
instrument cluster (the panel that contains the speedometer and gauges). The cluster
needs to come out to check this.

Symptom 4: Either a blown fuse, or defective lighter socket. If the previous owner
was a smoker the socket could be filled with debris and dirt causing a poor connection.

    Hope this helps, Tom<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: 1992 Escort - electrical issues? 

This guys just an asshole
"kendra" <k18.TakeThisOut@shaw.ca> wrote in message
news:9GMZd.688412$Xk.493070@pd7tw3no...
 > That's not helpful.
 >
 >
 > <pickone.TakeThisOut@kato.com> wrote in message
 > news:atte31plfvsk881ff99ec7ic5s9mh3er0q@4ax.com...
  > > On Tue, 15 Mar 2005 01:39:31 GMT, "kendra" <k18.TakeThisOut@shaw.ca> wrote:
  > >
   > >>Hi
   > >>
   > >>I just purchased a Ford Escort for $400...I fixed up the breaks but the
   > >>"park"/"running" lights don't work in the back. It's not a fuse. I also
   > >>have
   > >>problems with the dash lights - if I signal right they go out...and I
have
   > >>to wiggle them so they come back on. The left side the dash doesn't even
   > >>really light up (ie, the fuel and temp). I don't know if they're
supposed
   > >>to, I haven't looked close at it all. I just wondered if it's a common
   > >>problem? I'm scared to let the mechanics go at 'er and charge me $300 in
   > >>lookie lou time.
   > >>
   > >>Oh and this might also be related..I don't think the lighter works b/c I
   > >>used plug an CD car adapter into my old car and it won't work in this
one.
   > >>
   > >>Any help or ideas are very much appreciated. Thanks!!
   > >>
  > >
  > > sell it
  > > preferably the junk yard
  > >
  > > hurc ast
 >
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: 1992 Escort - electrical issues? 

"kendra" <k18 DeleteThis @shaw.ca> wrote in message news:n1rZd.679991$Xk.250954@pd7tw3no...
 > Hi
 >
 > I just purchased a Ford Escort for $400...I fixed up the breaks but the
 > "park"/"running" lights don't work in the back. It's not a fuse.
 > I also have problems with the dash lights - if I signal right they go
 > out...and I have to wiggle them so they come back on. The left side the dash
 > doesn't even really light up (ie, the fuel and temp). I don't know if they're
 > supposed to, I haven't looked close at it all. I just wondered if it's a
 > common problem? I'm scared to let the mechanics go at 'er and charge me $300
 > in lookie lou time.
 >
 > Oh and this might also be related..I don't think the lighter works b/c I used
 > plug an CD car adapter into my old car and it won't work in this one.
 >
 > Any help or ideas are very much appreciated. Thanks!!
 >
First check to see if the recall for the fuel pump harness has been done ( your
local ford dealer can run OASIS for you ). The fuel pump harness goes under the
rear seat into the tank. The harness has been known to overheat due to a short
at the pump connections. The harness goes all the way to the dash area and will
cause all the problems you mention. You need too have someone who actually knows
what they are doing check out the car, it may not be the problem, but if it is
you can expect a really big bill because the only repair is the replacement of
the body harness and fuel pump.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: 1992 Escort - electrical issues? 

Some Fords have a connector under the carpet that corrodes and causes
funky
electrical problems. Also this may sound really dumb, but check and see if
you have a sensor on the bottom of your master cylinder. If you do, make
sure it's not leaking. I had a 93 SHO that had that, it leaked and caused
all kinds of problems, by the time I got it figured out, it was a 450$
fix.
Too bad I didn't find that problem sooner.

Ken

"kendra" <k18.DeleteThis@shaw.ca> wrote in message
news:n1rZd.679991$Xk.250954@pd7tw3no...
 > Hi
 >
 > I just purchased a Ford Escort for $400...I fixed up the breaks but the
 > "park"/"running" lights don't work in the back. It's not a fuse. I also
 > have problems with the dash lights - if I signal right they go out...and
I
 > have to wiggle them so they come back on. The left side the dash doesn't
 > even really light up (ie, the fuel and temp). I don't know if they're
 > supposed to, I haven't looked close at it all. I just wondered if it's a
 > common problem? I'm scared to let the mechanics go at 'er and charge me
 > $300 in lookie lou time.
 >
 > Oh and this might also be related..I don't think the lighter works b/c I
 > used plug an CD car adapter into my old car and it won't work in this
one.
 >
 > Any help or ideas are very much appreciated. Thanks!!
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: 1992 Escort - electrical issues?