AgentMurdoc

Okay lemme lay down the senerio, I'm installing a head unit in my girls car, and halfway through I'm guessing two wires tapped and shorted something out. The dome lights went out and the clock doesn't show the time.

The thing is the car starts up fine, lights turn on and everything (the clock lights up but no time). I put the stock radio back in and it lights up but doesn't turn on.

So here is what doesn't work so far
- Dome lights (all three)
- I think she has door light that come on when you open it, and yeah those don't work.
- The clock doesn't show the time
- The radio lights up but doesn't turn on.

I'm thinking that it may be a fuse, but I checked the fuses in the engine bay and they are a okay. I think there is a fuse compartment under the steering column, but I don't wanna open up the box, since I'm not sure, and plus I am unsure of as to how it opens.

So the help I am seeking is:
1) DO you guys know if there is a fuse that controls the dome lights/clock/radio/an door lights?
2) If so, where is this fuse where is it located?
3) If it's not a fuse, WHAT THE ---- IS IT!?

Please help guys, the car is a 98 Ford Contour.

Thanks.

bambooseven

I'm gonna garauntee it is a fuse, which is located in that box under the dash on the driver side. (at least it was in my explorer)

AgentMurdoc

Okay cool that's where the box I found was, but the thing is I couldn't figure out how to open it It wasn't an easy open type box, it had wires plugged into it and everything The only reason why I would believe it was a fuse box it cause it had like 20 amp numbers on the side. I tried to pry it open, but stopped cause I wasn't sure what I was doing and didn't wanna break nothin'



And I forgot to mention before, I didn't disconnect the battery because it was 11 at night and I was installing it in the street and the dome light is a lot of help in the dark . The short was because little chica made a move and I am almost certain it caused two wires to connect and *zap*.

Thanks for the help Bam, I seriously hope it's a stinkin fuse.

OnYx

also fords are suck a POS they wire all the interior lighting to the ------- radio for some god damn reason. ford engineers are ------- idiots i swear

HondaTuner

My cousin did the same thing to my neighbor's Escort when he installed it.. More than likely just one of those fuses man. Rip the cover off and check em out

88crxSi

next time remove the neg battery wire, DUH!

open that damn fuse box!

SkunT

if you cant figure out which fuse it is from the diagram, just pull every dam fuse one by one, and go from there. i wouldnt think it would be anything over a 15A. its a pain in the *** but....


BTW, dont you hate the fact that something as stupid as a fuse can OWN you, but when it comes to rebuilding a motor, or something major like that you just walk right though it.

it happens to the best of us.

87na_rx7

you think thats bad, on a 88 rx7 they run your running lights through the radio

fork

Some of those cars to do a radiio you need to get a special harness that lets you keep the factory radio in the trunk. If you call circuit city and ask them about the harness for the car they should be able to tell you.