O/T: '89 Lincoln dash lights

Anonymous-0 · Mar 16, 2009

I recently purchased an '89 Lincoln Town Car. All the headlights and marker lights work, but I've got no dash lights. The exterior lights do come on if I pull the headlight switch. They also come on after dark when I put the key in the ignition switch, even without pulling the headlight switch.

The auto-dim feature does work properly. The timed light shut-off after turning off the car also works. I've checked all the fuses and they are good.

I'm not familiar with this system; does this sound like the correct operation? Am I looking at a simple headlight switch replacement?

I've looked locally for a manual; nobody has one in stock. It's on order for me, but I'd like to fix this issue as soon as possible.

Thanks for your time,

Anthony

P.S. The lights on the Farmall M I had were much easier to work on. Still have a hand-trip loader off an H; anybody want it? Free to good home, as long as I know you aren't going to just scrap it.

ken in texas · Mar 16, 2009

I am not famailar with the lincolnontrols,but most autos have acontrol to dim the dash lights near the light switch,by turning the control, or light control knob.

John B. · Mar 16, 2009

It may be built into the light switch or have a seperate knob or wheel used to dim the dash light. Usually your dash lights are fused with your taillights also.

Anonymous-0 · Mar 16, 2009

A little more info: the dash light dimmer control is built into the headlight switch. Rotating the knob would adjust dash light intensity and, if turned far enough, turn on the dome lamp. This feature(turning on the dome lamp) does work.

My apologies for leaving this info out, and thanks for the replies.

Anthony

fixerupper · Mar 16, 2009

I know you mentioned the marker lights work but does that include the tail lights? On one car I owned the tail light fuse also fed the dash lights. I was picked up for not having tail lights and it was then that I figured out why the dash lights weren"t working. The wire to the license plate broke and rubbed on the bumper, blowing the fuse.Jim

barn E · Mar 18, 2009

Anthony I have seen switches where the rheostat on the knob shaft would burn in two, sometimes shorting and blowing fuses, sometimes not. Some auto wire guys would run wire from headlight or taillight circuit and back feed the dash lights OR fix it right. Takes longer. Some of the light switches you push a little button and pull the shaft out, then remove switch. May see the rheostat wire sticking out of it. Dave

O/T: '89 Lincoln dash lights

Anonymous-0

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ken in texas

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John B.

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Anonymous-0

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fixerupper

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barn E

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