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Ford Explorer Maintenance and Repair

6386 messages,  Last post on May 27, 2013 at 6:07 PM

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What is this discussion about? Ford Explorer, Mercury Mountaineer

    

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Messages Page 440 of 639

#4391 of 6386 Re: 1999 Explorer shuts-off while driving [nvbanker] by cailein

Sep 17, 2005 (2:39 pm)

Replying to: nvbanker (Sep 17, 2005 1:57 pm)
Thanks for the reply. This short you suggest is likely internal to the battery and not external? Is this behavior documented in any Ford or other Technical Service Literature? I'd love to go back to the Dealer with some hard facts and possibly demand a refund for their lack of research.
 
I continue to not have this problem having not used the A/C since the last shut down. Do you think the A/C load on the system may be trigering the short? Is there a protective circuit (like a breaker) that resets after a certain amount of time based on the short? I mean the when it shuts down, all that lights on the dash is the 'Theft' light.
 
Sorry for the questions, just trying to understand what you know or have experienced. And thanks again for the reply as I have been scratching my head with this.

#4392 of 6386 Re: 1999 Explorer shuts-off while driving [cailein] by electricdesign

Sep 17, 2005 (8:46 pm)

Replying to: cailein (Sep 17, 2005 2:39 pm)
When the power goes out, does everything go off, like radio, interior lights, or headlights? Does anything at all stay on, other than the Theft Light? This would help to more closely LOCATE the problem. It sounds like your voltage is dropping low, as nvbanker surmised. This can be caused by a short in the wiring, leaking current off to ground, OR it can be caused by a loose connection, causing current and voltage to not flow through the circuit. Either way, it has to be traced to the fault location, wiring diagrams may help, study them carefully. Look at plug in connections, bolted connections, fusable links, etc. Make sure all connections are tight, clean and secure. Loose connections often leave signs of overheating and/or burnt wires. Since the Theft Light remains flashing when the power goes out, it suggests that the fault point may be after the point where the Theft Light gets it's power.
Good Luck,
E.D.

#4393 of 6386 Re: 1999 Explorer shuts-off while driving [electricdesign] by cailein

Sep 18, 2005 (7:08 am)

Replying to: electricdesign (Sep 17, 2005 8:46 pm)
Yes, everything goes off. On one occasion, the 'Theft' light was off immediately after the shutdown and started flashing after at least 5 or 10 seconds (didn't time it only noticed all was off). Sometimes the truck gets power again so I can start it. Sometimes it takes longer. I'm thinking about switching the new battery in my wife's 2001 Windstar with mine to isolate the internal battery short, plus the Windstar is an SEL with lots of electrical hungry stuff.
 
Having a plan of likely locations and connections would be very helpful in diagnosing. The only short the dealer found was on the downstream catalytic converter O2 sensor.
 
There is the consistent OBD II DTC B1834 'Door Unlock Disarm Output Circuit Failure ' problem that may may be a short and relate to the 'Theft' system. I do remember that the doors relock at some point after one of these shut downs, but not every time. The right rear passenger door sometimes doesn't unlock but I think it is more a linkage problem or sticky mechanism and I have to pop open the door panel to investigate.
 
Thanks for your input and any future input.

#4394 of 6386 Having problem with driver door locking mechanism by confuzed1

Sep 18, 2005 (8:36 am)

It started about a couple months ago when I tried to get in from the outside. It unlocked and everything but when I lifted the door handle it felt funny, then the lock was not working properlly and then yesterday I was getting out from the inside and the handle popped and then it wouldn't open at all and now the door will not unlock or lock at all and took the panel off and the inside doo handle was broke and the outside handle the spring had broke if anybody knows what is going on let me know now i cant lock the door.

#4395 of 6386 Re: Having problem with driver door locking mechanism [confuzed1] by alman08

Sep 18, 2005 (9:44 am)

Replying to: confuzed1 (Sep 18, 2005 8:36 am)
sounds like you know what the problem was already... you said you opened the side panel and you saw broken parts.

#4396 of 6386 Re: 1999 Explorer shuts-off while driving [cailein] by electricdesign

Sep 18, 2005 (7:27 pm)

Replying to: cailein (Sep 18, 2005 7:08 am)
Swapping the battery is a good place to start. Sometimes, not often, a battery can have an intermittent problem. If the problem continues and you want to look into it yourself, get a subscription to alldatadiy.com, I think its about $24 now, and you can get all the info for your vehicle, including wiring diagrams. Since it is an online service you get to see the wiring diagrams in sections, so you have to piece sections together to trace some circuits. You will need at least a Volt Ohm Meter and a 12 Volt Test Light. If you are good with electricity, you might try this, otherwise take it to a good Automotive Electrical Specially shop in your area.

#4397 of 6386 Re: 1999 Explorer shuts-off while driving [cailein] by nvbanker

Sep 18, 2005 (9:29 pm)

Replying to: cailein (Sep 17, 2005 2:39 pm)
Yes, the short may be internal to the battery. Before you do a ton of diagnostics, I would swap it out. As ED says, it's not common, but it can happen. What you describe could be explained this way, and it's the best place to start IMO>

#4399 of 6386 Starter replaced as well by jonings

Sep 19, 2005 (1:37 am)

In continuattion, i replaced the selenoide, and the starter as it failed on me just recently, now it sounds like im starting an ATV, and not a V6. Is this normal? for $370.00 it better be or ill be mad.

#4400 of 6386 94 Explorer stuck in 4X4, and sputters and stalls at start up by jonings

Sep 19, 2005 (2:35 pm)

My 94 explorer XL is stuck in 4x4 after a recent offroading trip, ive cleaned out all the undercarriage of debris and still its stuck, i have no clue whats going on with it, i can hear it clicking and trying to unlock the auto-hubs but to no avail. luckily its stuck in 4H so i can still drive short distances if i have to, but its killing fuel economy. Also, everytime i start it up after letting it sit for 5 hours or more, it sputters or stalls, any ideas?

Messages Page 440 of 639

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