Dashboard light

[utrimque]

Having somewhat same problem.
My back ground dashboard lights wont come on so i cant see what speed i am going when its night time, However the warning lights for the dashboard do come on such as the emergency brake light and check engine light etc etc.... i also noticed that my rear side lights dont come one
but my rear lights do come on when i step on the break. So when im driving at night people cant see me becase my sidelights dont come on at all.... any help?

 

[^neo^]

Obvious thing to check first is the fuse.
Failing that, then probably the light switch itself or maybe a relay.
What car is it?

 

[Belle427]

id hazard a guess its an escort

 

[utrimque]

Its a ford focus 2000
i checked all the fuses they are all good, i replaced all the bulbs and got new sockests, i havnet checked the relay because i lost my manual and i dont know which fuse to take out. here is also some wierd information which may help.
sometimes when im drving in the freeway the problem will automatically solve itself and my dashboard lights and my rear sidelights come on like magic, but as soon as i turn off my car and start it up againg the dashboard light do not come on againg... and sometimes even when i drive in the freeway and HOPE that the lights will turn on back againg it wont. im so fed up with this car... anyhelp?

 

[^neo^]

That sounds like an earth problem. good luck finding it though

 

[Belle427]

dont know why the focus should do it as well but earlier escorts had problems with the switch which caused the exact same problem

 

[utrimque]

what switch problem? do you think it might be my same problem aswell??
im taking my car to the mechaninc... and by the way also my license plates lights wont turn on, i bought new ones today and installed them but they failed to work... the cops are going to stop me soon i feel it

 

[Nige F]

Aye , we`re watching you. Laddie, but we`ve got too may muuuurders on @ the noo .......or should that be Yaki-da I`ll just get onto google maps