1996 ford escort has no dash or parking lights.

this 2002 Ford Escort ZX2 should have an owners manual in your glovebox

if not, here's a link in pdf form for it!

http://www.fordservicecontent.com/Ford_Content/catalog/owner_guides/02estog3e.pdf

now scroll to page 123 to see the diagram

look at TAIL ~ 15 amp blue fuse

this is inside the passenger compartment, not the one in the underhood bay

Fuse box location in 1998 Ford Escort

mark as helpful since i do this for fun only (not for profit) thanks!

1997 2003 Ford Escort Interior Fuse Check 2002 Ford Escort ZX2 2 0L 4 Cyl

The parking lights, dash lights, turn signals, and hazard flasher should be 4 different circuits.
So you would need to know exactly what that fuse protects, then look for the short to ground.

go with a higher amp fuse

i had similar prob got a second hand light switch,that fixed it

Hello and welcome to FixYa . Locate the dial that controls the brightness of the dashboardlights. If the control is not immediately evident. Make sure the brightness control is turned on. If it is and the lights aren't working, the problem may be a bad fuse. Check the fuse that controls the dashboard lights Replace the fuse if necessary. If just one part of the instrument panel is not lighting up, then you have either a burned-out bulb or a wiring problem.

Passenger side kick panel fuse breakdown for a 1996 jeep Cherokee Country

01 - 25A Rear Wiper/Washer
02 - 15A Radio, Cigar Lighter
03 - Empty
04 - 15A Passing Light
05 - 30A Blower Motor
06 - 30A (Circuit Breaker) Power Windows
07 - 02A ABS
08 - 20A Turn Signal Flasher
09 - 10A Radio/Clock Memory, Courtesy Lights, Glove Box, Cargo, Dome Lights, Telltales
10 - Empty
11 - 25A Headlamp Delay Module, Horn
12 - Empty
13 - 20A Power Door Locks
14 - Empty
15 - 15A Instrument Panel Lamps, Clock/Radio and Memory, Headlamp Switch, Parking Lamps
16 - 30A (Circuit Breaker) Power Seats, Trailer Tow
17 - 7.5A Instrument Cluster Gauges, Headlamp Delay Module, Chime Module, Overhead Console
18 - 25A Rear Defrost
19 - 05A Instrument Panel Lamps, Radio Illumination
20 - 5.5A (Circuit Breaker) Windshield Wipers and Washers

This should get you going. And you can always Ask Me.

you have a short somewhere, unplug the tail lamps one at a time and see if the fuse still blows. if you disconnect one and the fuse does not blow and everything else works, the problem is in the tail light assembly. if not, the short is most likely in the wiring harness which can be a bit tricky to diagnose. alldata.com/diy offers one year subscriptions to cars with all the repair info and they have excellent wiring schematics. dont forget to try the front marker lamps in addition to the tail lamps.

Here is an easy start. Start unplugging things. Start with the tail lights. 1 then the other. Then unplug the instrument lights then maybe the switch itself. after that its gonna be a matter of pulling trim panels to find the culprit (dashes and kick panels are common areas for this to happen). There is also another means too. when you unplug the item in question you can use a Ohmeter and use the black to a known ground then you can start touching wires to see which one has no resistance to ground. then you will need to trace that wire which can be a pain. As you can see this can get progressively worse as time goes on, but be patient and methodical and you'll get it figured out soon enough!

Sincerely

JC

FRONT:
-blown No. 18 {15A) fuse in the under-dash
fuse/relay box.

REAR:
-blown No. 18 (15A) fuse in the under-dash
fuse/relay box.
- blown No.3 (10A)fuse in the under-dash fuse/
relay box.

(click for full-size)
(click for full-size)

Try replacing the multifunction side/headlight switch. your rear fog lights propably are not working either.