crazy light problem

[vwaxdaus]

My lincoln mark vii is acting the fool. This light problem has me all confused. When i turn on, the left blinker the center rear brake light blinks; and when i hit the breaks they both ( the left blinker and the rear center brake light) go solid, no blinking. Then when i turn the headlights on, if they come on, the rpm gage drops to zerow and the gas gage goes to full. If the lights don't come on the gages are good but i have to smack the dash board to get the interior lights to come on, then the gages go bad again. I know this sounds like a short and my interior light dimmer switch is busted which is attached to the headlamp switch so im gonna buy the switch tomorrow. Does anyone have any idea what i can do? This driving me crazy and i much rather drive my lincoln with the dash board all together again. Also my power steering is intermittent. Is it possible to drain the system and find a leak if thats the prob or should i just go ahead and replace the pump?

 

[OldSchool1]

My lincoln mark vii is acting the fool.

Welcome to Mark VII Ownership. The youngest your car could be is 14 years old. Your average total miles is 140,000. You should have gone through at leat three batteries, four sets of spark plugs, about 80 quarts of oil, 14 gallons of collant, about 20 bulbs, and about three grey hairs.

This light problem has me all confused. When i turn on, the left blinker the center rear brake light blinks; and when i hit the breaks they both ( the left blinker and the rear center brake light) go solid, no blinking.

You will find the third break light wire has been spliced into. Our cars don't like that. You'll need to return it (and probably lots of other wires) to the original condition.

Then when i turn the headlights on, if they come on, the rpm gage drops to zerow and the gas gage goes to full.

This is common of pre 1990 Mark VII's and can be corrected by adding a ground wire to the current dashboard ground.

If the lights don't come on the gages are good but i have to smack the dash board to get the interior lights to come on, then the gages go bad again.

Sounds like the dash board has been smacked

I know this sounds like a short and my interior light dimmer switch is busted which is attached to the headlamp switch so im gonna buy the switch tomorrow.

Is the new switch installed? How are things working now? Will the Eagles win the Super Bowl?

Does anyone have any idea what i can do? This driving me crazy and i much rather drive my lincoln with the dash board all together again.

Search here and on other Lincoln Boards for the phrase "Ground Wire" and read read read.

Also my power steering is intermittent. Is it possible to drain the system and find a leak if thats the prob or should i just go ahead and replace the pump?

When was the last time the fluid level was checked or the fluid was changed?