1988 LTD Crown Victoria problems

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Jody Lee Bruchon - 23 Oct 2006 18:07 GMT

About the car:
1988 LTD Crown Victoria
5.0L V8, automatic transmission

This car is driving me slightly mad. I need to get the entire dash torn
apart to replace the heater core and start tracing some electrical
problems. I also need to repair or replace the turn signal switch.

* How do I get the speedometer cable to detach from the console so I can
remove it? It's in the way.
* The car is blowing up the brake light and cigarette lighter fuses
whenever they are replaced, practically immediately. Are there any
known problems with this car over time that cause this, or am I stuck
playing voltmeter hockey under the dash?
* My turn signal doesn't lock for left and won't go right at all.
Should I replace the entire assembly or try to take it apart and repair it?
* The horn doesn't work. Don't know what to do about it yet.
* That annoying *ding* gets stuck on sometimes and I have no clue why.
All kinds of things seem to affect it, including the dome light being on
or off. Doesn't make sense.

Where would you start with the brake light problem? It is THE most
critical problem to repair right now, since the vehicle is up for
inspection and brake lighting is the one thing I can't temporarily rig
to make it pass (not to mention it takes out my hazard lights and is
very dangerous to operate).

Any and all help is greatly appreciated.

~Jody

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Backyard Mechanic - 24 Oct 2006 02:04 GMT

> About the car:
> 1988 LTD Crown Victoria
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
> to make it pass (not to mention it takes out my hazard lights and is
> very dangerous to operate).

Always start with disconnecting the cig lighter, then look around brake
arm for frayed wires.. ALSO this problem could be in the column or
Multifunct (turn-sig) switch, as well

There's a plastic tab at back of speedo cable connection, squeeze toward
cable to release.

I would find a U-Pick and get the entire column and/or its harness from
another car.

Signature

Yeh, I'm a Krusty old Geezer, putting up with my 'smartass' is the price
you pay..DEAL with it!

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Tom Adkins - 24 Oct 2006 03:42 GMT

> About the car:
> 1988 LTD Crown Victoria
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> * How do I get the speedometer cable to detach from the console so I can
> remove it? It's in the way.

The "console" is the instrument cluster BTW. Disconnect the cable from the trans
then feed slack in it up to the firewall, there are usually 2 straps holding it to the
body, slide the cable through them. Give yourself about 4-6". Squeeze the connector
at the cluster and it will disconnect.

> * The car is blowing up the brake light and cigarette lighter fuses
> whenever they are replaced, practically immediately. Are there any
> known problems with this car over time that cause this, or am I stuck
> playing voltmeter hockey under the dash?

Look down in all of the lighter sockets in the car. Coins and gum wrappers fit in
them nicely. Lighter elements also fall apart and fall into them. If all is ok,
disconnect all of them and see what happens. Because it is the brake lamp fuse also,
disconnect the turn signal switch (Multi function Switch) and see if it blows. You say
that you know it's bad and the brake lamp circuit goes through it.

> * My turn signal doesn't lock for left and won't go right at all. Should
> I replace the entire assembly or try to take it apart and repair it?

Replace the Multi Function Switch. It's very well used and 18 years old. The cancel
mechanism is worn out. It could very well fix your brake lamp problem also if it's
coming apart inside.

> * The horn doesn't work. Don't know what to do about it yet.

Do you hear a "click" when you depress the button? If so he horns or the relay might
be faulty.

> * That annoying *ding* gets stuck on sometimes and I have no clue why.
> All kinds of things seem to affect it, including the dome light being on
> or off. Doesn't make sense.

Try disconnecting the "key in ignition" switch. The wire runs to the right of the
steering column, a single wire connector. If you have a door ajar light that stays on,
the switch in the latch is stuck. It thinks the door is open and is telling you the
key is in the ignition.

> Where would you start with the brake light problem? It is THE most
> critical problem to repair right now, since the vehicle is up for
> inspection and brake lighting is the one thing I can't temporarily rig
> to make it pass (not to mention it takes out my hazard lights and is
> very dangerous to operate).

I would start by replacing the Multi Function Switch, then go from there.

> Any and all help is greatly appreciated.
>
> ~Jody

A description of when the "dinger" sounds would help narrow it down.
You mention a voltmeter. If you can read a wiring diagram and can use a voltmeter
get a copy of the factory EVTM (electrical manual) from Ebay. Here's one:
http://makeashorterlink.com/?O1BF5270E Could be $15.00 very well spent.

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Jody Lee Bruchon - 24 Oct 2006 07:02 GMT

>> About the car:
>> 1988 LTD Crown Victoria
[quoted text clipped - 65 lines]
> Here's one: http://makeashorterlink.com/?O1BF5270E Could be $15.00 very
> well spent.

The fun part about this is that I tore it somewhat apart, laid down in
the floorboard, and poked around. The wiring looks brand new, nothing
obviously out of the ordinary. I didn't know the brake lights ran
through that switch though, and that could be the key to all my ills.
Now that it's been mentioned, I recall the brake switch wires running to
a connector attached to the column whose wires ran into the column. The
car has had a finicky "key in ignition" ever since it was given to me,
and the driver's side door switch recently broke in a permanently closed
condition, so it always registers as being shut.

One more thing: the car killed a brand new battery after sitting with it
for only three days, not being used at all. No lights were left on in
the car. Could there be something in that switch that could be draining
the battery slowly?

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