Electrics problem on '96 500

[House]

Can anyone point me in the direction of the likely cause of clock, stereo, gauge lights, dipped headlights/foglights and main beam (permanent) suddenly not working? The brake lights, indicators and main beam (if 'flashed') all seem to be ok. I checked fuse that, according to manual, was for gauges but looked ok. Any thoughts on what the problem might be?

[rigga]

check every fuse,the layout of your board might not match that shown in the manual .......

[Loubaruch]

Too many faults to be fuses. As this would mean 4 fuses had blown, most unlikely.

A positive feed has possibly become disconnected or has a bad contact somewhere perhaps behind the dash or on the fuse block in the passenger well.

It really needs someone who knows what they are doing with electrics to trace the fault.

[steve-V8s]

Does the boot release work or is the boot release button stuck in by any chance ?

[Bluebottle]

i have had very similar symptoms twice before, and both for different reasons;

The first time, was the earth strap under the dash on the trannie tunnel (stripped thread on the bolt).
The second time was when the 80 amp in line fuse fell apart (casing screws undone themselves). Don't mistake this for the main 100 amp fuse by the starter motor, there is a second one in the footwell on the loom going into the dash. on my car this fuse dangles from the fuse box behind the battery box.

[House]

Thanks for all the suggestions (boot release working fine/doesn't appear to be stuck). Will have a look at other areas over weekend and drop off at garage if can't see anything obvious.

[Colin RedGriff]

Worth checking the earth point especially the one on the offside front of the chassis. It's under the radiator on the end of the bottom chassis rail. You should be able to see it from the front with a socket and long extension.