phb@gearbulk.com

I have a 2005 Zetec, have exactly this problem, which in my case is VERY clearly a bad contact somewhere because the lights/buttons had been flickering in potholes for some time, until eventually going dead (in an Extra Pothole I suppose - common in Surrey). I have done the above procedure, can confirm indeed the 'dial' controls ARE transmitted electronically, there are no cables i.e. there must be servo-motors doing the action somewhere "down there". But alas, having re-secured all the contacts I continue with my dry sauna and dead panel. There are three sockets behind this control panel: center one is clearly the Fan controls, +12VdC incoming on one, and then distributed to pin 1 or 2 or 3...by the fan switch. That's alive and well. Then there is a "SCART"-like multipin socket to the left (behind the temperature control), and a two-pin (heavier appearance) socket to the right, behind the 'direction' control. My simpleton expectation would be that the two-pin connection would convey +12VdC and Earth to this (fully electronic, two PCBs) control panel however they are dead even with ignition on / engine running / sidelights on/off (the lighting of this panel is governed by the external lights control like the rest of panel). This two-pin socket with respective (dead) lead disappears into the forest of cables leading into the fusebox / relay panels in drivers footwell where I assume the loose connection / relay is... am about to give up and surrender to a main Dealer unless someone out there shouts "WAIT"...