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Ford Mustang Electrical Problems

197 messages,  Last post on Jan 11, 2013 at 1:02 PM

You are in the Ford Mustang Forum.

What is this discussion about? Ford Mustang, Ford Mustang SVT Cobra, Coupe, Convertible

Messages Page 6 of 20

#47 of 197 Re: 2006 Mustang GT massive electrical failure [specialed] by h8mstng

Aug 14, 2007 (3:54 pm)

Replying to: specialed (Jul 29, 2007 8:21 am)
It sounds like you had the same issues I had with a 2005 convertible. Every time it rained, the electrical system was seriously screwed up. The TCS and ABS warning lights would come on and stay on. The message center indicated that the charging system had failed. The radio would only work in park and neutral. The car reeked of mold and mildew. It seems that there were some cars that were not assembled properly at the good ole Ford factory. I had a major leak between the firewall, "A" frame and floor pan. Water would get in to the car from the drain hole on the front fender and run into the passenger side. This water would run over the ECU junction box and cause numerous electrical problems. Ford claimed that the car never leaked. The Better Business Bureau sent an inspector to my house who was able to find the leak in less than 3 minutes. Ford's technicians couldn't find the leak in 8 different trips to the dealership. Each time I contacted Ford customer service, they would hang up on me. The dealer I bought the car from threatened to have me arrested if I didn't get my car off his lot. Any other dealer I took the car to refused to fix it because "it wasn't their problem" and it might reflect badly on their fix it right ratio. I had to go through the Better Business Bureau to get Ford to take their piece of crap back
Things to look for after it rains:
Pull back the carpet from under the kick panel on the passenger side (and this might seem funny) and sniff. (Do this on the drivers side too as I have heard of this area leaking as well as the passenger side. You might smell a moldy smell.
If you do smell something, look up over the large black box and the wiring harness above it. Check the entire wiring harness. You might even see water dripping from the harness. (My leak resulted in ice cicles hanging from the wiring harness.)
 
Check the padding under the carpet for dampness and squeeze it. If you have a leak you will notice it then. It's really hard to miss. (My carpet was a little harder to lift up, it was frozen to the floor.)
 
If you can't find the leak. Open the hood. Look along the top of the fender. Fairly close to the windshield you will find a hole. Place a hose near that hole and let the water run into it. Look inside the car along the floor pan where you have the carpet pulled back. If you have a leak, you will DEFINITELY find it then.
 
FORD WILL NOT HELP YOU WITH THIS PROBLEM. They will do everything in their power to lie to you about it. There have been MANY documented and unfortunately undocumented cases of leaks on the Mustang. Ford continues to lie about the Mustang ever leaking. It's just proof that you can put crap in a shiny box, but it's still just crap.

#48 of 197 Fog lights 2003 Mustang GT convertible. by belvette

Aug 28, 2007 (5:13 am)

I recently bought a 2003 Ford Mustang GT conv 4.6 liter. I noticed the fog lights are always on when the lights are on low beam. I cannot seem to turn them off via the fog light switch. Does this seem normal or is the switch defective? If it is a bad switch how difficult would it be to change?

#49 of 197 Re: Fog lights 2003 Mustang GT convertible. [belvette] by akirby

Aug 28, 2007 (5:39 am)

Replying to: belvette (Aug 28, 2007 5:13 am)
Are you sure you're using the switch correctly? Push the switch in to turn them off, pull it out to turn them on. If the switch is pushed in and they're still on then I'd remove the switch and test it with a voltmeter before you replace it. Should be right behind the dash panel.

#50 of 197 03 fog lights had a seperate button. by mschmal

Aug 28, 2007 (4:07 pm)

probably defective
 
Mark

#51 of 197 Re: Fog lights 2003 Mustang GT convertible. [akirby] by belvette

Aug 29, 2007 (3:43 am)

Replying to: akirby (Aug 28, 2007 5:39 am)
Thanks for the quick reply, the switch itself is not a push/pull type. It is located in the center dash panel just below the radio along with the rear defrost and traction control switches. It has an led indicator which is always lit no matter how many time I depress it.

#52 of 197 Re: Fog lights 2003 Mustang GT convertible. [belvette] by akirby

Aug 29, 2007 (6:31 am)

Replying to: belvette (Aug 29, 2007 3:43 am)
In that case I'd say the switch was bad. Shouldn't be too hard to change. When you unplug the switch the lights should go out.

#53 of 197 2005 GT electrical issue(s) by flmustang

Sep 05, 2007 (11:10 am)

I recently purchased a used 2005 GT. No real issues, other than the stereo (Shaker 500) would act up occasionally (not play CD's, etc.). About a week ago, I noticed that the radio had lost the time and all the presets. I turned it off, back on and the problem had vanished--all settings were back like they always had been. I then went out of town for 3 days. I arrived back at the airport, started the car and drove off as normal--no issues at all. I drove about 60 miles, stopped at the store and was out in under 5 minutes. I put the key in, turned to accessory, everything lit up like it should. When I turned the key to the start position, there was an audible 'pop', and the whole car went dead. No lights, radio, anything. I had the car towed to the dealer, and they have replaced the battery. While I am not a certified mechanic, batteries do not suddenly go from fully charged, to dead (and wouldn't take a charge) in less than 5 minutes. I purchased the vehicle used, so I am not sure if I have the same recourse under a lemon law if (when) this occurs again. It may just be me, but my issue sounds very similar to some of the others posted, other than the fact that the car had only been shut off for less than 5 minutes, and had never had a slow start issue in the two months that I have owned it.

#54 of 197 Re: 2005 GT electrical issue(s) [flmustang] by tayl0rd

Sep 05, 2007 (11:31 am)

Replying to: flmustang (Sep 05, 2007 11:10 am)
If it made an audible pop, that sounds like a classic bad ground to me.

#55 of 197 Re: 2005 GT electrical issue(s) [tayl0rd] by flmustang

Sep 05, 2007 (5:15 pm)

Replying to: tayl0rd (Sep 05, 2007 11:31 am)
That is what I thought, or a relay that went bad. The dealer tested the battery, which they said would not hold a charge, and then tested the alternator. According to them, the battery was the problem. I still have my doubts about that.......

#56 of 197 Re: 2005 GT electrical issue(s) [flmustang] by tayl0rd

Sep 06, 2007 (5:50 am)

Replying to: flmustang (Sep 05, 2007 5:15 pm)
A bad ground can cause a battery to not hold a charge. It's discharging on something.

Messages Page 6 of 20

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