Re: HELP! instrument light failure

[PDQSHIP@aol.com]

In a message dated 96-11-23 07:07:24 EST, you write:

<< >           I'm too lazy to try to find Ned Ritchies tech tip about the 
 > instrument light failure for an 87 5000 T.Q.  Sometimes they work 
 > perfectly but most of the time(getting progressively worse) they do 
 > not even exist.
  >>
Replacing the bad license plate bulb is the first thing....  What causes this
is one of two things, 1) the seal for the lens has become compromised causing
some serious resistance in that bulb circuit, make sure you clean the
contacts well on install, and use the proper philips screws that come with
the lens...  I've seen hardware store parts installed there that rip the
gasket....  Last time I cked the lens and gasket came as a set....  A
compromised seal usually creates a dirty lens....  I put the lenses in the
dishwasher and they looked new....  The gasket can be silicone helped and
reinstalled....  2)  The wiring loom in the trunk where it enters the hinge
tends to get chaffed and causes intermittant back up lite and parking
lite/LPbulb prollums....  Some cars have the plastic loom, others don't....
Radio Schlack sells them cheap and is worth the investment....  The real
trick is to solder the breaks upside down...  For the immediate future,
Eric's procedure of opening the glove box b4 lites on is usually
successful...  I have found some cars that don't work with any of the above 3
procedures...  pulling the clock lites out one at a time did the trick...
 Sounds like this one can be solved easily tho

HTH

Scott