2000 Lincoln - Interior Lights

[BigPip]

Out of the blue, my interior lights (courtesy lights) stopped working. I found fuse 31 was blown and when I replaced it, it immediately blew... again. I removed all the bulbs that I could find, the 2 in the over head, 2 in front doors and 2 in rear compartment and 1 underdash and replaced the fuse and it blew it again. (Starting to feel like a wind tunnel in here...)

Any ideas where to search next?

 

[Raped Ape]

One of your lights inside is grounding out, most of the time it is the overhead lights. Take all the lights bulbs out, then replace one by one until the fuse blows. One of them is grounding out on you.

 

[BigPip]

Thanks for the advice and your quote is awesome!

I removed all the bulbs and the fuse still blew... with no bulbs... Any other thoughts?

 

[Raped Ape]

Thanks for the advice and your quote is awesome!

I removed all the bulbs and the fuse still blew... with no bulbs... Any other thoughts?

Did this happen after you bought it or before you bought it? It then may not be the lights at all then, it maybe a cigarette lighter grounding out. Unplug the cigarette lighter then try it.

I have owned 3 of the Continentals and had that issue with one of them and the lighter was shorting out and causing the fuse to blow, if remember correctly, they all run on the same aux fuse.

 

[BigPip]

Now thats something I haven't thought of yet... I am going to give it a try-
How about the acc. plug in the arm rest, could that be the same fuse?

 

[Raped Ape]

Now thats something I haven't thought of yet... I am going to give it a try-
How about the acc. plug in the arm rest, could that be the same fuse?

Yes it all runs on the same acc fuse. Let me know what you find and we will get it working.

 

[BigPip]

My cigar lighter works with the blown fuse to the courtesy lights...

 

[Raped Ape]

I asked you before, did this happen before you bought it or after you bought it? And if after you bought it, have you done anything in way of modification lately? And when you pop a new fuse in what exactly happens after you do this, meaning what is the sequence of events that you do until it blows. Does it do it at start up, or right away as you insert fuse, or after you turn something on? Also don't you have a accy outlet on the center console or is this a Conti with the shifter on the column?

 

[BigPip]

After I bought it-
No modifications-
When I put a fuse in the lights come on, the chime dings the fuse blows, all in about 1 second-
cigar lighter works and acc plug in center armrest works as well.
--------
I printed a couple of diagrams last night of the light circuit and hope to start finding a short somewhere.

 

[continental randy]

Have you checked the glove box light and switch? How about the light and switch in the trunk?

 

[BigPip]

Just found the problem-
Headliner was replaced shorlty before I bought the car, when they reinstalled the rear handles with the light, they crimped down on the three wires and caused a short. I fixed the wires and now the lights work without blowing the fuse

Wa-Hoo!

 

[bradyelich]

The bastards... Nice job on the fix.