cruise control lights not working

[pookapa]

the right side (resume, set, coast) of the cruise control buttons on the steering wheel does not light up, any way to fix this?

 

[gijoecam]

Search, please. There are more than a few posts about this problem. The *can* be repaired, but it's a fair amount of time and effort.

-Joe

 

[ghh97eb]

Since the cruise control light bulb replacement question has been asked a couple of times within the past 10 days, and since it is one of the quickest/easiest repairs I have ever done to my Ex (thanks to the info others posted in various threads), I thought that I'd "pay it forward" by searching for the threads I used when replacing the cruise control bulbs a month or so ago and including links to them and pertinent info below:

"Got a fix for you all with cruise control lights that are out, get part number E5RY*13466*BA , its from a ford contour, and fits perfectly, the bulb is slightly longer but in no way hinders operation. Take the blue (or whatever color) cover off the old bulb and put it on this one, and reinstall."

Origin of this replacement bulb part number, and confirmation that it works (although not originally designed for use in an Explorer):

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24153

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56484

Instructions on how to get at the switches and replace the bulbs—PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE INFO RE: AIRBAG & BATTERY LEAD DISCONNECT

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=54734

Have fun. :exp:

 

[rollinstone]

THere's a leetle teeny bulb in there that you need to replace. Use extreme caution, tho. Be sure to disconnect the neg batt terminal and wait 5 minutes before working around the air bag module to get at the CC switches. To get at the bulb you'll need to carefully pry back the cover over the switch...just check it out very thoroughly before you try to remove it. Twist out the old bulb and twist in the new one....carefully.

Did mine on both sides and they work fine now.

 

[Jeff00000168]

I opened mine on the left side of the steering wheel and all I see is the board, 2 buttons and a blue plastic screw kinda thing in the middle. Is the bulb under the board or is it the blue plastic in the middle.

 

[mwking]

It's the blue plastic thing in the middle.

 

[Jeff00000168]

Oh, thanks! That solves my problem for that then. The only problem now is putting the rubber cover back. Do I have to remove anything like the steering wheel cause I've been trying to put the rubber button cover back for like 4 months now and I just can't seem to do it. Is there a technique or some kind of tool that would make it easier rather than forcing it back in. I took mine off about 4 months ago and even without changing the bulb (since I didn't know it was that blue plastic looking screw in the middle) I tried to put the rubber cover back and can't so I just left it as is (left side slightly popped up).

 

[ghh97eb]

When I fixed mine, I just removed the airbag/horn module from the middle of the steering wheel and then unscrewed the switches. The rubber covers are much easier to get back on once the switches are off of the steering wheel.

 

[Jeff00000168]

before removing the "airbag/horn module" from the middle of the steering wheel, did you disconnect your battery first?

 

[ghh97eb]

Absolutely, I disconnected the positive and negative battery leads and waited 20 minutes afterwards before I took the horn/airbag off, just to make sure that the airbag sensors had completely powered down so that the airbag wouldn't go off while I was working.

 

[Jeff00000168]

Wow! After 6 months, my cruise control ON/OFF switch lit up again out of nowhere ??? I didn't fix it or anything. It just lit up ????? I was about to replace it with the "E5RY*13466*BA Ford Contour lights". Is this normal for Explorers to have faulty cruise control switch bulbs in the steering wheel?

 

[Frankieatc]

This happened to me- for about two days it was on. Is there a known wiring fault???

 

[Jeff00000168]

For got about this thread..... Yeah, mine goes on and off sometimes too.

 

[rck2drums]

Problems with contour?

For those of you that replaced your stock cruise control bulb with one from a Ford Contour, have you had the same problem at all??

 

[scotsh]

My right side buttons all went out too. It thought I was going to have to replace the bulbs but one day I was waiting for someone and just tapped on the switches hard and they came back on, also worked when I lost part of my instrument lights.

 

[rck2drums]

For those of you that replaced your stock cruise control bulb with one from a Ford Contour, have you had the same problem at all??

The reason i ask is b/c it seems to be an electrical prob. Everybody seems to be having the same prob... I would think that if a bulb went out, then it would stay out like everyother light bulb that I know. hmm

 

[bucky1]

I popped off the rubber cover and got the bulb out. The dealer claims he ordered the part # for the Contour bulb, but he was a real dick about doing it. When I went back, he had some giant bulb that wasn't even close. He said he told me so and I need to buy the whole module.

Anyway, can someone confirm the year of Contour I need to ask for and the part#? Any good tips on getting the cover back on? I was thinking a little silicone might help it pop back on.