HI,

My cars developed another weird and wonderful electrical problem. Basically the instrument cluster always indicates the headlights are illuminated sometimes. Seems unpredictably random when it decideds to do it. Normally this results in the cluster LCD staying illuminated long after the engine is off (not 100% its the cause, but seems to corrolate).

Makes no difference if the light switch is on or off, or even disconnected from the car. There is no bonging when opening the with the lights switched off, and the lights aren't illuminated. Any ideas where to start? I've had the cluster out and double checked the connection at the back. Earth points are my next stop. Unsure where to look for them though.

Any input welcome :)

Most of the light functions of the Focus MK2/MK2.5 are controlled By the GEM module/fuse box. The light switch is directly connected to the GEM module which controls the light functions. There is no physical connection between the light switch and the instrument cluster. The headlamps ON indication LED is controlled over the CANbus network.

If the headlamps ON indication LED is illuminated when the lights are switched off you either have a CANbus problem or a problem with the instrument cluster.

The instrument clusters of the Focus MK2/MK2.5 are known to have electrical problems. These instrument clusters have poor quality soldering connections on the circuit board. During time the soldering connection become cracked (especially when driving often on bad roads) which will result in a bad electical connection or even no connection at all.

Most of the instrument cluster electrical problems can be solved by resoldering the big connector on the circuit board.