Instrument illumination fuse keeps blowing out. How to fix it?

A simple trick to finding a short is to replace the blown fuse with a pair of spade terminals, then use small jumper wires to connect them to a 12 volt light bulb. A brake light bulb works well. When the circuit is live and the short is present, the bulb will be full brightness and hot so be sure it's not laying on the carpet or against a plastic door panel. Now you can unplug electrical connectors and move things around to see what makes the short go away. When it does, the bulb will get dim or go out.

Nothing is easier than paging through a paper service manual. Unfortunately, I don't have one. I do have access to the Ford web site on a different computer but it isn't displaying properly. It also requires the vehicle ID number to be entered, which I don't have. I can't get into the service publications to look at the wiring diagrams.

Mitchell OnDemand isn't working either. Boy, I hate computers!

You might try visiting the dealer for a copy of the diagram you need. When I worked for a very nice Chrysler dealership, the service advisers were happy to dig up the proper service manual and make photocopies of a few pages for customers and other dealers, as long as those people were willing to wait until they weren't busy helping other people. Mid morning and mid afternoon were typically their slow times when they had a chance to catch up with paperwork and making phone calls. Visit them during those times, or leave a note listing the parts of the diagram you need, and stop back for it the next day.

You can also look for a nearby community college that has an Automotive program. They will have Ford EVTM, (Electrical, Vacuum Troubleshooting Manuals) in paper or on a computer disc. The paper manuals are real nice and easy to use.

DOC,

I CAN TRY MIT I, JUST ON THERE

AS CONFUSING AS IT IS FOR ME TO NAVIGATE, WHAT SPECIFIC DIAGRAMS/ SYSTEMS DO I NEED TO LOCATE? GAUGES/ ENGINE PERFORMANCE OTHER?

Vas0_3,

FROM KNOWING HOW IT WORKS,

I WILL NEED MORE SPECIFIC INFO ON YOUR VEHICLE

THERE MAY BE OVER A HUNDRED DIAGRAMS FOR YOUR VEHICLE!

LIKE (STUPID EXAMPLE) VILLAGER "GT" OR "LTD"

ENGINE SIZE, INCLUDING ANY SPECIFICS ON CAM OR FUELS

REALLY JUST ANYTHING TO GET THE CORRECT DIAGRAMS

THE MEDIC

Thanks CJ. Look for dash lights for a '98 Villager. Purple wire that will also feed the radio, heater controls, and anything else that has back-lights that turn on with the dash lights. Might be lights in the door panels too to light up power window switches, and a light for the cigarette lighter. Something on that purple wire is shorted to ground.

"GS"--"LS"--"NAUTICA"?IS MY 1ST OBSTACLE, AS PREDICTED. SO I JUST WILD GUESSINGLY CHOSE "GS" SINCE I HAVE NO OTHER "CONFIRMED CORRECT" INFO FROM THE "CLIENT" YET. FROM MY "VAST" OLD JEEP AND OLD FORD EXPERIENCES."PURPLE WIRES" ARE MANY TIMES GO TO SENDING UNITS.I LOOK FOR THAT TOO DOC!

JUST FOUND 2 MORE OBSTACLES---

"AUTO LAMPS"

"HEADLAMPS W/ DRL". DAYLIGHT RUNNING LIGHTS

"HEADLAMPS W/O DRL". DITTO

"ANALOG CLUSTER". GAUGES

"ELECTRONIC CLUSTER"

"ANTITHEFT"

"NO ANTITHEFT"

"BASE RADIO"

"PREMIUM RADIO"

LAST TIME I SLUNG OUT A WHOLE BUNCH OF GUESSES, "CLIENT" WAS REALLY CONFUSED, READY TO SHOOT ME!

SO UNTIL I HEAR FURTHER, I'M STICKING WITH MY "GS" GUESS, AND JUST 2 DIAGRAMS. BOTH MAY BE WRONG FOR THE CORRECT APPLICATION ALSO!

SO HERE THEY IS!

WILL GO MORE IN DEPTH WITH CORRECT INFO

THE MEDIC

1ST "GS COURTESY LAMPS"

2ND "GS INSTRUMENT ILLUMINATION"

ALL-RIGHTY THEN!

YOU'VE COME TO THE RIGHT PLACE FOR EXPLANATIONS.I'M NOT YOUR GUY!

CARADIODOC CAN REALLY EXPLAIN THAT CODE STUFF! HE KNOWS THE NEW STUFF REALLY WELL, WHEREAS, I AM MORE MECHANICAL AND STUCK IN THE 80'S ON BACK (JEEPS AND FORDS)

NOW THEN, BEFORE TURNING IT BACK OVER TO HIM AND TO SAVE SOME TIME!

1ST CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR DIY FIX! YIPPEEEEEEE!

2ND.C'MON NOW, YOU KNOW THOSE CODES DIDN'T SAY ALL THAT!

ADVANCE AUTO AND YOUR PAL SAID THAT!

DOC'S GONNA NEED THE ---EXACT CODE NUMBERS (AND MAYBE LETTERS)--- AND YOUR ENGINE SIZE (YOU ALREADY STATED "VILLAGER GS". IN ORDER FOR HIM TO ASSIST YOU. SORRY.'NOTHER TRIP TO ADVANCE MAY BE IN ORDER!

MY EXPERIENCE WITH MULTIPLE CODES (ON MY DAD'S OLD '86 T-BIRD, OBD I) WAS IF YOU FIX THE 1ST CODE SOMETIMES THE OTHERS, A RESULT OF THE 1ST, WILL GO AWAY. MAY NOT BE THE CASE W/ OBD II

MY WIFE'S FORD ESCAPE'S INTERMITTENT 2 MONTH LONG ANNOYING SKIP (NO CODES AT 1ST) TURNED OUT TO BE A COIL PACK AFTER SORTA BEING GUIDED BY SEVERAL OF THE GUYS HERE, ELIMINATING THE EZ POSSIBILITIES, AND HOLDING DOWN ON "NEW PART, TRIAL AND ERROR".I TOO WAS SATISFIED WITH THEIR ADVICE.I'M SURE IT WOULD HAVE COST MUCH, MUCH MORE AT A SHOP.I SORTA ATTRIBUTE THE "TRIAL AND ERROR (SORTA REALLY UN-NECESSARY) NEW STUFF" TOWARDS PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE, WHICH HURT NOTHING, HAS OVER 100K. I'F THE STUFF YOU ALREADY CHANGED WAS LONG OVER DUE, YOU MAY FEEL THE SAME WAY!

CODES #s? ENGINE SIZE.I SHUT MY TRAP NOW. ALL YOURS DOC!

THE MEDIC