A few of the accessories are not getting power

LINCOLNTOWNCOUPE

MEMBER
1978 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL
7.5L
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
55,000 MILES

The radio, fuel gauge, windows, wipers, heater/AC, horn, etc. Lights all working, power seats working, lights on dash come on. Vehicle starts and drives.

I probed some of the wires with a test light under the hood that look to feed into the inside of the vehicle at the firewall. Light came on on the ones I tested.

Checked all the fuses, they all appear good and the ones I listed above that are working light up. The rest do not.

I am not sure what to do next. Can I unhook the fuse box and see if everything is connected to the back? This is a new one for me, never had electrical failure like this is seemingly random accessories.

3 Replies

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

Sorry for the delay. Can you be a little more specific about what accessories do not work and we will see if we can find something in common or worst case we will need to work through each one.

Thanks

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Thursday, April 2nd, 2020 AT 10:26 AM

LINCOLNTOWNCOUPE

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Accessories not working:
Radio/8 track
Power windows
Power locks
Fuel gauge
AC/heater
Signals

When I test light through the whole fuse box I am getting power on the fuses for the power seats, all the lights (headlights, brake lights, inside lights, etc.).
I am not getting power on any of the fuses associated with the above accessories listed that aren't working. Fuses are good I put in all new.

My belief is that the power is not entering the fuse box for these fuses. I am guessing I need to locate some kind of fusible link inside the vehicle or something like that.

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Thursday, April 2nd, 2020 AT 10:28 PM

ASEMASTER6371

MECHANIC
52,797 POSTS

Good morning,

All these accessories are key on components. That will be fed from the ignition switch to the fuse block.

These items in the fuse block have a bus bar or common feed bar that sends power to all the fuses.

Yes, remove the fuse box and check the back for power to the box with the key on.

This could either a bad ignition switch, wiring to the fuse box or the fuse box itself.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-wiring

Roy

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Friday, April 3rd, 2020 AT 3:54 AM