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Ford Expedition Electrical Problems

281 messages,  Last post on May 21, 2013 at 11:21 AM

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What is this discussion about? Ford Expedition, Electrical, SUV

Messages Page 16 of 29

#147 of 281 Re: NO START "SOMETIMES" 2001 EXPEDITION [alwaysfords2] by mountainman_4

Feb 26, 2010 (1:27 pm)

Replying to: alwaysfords2 (Feb 26, 2010 7:08 am)
Haven't seen decent coils for less than $57 a piece, and those are "Standard" brand...OEM are near $100 each.
 
Right now...I don't need coils...I need to figure out how to reset this damn PATS so that "theft" quits flashing, and I can start the junker.
 
The THEFT light is flashing a "61" code (thats a new one to me) and the PATS reset process (15 min key-on, then off, and repeat 3-times) didn't work...going to power-down next. Seems that no-one has encountered this failure while driving down the road...to where neither key works, and the reset didn't either...guess I'll tear the column cover down and see if there is something with the transponder...
 
Damn, I hate this truck for the technical issues. I hope Ford was in bed good with the insurance market...because I will never buy another Ford as long as I live, because of this PATS issue...there is no reason to make such fragile technical issues into vehicles, and then shaft your customer with $1000 service calls once a year. I'll just buy an old 1970's vehicle and dump money into it...at least it will run then...squeaks and all.

#148 of 281 Re: NO START "SOMETIMES" 2001 EXPEDITION [mountainman_4] by mountainman_4

Feb 28, 2010 (3:24 pm)

Replying to: mountainman_4 (Feb 26, 2010 1:27 pm)
Ok...update, the code that is UDP flashing is "16", and means 'failure of Transponder to communicate with the PCM, or SKF network error...or some crap like that. Every fragment i can find on this on the internet, says that the keys have lost code, or that the transponder (transceiver in key cylinder) is dead, or that the GEM is bad. Ok..great...except, if I disconnect the battery, turn the ignition to on, drain all circuits of power, wait a few minutes, then turn it all off and reconnect the battery - hey...no PATS "THEFT" light BS...and turn the key to it starting right up. Now, it will run...good...for 2-3 minutes, then it stutters, turns off, and THEFT flashes again.
 
Anyone have any idea how complex it is to pull the PCM out of the dash? I am thinking that a blow dryer on it to dry it out, and it will be fine...it is snowy and humid outside, and this all started on a bad snowstorm day...so, I am thinking that some in this post are kinda on the right track...that the PCM has been dampened by humidity or rain...and is acting squirreley...I just don't have the $1000 to play with the dealer on this truck right now!!!
 
Thanks.

#149 of 281 Re: 2001 Expedition - electrical??? [sgl1955] by shrek57

Feb 28, 2010 (9:49 pm)

Replying to: sgl1955 (Sep 25, 2008 11:03 pm)
i hv a 99 expedition and i had the same problems u did. i went from thinking it was the fuel pump to the alternator to thinking it was the tow hitch cables. u name it i thought it messed up my car. after 4 mechanics that wanted to rip me off i found a guy that told me he would take the instrument cluster and resauter 7 cables that go connected to the cluster. he said he would charge me $160 and i figured nothing else had worked so what is $160 to fix my problem. 3 days later sure enough its been a year and knock on wood it hasnt had a problem. i live in miami so if u live near by i can give u his #.

#150 of 281 Re: 2001 Expedition - electrical??? [shrek57] by tidester

Feb 28, 2010 (9:55 pm)

Replying to: shrek57 (Feb 28, 2010 9:49 pm)
i can give u his #
 
Please don't post telephone numbers in the Forums.
 
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper

#151 of 281 Re: 2001 Expedition - electrical??? [shrek57] by mountainman_4

Mar 06, 2010 (2:22 pm)

Replying to: shrek57 (Feb 28, 2010 9:49 pm)
Hey...thanks for your post, because you confirmed what I found on only one other post, and that is that final absolute resolution to this whole problem isn't the PCM, EEC, or the Transceiver in the key/column, but in that damn short in the cluster. Ford had a tech bulletin out on it a year after the vehicle was made.
 
Funny...it had been snowing here for 3-days, right at 32-deg., 'snow-snot' all in the floorboard, snow fog all over, nasty weather...probably had 3-inches of snow up against the windshield by the air intake screen around the wipers...flat broke for the time, I pulled the battery and the PCM plug...hmmm...moisture. Ok...I pulled the PCM...and the inside of the cover seemed to be moist/damp. So, little low-temp blow-dryer, lot of WD-40 on the plug and the recepticle at the PCM...put it all back together, fire it right up...wham...no problem...then, 10-minutes later, it died. So, with no hesitation, I went to the store and bought 2-bottles of ISO-Heat (Isopropyl dryer for fuel) and put them in the tank...started it up...AGAIN...and kept foot to the pedal at 2,000-RPM for 10-minutes (it wouldn't die then)...and you could feel the engine begin to smooth out some...and it has worked perfectly since.
 
By the way...the odometer on mine intermittently goes off and on while going down the road...DUE TO THE WIRE-SHORT in the instrument cluster that I am going to solder when weather warms up, now...should fix it all.
 
FYI...THIS SHOULD BE THE FIRST DIAGNOSTIC DONE ON THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE...I hunted the internet for 3-days, saw a thousand posts IDENTICAL TO MINE, and no one ever printed a resolution...though it seems LOTS OF PCMs got sold as an attempted fix.
 
Guys, I am telling you...try this first...this worked better than dropping a locker into a 9-inch rear, to get better traction!!!

#152 of 281 Re: 2001 Expedition - electrical - the saga continues... by mountainman_4

Mar 29, 2010 (9:55 am)

Replying to: mountainman_4 (Mar 06, 2010 2:22 pm)
Ok...I got it fixed, drove it...ran great. Then, drove it during a heavy rainstorm about 60-miles away from home, and it DIED! Cost $240 to have it towed back...sat for 4-days, disconnected the battery, reconnected the battery...and on a beautiful sunny day, took it for a drive...ran great! Ok...drove it around for a few days...ran WONDERFUL. Next time I needed to make the same 60-mile trip, again it was raining...same deal, but $280 tow bill this time!!!
 
Got it home, dried it out, again...drove great about 3-days later...put maybe 500-miles on it...ran great...not one miss. Went out this morning, raining like a dog...started it. It ran for MAYBE 10-seconds, and DIED. Won't start, PATS is flashing again...and I am sure that when the rain stops, and all is dry, it will run PERFECT AGAIN.
 
HELP SOMEONE!!! What is getting wet, or humid, that even sitting still in the driveway, just starting it causes this?!?!?!

#153 of 281 Re: 2001 Expedition - electrical - the saga continues... [mountainman_4] by thickchick

Apr 11, 2010 (9:02 am)

Replying to: mountainman_4 (Mar 29, 2010 9:55 am)
I'm trying to help as many folks as I can. I thought it was the windshield that was leaking ... MAYBE! We had the windshield replaced the day after a hard rain (we had a "starburst that eventually lead to a long crack"); hubby tried to find any possible leaks ... but we didn't see anything wet, when the windshield was pulled off (the seals appeared dry ).
 
Our windshield tech told us that the "groove" on the top of the truck (where the luggage rack is), is notorious for causing LEAKS. In other words, where the "luggage rack" is attached ... big hole ... it is HOLLOW right there.
 
So we lucked out ... we were able to follow where the water was getting in and we sealed all the HOLES accordingly.
 
Since a new windshield was installed, we had a "good seal" there (#1 culprit times).
 
We took the luggage rack off and basically made a "gasket" before putting it back on! (when you take it off, you will see what I mean).
 
We also sealed the hole(s) where the inside, assist handle is located. (the handle in the upper, left corner).
 
Hopefully, this helps someone else. Not exactly SURE which method worked (I believe it was the LUGGAGE RACK HOLES), but we no longer have that problem when it rains anymore.
 
(** note - we had the battery replaced and a new alternator, before figuring this out .... sheesh )

#154 of 281 07 Expedition power window problem by chammons

May 04, 2010 (12:59 pm)

Ok so I have had this truck for almost three years now and the both front windows wont go up or down. I was just wondering if anyone else was having this problem? They say there is no recall on this but I just don't see how they could just go out with out there being some era on their part.

#155 of 281 Re: 07 Expedition power window problem [chammons] by kd4kmz

May 04, 2010 (8:07 pm)

Replying to: chammons (May 04, 2010 12:59 pm)
Does your radio work or not when the windows don't work?

#156 of 281 Re: 2001 Expedition - electrical - the saga continues... [mountainman_4] by wroe

Jun 05, 2010 (7:46 pm)

Replying to: mountainman_4 (Mar 29, 2010 9:55 am)
did you find out what was the cause of your troubles. Every time I go to car wash it dont run right.

Messages Page 16 of 29

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