'94 conti dash lights flicker but turning on even parking will stop it

[joan]

Pretty much that's the problem...the dash lights will flicker, maybe even dim completely, usually when the road is bumby, tho even when flat..if I turn on the lights, parking or regular, the flckering/dimming stops. So, I assume the current draw for the lights may be the cure, but where do I start to find the problem...fuse? wires/ground?
thanks

Joan

[KENDO & MYRA]

its the light switch,its hard to believe but true,replace the switch and problem solved

[joan]

thank you will give it a try..

[Dereck]

Its the light switch,its hard to believe but true....

Hi Kendo & Myra

I don't believe you :D

Not being a Conti guy and purely out of curiosity, what is it in the switch that causes the dash lights to flicker?

Regards

Dereck

[joan]

I believe it, because when I SWITCH from automatic to either parking lights or full light, the flickering stops. I do have a follow-up ? for you guys...
I just hopped around the internet and had not too much luck finding any..I am still looking, but if you have any clues, I would appreciate it. I have not contacted the dealer, being that it is Sunday

thanks

[joan]

ONe final thing...As I am looking for parts, I came across a RECALL notice for this part, for my car! I will call my dealer tomrw to ask if it still applies! That would be interesting. I have owned the car for ab 6 yrs, so I would not have been notified.
Very cool, if true!

[towncar95]

joan
if thats the part you want/need youcan order it from this site...
www.teamfordparts.com it costs $ 25.98 plus shipping. use the mechanical catalog search and go under chassis electrical and then to the switches you will see head light switch. also you can call them. or you can see how much it will cost right from the dealer , but its prob going be more.

[KENDO & MYRA]

hi derek,im sorry you dont believe it, but its true,the same thing happened to my car............can you explain why the flicker goes off when i put on the running lights on useing the dashboard switch

[joan]

thanks Eddie..I will call my dealer tomrw to chk out the recall 1st. I just had the air bags replaced with the struts (my nephews did the job)..so now I'm looking to do the other little (???) things...

ya think the switch would be a big deal to replace?
And again, thanks for the tip

[Dereck]

hi derek,im sorry you dont believe it, but its true,the same thing happened to my car............can you explain why the flicker goes off when i put on the running lights on useing the dashboard switch

Hi Kendo & Myra

I believe you dude(s), I was just pulling your leg :)

I don't know why it happens, I don't know anything about Continentals, I am geussing they have those freaky illuminated instruments like the Lexus, I can only assume when you switch the headlights the instrument illumination is switched to a different input from the headlight switch.

Regards

Dereck

[KENDO & MYRA]

yessssssssssss

[joan]

I gotta get a pic of mine to share..it is the RARE misty blue...rarely blue, never misty, but sometimes PINK sometimes TOPAZ sometimes purple
I call her the MAry K...for obvious reasons!!!

[joan]

K and M..I forgot in my last post to ask...did you inquire ab the recall? I don't know if there is a statute of limitations on something like that?

[Steve Moran]

Hi Joan.
Welcome to Lincolns Online. I see you have gotten to meet three of our regulars.
I am glad you got the answers you needed, I would love to have helped (really) but sadly I needed to repair a toilet. I am sure you could guess I would have much rather been here helping you.

I am glad things are looking up for you.
I do not think there is a time limit on recalls, they just figgure you would have been cought when the car came in or a mailer came to you. if it did not happen I am understanding if the parts are still available you can get the car fixed. Well worth the phone call.

[KENDO & MYRA]

if your the original owner,i guess they would honor it , if not ,i think your out of luck, sorry

[Steve Moran]

P.S. It is nice to see someone put a lot of effort into discussing problems, and effort into a solution.

Steve Moran

[towncar95]

steve
we need to get dereck a nice ESSEX machine :)

[pro-five-oh]

I gotta get a pic of mine to share..it is the RARE misty blue...rarely blue, never misty, but sometimes PINK sometimes TOPAZ sometimes purple
I call her the MAry K...for obvious reasons!!!

I know that color. I call it the Pepto Conti. That's gotta be the rarest of the rare.

[KENDO & MYRA]

steve, you dont really look like that, right ?

[MichiganTeddyBear]

K & M, I dunno, he is from South Dakota...

most of the recalls had time/milage restrictions applied to them, most likely yours is way outta them limitations. RECALLS do not 'go away' if the car changes owners... they follow the path from owner to owner until it either gets done, or time/milage limits kick in.

there are also some recalls that may be in effect for one are of the country, but not another.. our Essex machines are an example.. there was a recall for the 'rust belt' states only.. concerning rusting of some front subframe bolts/connectors if I recall right. if the car was originally purchased down south, it didn't apply.

[Steve Moran]

steve, you dont really look like that, right ?

Not quite, I do comb my hair.
Just kidding, I look like this in the mornings but around about 4:30 in the afternoon I dun gets purdy.:D

[joan]

Here she is..all gussie'd up meet
MAry K

1994 exec
misty blue with white interior
105k

and thank you all for your help!
btw, it turns out that the switch recall was performed on this car, so I will just go to the recommended site and buy 1..

thanks all!
Joan

[pro-five-oh]

Oh yeah, that's the stuff!

[Steve Moran]

Now that is purdy, almost as purdy as me.

[joan]

Hi...when one of you originally responded to my inquiry ..you told me about a link to follow to get the instructions on performing the chest cavity switch removal...in fact someone there even stated how he(she) can do it in like 20 min...anyway,,,I LOST IT
Can you recall or redirect me???Please please

Joan

[MichiganTeddyBear]

I think this is what your referring too..

http://www.lincolnsonline.com/tech/00086.html

the procedure for removing the intrument cluster with the DCL tune. at the very least it gives you the method of pulling the dash trim so you can get to everything.

[Fordace]

I remember that recall, we did a ton of Taurus / Sable headlight switches and the harness, I believe they were all 92-94 models. The harness heats up, melts the connector, causes high resistance at the terminals. I'm sure it's the same on a conti.

Eventually, you can lose your headlights too.

I think this is the same problem Joan is having. If the wires are melted, you have to replace them. They come in the kit from Ford.

Some of you guys will remember the 87-91 Mustang GT's with FOG lights having a similar problem where you had to change the Multifunction switches and wiring to the headlight switches, same problem, too many AMPS in those little wires....