Ok, yeah I know this thread has been dormant for like 7 1/2 years, but hey, I figure there are prolly some other fellers out there like me scrolling through these old threads, trying to figure out where and how the gremlins are wreaking havoc before biting the bullet and shelling out for repair bills.
So yeah, after 2 days of planting my nose in the highly technical 20 sumthin volumes of the service manual, and googling this, that and the other, I got this one..... drum roll please......AND SURVEY SAYS..... IT'S A FUSE......ding, ding, ding...... That's right, winner winner, chicken dinner, a simple little fuse it is.
But..... It's no ordinary fuse, because this fuse doesn't live in the fuse box next to the emergency brake pedal, and it doesn't live in the fuse box in front of the battery either. No sir. This fuse lives in a super secret fuse box that's never mentioned, not even once in the whole entire owner's manual. In fact it's exact location isn't even very well described in the eleventy million page service manual. Sure, there's some reference to a location somewhere behind the battery, but never once does the service manual describe or picture the cylindrical black cover box that's concealing this electrical box and it's little known population of fuses.
Ah, but once you've found where the bodies are buried just grab hold of that one right at the top and on the left hand side. That would be good old circuit number 71. I'll just betcha if your center console button lights and your tail lights are out, number 71's gonna be your huckleberry, and as it turned out, at least for me, that lil 10 amp sumabitch is a touchy little bastard.
So, if you've been pulling yer center console face plate and center shifter console trim cover loose and such, fiddle fartin around with yer receiver/cd/cassette/nav system and whatnot as I've been doing as of late. Don't be surprised if when you put it all back together, you find yourself in the dark so-to-speak with yer buttonage. What's more, since I determined the culprit responsible for my initial mysterious faceplate and tail light blackout. I've managed to fry that same mofo #71 fuse each of the three times I've had to go back in to make adjustments after replacing the receiver/CD changer.
Once was to reassemble the tiny little pieces (a bebe and a spring) inside the passenger side seat warmer switch that I accidently pulled apart during my first foray into the console disassembly procedure. Then I had to go back in once I'd figured out the reason why my hazard lights no longer worked was because I switched the plugs between the hazards with the clock. Number 3 was to change the light bulbs in the clock, and every time I put it all back together, what do ya know, no illumination on my center console buttons and no tail lights. Now, maybe I just have a glitchy FX45 in this regard, but based on the threads I've read, I think this has happened to more than a few other novice mechanics like myself, who set out to explore the innards of their FX dash and shifter console. If you ever find yourself among us, I hope these words may bring you comfort and at least some temporary relief from your fx diy frustrations.