Any Ideas (Headlight and heater Problems)

[nick7764]

Hello, just got an 88' Festiva the other day, and have a few questions/problems. :?
First of all, this isn't at the top of my priority list, but the little light on the dashboard that says "Shift" in the upper right always stays on. Is this bad, or just a minor electrical problem, or ? Also, the guy I bought if from says the heater works fantastic, but I've left the heat on for a good 10 to 15 minutes and it still runs cold...Any idea what could be the culprit there? Could I be doing something wrong? Also, when I was driving home this evening, the headlights worked fine. However, after making a stop and starting the car up again, my headlights just wouldn't come on. My high beams, turn signals, and brake lights still work, but the regualar lights just randomly stopped working. Thx for help with any of these problems

-Nick


Also,
I'm not sure if this related, but I just changed the battery today, as the old one finally died the day after I got it (it was on its way).

[packrat427]

Re: Any Ideas (Headlight and heater Problems)

Hello, just got an 88' Festiva the other day, and have a few questions/problems. :?
First of all, this isn't at the top of my priority list, but the little light on the dashboard that says "Shift" in the upper right always stays on. Is this bad, or just a minor electrical problem, or ? Also, the guy I bought if from says the heater works fantastic, but I've left the heat on for a good 10 to 15 minutes and it still runs cold...Any idea what could be the culprit there? Could I be doing something wrong? Also, when I was driving home this evening, the headlights worked fine. However, after making a stop and starting the car up again, my headlights just wouldn't come on. My high beams, turn signals, and brake lights still work, but the regualar lights just randomly stopped working. Thx for help with any of these problems

-Nick


Also,
I'm not sure if this related, but I just changed the battery today, as the old one finally died the day after I got it (it was on its way).

Take your heater off the vent setting and switch it to floor of defrost :lol:

Double check all the fusible links in the little box behind the battery , there are 3 of them , maybe you hit one changing the battery .( for the lights )

[25Horseplay]

Check the level of your coolant, if its low your heat won't work. Also check your bulbs, I have seen them both burned out before. As for the shift light? It probably doesn't matter. I also moved your post to the repair section where you are more likely to get the help for your repairs.

[nick7764]

Thx for moving my post (I'm still trying to navigate these forums). And thx for the advice as well- I might have bumped some wires or something around changing the battery- that's very possible (It was my first battery change alone). I'll also check the coolant and eveything else suggested. Its too late now, but I'll check everything tomorrow.

Thx

Oh, and I forgot to ask this. Don't have a manual as of yet, so just wondering (after finally figuring out where/what all the buttons and everything are), what does the little rolling (hard to describe) button switch thing on the dash on the left of the driver's side do? I'm pretty sure it has a light bulb picture on it, but its not the headlights, as I found those. I haven't really figured out what its purpose is yet....as it doesn't seem to do anything... :?

-Nick

[packrat427]

Dimmer for your dash lights

[nick7764]

Dimmer for your dash lights

What?

[packrat427]

??
What what
:lol: :lol:

It dims snd brightens your lights on the dash cluster .
I know it is hard to believe , but the Festiva did have this :lol:

[nick7764]

Oh lol, I read that out of context (not enough coffee today)

[nick7764]

Ok, I just went out (Brr, cold feet, no shoes), and tried to see if my headlights or heat would work. My headlights worked, and I rejoiced. I turned them off, and then back on again, and they didn't work. My rejoicing ceased. Its too dark to check to see about the wires, but I'll do that tomorrow. Also, the heat still won't work, and it smells sort of like burnt rubber when I put the air on. Any ideas on the burnt rubber smell? Is that normal? I'll also check the coolant tomorrow for the heat.

[packrat427]

Not sure on the burnt rubber smell ,
Maybe check your belt to make sure it is not slipping , if you water pump is not turning that would cause no heat too.
You did give it time to warm up ?
If the selector is on the dash vent / face mode , you will get no heat .
Can you hear the blower running when you turn the fan on ?

[69shelby]

The wire for the light on the driver side to the fuse panal in the engine compartment may be corroded, wiggle the wires for 'head' and see if it comes on.

[Mizery]

i know the whole problem... is has a ford name infront of festiva...lol j/k im having some headlight probs to.

[neanderpaul]

The wire for the light on the driver side to the fuse panal in the engine compartment may be corroded, wiggle the wires for 'head' and see if it comes on.

that's what I would check. They are called fuseable links and they look like 3 wire loops in a brown box behind the battery.

Most festiva newbies don't realize the heat cant come from the vent. It only comes from the defrost or floor. That is a bit annoying.

Has anyone here ever tried to reroute the heat to the dash??

[packrat427]

Re: Any Ideas (Headlight and heater Problems)

Hello, just got an 88' Festiva the other day, and have a few questions/problems. :?
First of all, this isn't at the top of my priority list, but the little light on the dashboard that says "Shift" in the upper right always stays on. Is this bad, or just a minor electrical problem, or ? Also, the guy I bought if from says the heater works fantastic, but I've left the heat on for a good 10 to 15 minutes and it still runs cold...Any idea what could be the culprit there? Could I be doing something wrong? Also, when I was driving home this evening, the headlights worked fine. However, after making a stop and starting the car up again, my headlights just wouldn't come on. My high beams, turn signals, and brake lights still work, but the regualar lights just randomly stopped working. Thx for help with any of these problems

-Nick


Also,
I'm not sure if this related, but I just changed the battery today, as the old one finally died the day after I got it (it was on its way).

Take your heater off the vent setting and switch it to floor of defrost :lol:

Double check all the fusible links in the little box behind the battery , there are 3 of them , maybe you hit one changing the battery .( for the lights )

[nick7764]

Yay! The heater works! (You're right, it was me, I had it on the vent setting ops: ). Its weird how that works...but at least it works! Everything else is fine...except the headlights. They worked today...at first, then stopped, then worked when they felt like it. A friend's going to help me take a look at the wires and all. I haven't had much time today to do much other than drive it. But at least now I have heat!
Thanks everyone!