Instrument panel lights

[gtsfirefighter]

My 79 keeps blowing the fuse for the instrument panel. As soon as the switch comes on it blows.

Since I'm new to old Fords, (always had GM's or Toyota Supras), can some of you guru's point out possible problems? What else is tied to that fuse that I could check out? The car does have an aftermarket Aiwa CD player in it that is working fine. Don't know if that would have anything to do with it.

Didn't know if this was a common problem associated with these cars.

Thanks
Ken

 

[Tim Cole]

Fuse blow

Ken:

I've driven my 79 Bird for 10 years as a daily driver and never have experienced a blown fuse. But I have not added any extra electronics such as your Bird. I am confident that the CD player is your problem. Tim

 

[gtsfirefighter]

Before I bought the car, I went to look at it at night and I remember the panel lights working. Seems just after I get it home they quit. The cd player is working fine still. I'll have to do some investigating and maybe pull the radio. The only link I can think of might be some kind of dimmer on the radio connected to the panel.