I pulled a trailer and shorted the circuit for the tail lights - all the dash lights went out also - the brake lights and headlights and everything else (radio-wipers-heater) work fine. No fuses were blown - that would have been too easy!. In tracing around - there is no power to the fuse for the tail lights. I just got done testing all 7 fusible links without finding any of them blown.

A wiring diagram would be most helpful.

I have the Haynes Repair Manual but the wiring diagrams in there don't show the circuits from the battery through the fusible links and fuses to the light switch and on to the tail lights.

Can anyone help me out? I've seen wiring diagrams posted on this forum and that would allow me to better trace the circuit to find the problem.

 

Is this an aftermarket setup where they spliced into your tail lights, or is it Factory?

 

I had a problem like that with my 93. WAs pulling a trailer got almost home and the switch had gotten so hot I couldnt touch the stem that is in the switch.Know it feels different wehn you pull it out also no dash lights but when I put my foot on brake the dash lights come on.Moral of story I think the light switch is cooked. The lights would go out sometimes when driving,could run switch back & forth most of the time they would come back on.

 

All the wiring is factory original. I pulled the dash apart to get at the light switch only to find it had no power feeding the section for the lights that won't light. Then I pulled the fuse panel at the hood release loose and tried to find power feeding the fuses - none there. That's when I figured I must have fried the fusible links. Now that they've test good, I don't know where to look. I figured that if I had a view of this section of wiring diagram, it would show the wire colors and source of power to the fuse panel. I think if I get power back to the fuse panel, the lights will work.

I had to pull the battery to gain access to the fusible links. I've got all the wires off the starter solenoid for testing.

This sure would have been a lot easier if the fuse would have blown when the short occurred.

Can anyone recommend a repair manual that has a good set of wiring diagrams?

 

if you have cd burner? download '97 Truck from >
http://www.fordcds.com/

has Aero in Truck
unzip .iso files and burn yourself a Ford Service CD with EVTM electrical troubleshooting section and schmatics

never wire trailer brake and tail lights directly to Aero tail brake circuits, guarenteed problems, circuit and wiring overload.
always isolate with 12v relays powered directly fused from batt. +.

many Aero's have factory relay isolated trailer brake tail light circuit setup in rear of van underneath or behind side panel

 

Are we talking fuse 4.
Link A.. black and orange wire. Let me know..
Out of the fuse panel to the sw is tan and white


Dick

 

99f350sd , whatever you're drinking, I'm buying!

I don't know why but, I had it in my head it should have been fuse #18. Boy do I feel like a dope! I had the dash apart to gain access to the light switch and the battery out so I could get to the fusible links. If only I'd of had a copy of the wiring diagram, I would have caught my mistake before I asked everyone for help.

Thank you so much for straightening me out. The first thing I did when I found out the lights where out was get the owner's manual and look at the section on fuses. Somehow I got off track at that point and never let go. (I've got the battery back in to make sure everything works - I'll put the dash back together in the morning)

All is well - thanks to your help!



96_4wdr , I downloaded the image that should have contained the '97 Aerostar service information but - when I went to burn the image, I got a block size error and couldn't get around it. I emailed the address given there about the problem but haven't hear back from it yet. I download another image for my motorhome chassis and made a good copy from it with ease. (I already had a copy of that disk but was hoping for to get a copy with the service bulletins with another copy). That's a great service that's being done with that site and I hope they get that file fixed. I've got it bookmarked for later reference.

 

Thats great Have a Merry Christmas!!