98 Taurus Fuse

I know nothing about cars, but I do know my windows stopped working and my dome light won't turn on. I bought the fuses the auto parts people said I might need - one that goes in the engine fuse (BP/MAX-30)and five little ones (ATM-5) that can be used in the interior fuse box. I looked at the interior diagram, but am still not sure because the window (driver window relay) fuse looks bigger than the fives, yet I can also feel two empty fuse spots and I'm not sure what they go to and haven't noticed any other problems. What do I need to do?

Welcome to the forum!

You dome light not working could be the common issue of the door ajar switch in the latch. Search the forum for the keywords "door switch." Usually this can be cleaned with fairly common spray chemicals and provide good service life again. Or, it could be a bad bulb or fuse. Does it work with any of the doors?

As for the power windows, they get power from an accessory delay relay in the instrument panel fuse/relay box under the dash. The accessory delay relay gets its power from a 30-amp self-resetting circuit breaker in the engine compartment fuse/relay panel.

The power window circuit is completely independent from the interior lights, other than the Generic Electronic Module (GEM).

-Rod

Thanks Rod!

The Max-30 fuse must be the fuse you're referring to in the engine. I'll take a look under the hood, find it, and replace it. Sounds like that's the trouble there.

Also, I'll take a look at the dome light, too. My car had been in a minor accident before I bought it, and I've always had problems with the lights (floor and side, as well-they both won't come on either) getting stuck on. I'm sure that hasn't helped at all! :)

According to the service manual, the power windows use a resettable circuit breaker, not a max fuse. A fuse is a 1-time device, a circuit breaker can open, then cool and reset.

-Rod