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Ford Escape Electrical Problems

129 messages,  Last post on May 16, 2013 at 3:07 PM

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What is this discussion about? Ford Escape, SUV

Messages Page 12 of 14

#107 of 129 battery light comes on after driving. by mrnepinak

Mar 01, 2012 (1:24 pm)

the 2005 escape alternator 3pin conector's center pin may be backiing out of position causing the battery light to come on after 5 seconds or more of running.
the fix is to replace the conector.

#108 of 129 Re: Multiple Issues with 2003 Escape [prettyinink] by maybe4

Mar 01, 2012 (10:32 pm)

Replying to: prettyinink (Jan 17, 2012 2:58 pm)
Sounds like the main ground from the battery to the motor (two part test) you can check it by testing the voltage at the battery with the vehicle running and the test leads on the positive and negative terminals respectively, then turn the vehicle off using a set of jumper cables, the black lead only place one end on the negative terminal and the other end on a clean metal surface on the motor start the vehicle and read the voltage again. If the main ground has a poor connection supplementing it with the jumper cable should allow the alternator to supply the correct voltage to the battery and all of the accesories you may even see a couple sparks if you do the connecting while the vehicle is running (not recommended) If the first voltage was less than the second repair/replace the ground wire or its connections

#109 of 129 Re: Electical problem after new Battery and Alternator [jp1980] by wheatize

Apr 19, 2012 (11:02 pm)

Replying to: jp1980 (Jul 27, 2010 9:36 am)
I have the same thing going on in my 2004. Did you ever figure out what to do? If anyone had some info on this it would be great because it is pretty flipping annoying not being able to see anything in the dark.

#110 of 129 FINALLY, an explanation! by toadie

Apr 24, 2012 (6:22 pm)

OK. My base model 2003 Escape was acting up as I had explained in earlier posts. The alternator had gone bad so we replaced it, along with the battery just to be safe. The car then started missing really badly, especially when going uphill at a steady speed or when it was raining. So, taking the lead from another forum poster in this group, off to the shop it went. The motor does not have spark plug wires I learned. The coil packs (one for each valve) were going bad, eg cracked, and could short out the car thus shutting it off. The car has 130,000+ miles on it. The shop replaced all spark plugs and two of the coil packs. When I picked the car up to take it home I got about 1 mile away and the missing started again. Back to the shop and the computer indicated yet another coil pack had gone bad. So, we asked that ALL coil packs (~$85.00 each, ain't cheap folks) be changed. I pick the car up tomorrow. Hopefully that will fix it. The Escape has been a super car. Hopefully.... Hopefully....

#111 of 129 Re: Ford Escape Electrical? Problems [escape_solved] by escapologist

May 16, 2012 (9:26 am)

Replying to: escape_solved (Dec 26, 2011 10:13 pm)
My 03's gauges started jumping intermittently at first, then after a couple of weeks it became much more often. MPG went downhill very quickly also. It finally threw a code for cylinder 3 ( of course one way in the back) so I replaced that coil pack (and all plugs while I was in there) all gauges now work fine, mileage back up to normal. I spoke to 2 different mechanics, one wanted to replace the whole instrument cluster and the other the VSS. Both dead wrong. Neither solution explained mileage problem. Many thanks to "escape solved" for posting. PS: There are great utube vids for how to take off manifold to get to coil packs/plugs. Took about a hour and a half

#112 of 129 Re: Ford Escape Instrument Panel Problems [escapologist] by hvrealcmp

May 19, 2012 (9:40 pm)

Replying to: escapologist (May 16, 2012 9:26 am)
Back in Jan. I had a post and was not convinced changing out the coil packs would solve the instrument panel problems but changed them, the spark plugs, and the manifold gaskets (around $600) and a few hours of my time. It's my daughter's vehicle and haven't had the original problem since then. I suppose I could have saved some money by figuring out which coil pack was bad but with over 150K on the odomiter it seemed worth replacing it all. If anyone is unsure about this fixing the problem with the instrument panels then I'm proof that it works. I too wish to thank "escape solved" for the information provided! Best of luck to all who tackle this problem. If you do, check the connection for the cruise control while you're in there...

#113 of 129 08 ford escape satellite radio module by unlock1

Jun 19, 2012 (5:37 am)

I jump start my 08 ford escape no problems, and my satellite radio module fry's so the dealer says. The jump start did not even blow a 5 amp fuse !!! in the radio is this Possible ?
 The radio plays fine just no satellite radio, I did try to reset the satellite per some tech I called but no luck any Ideas ?
                             Thanks

#114 of 129 Re: 2003 Ford Escape XLT - battery light by myescape04

Aug 23, 2012 (3:43 pm)

Replying to: clearh2o (Oct 13, 2011 9:40 am)
WOW! I just felt the heavens open up and finally don't feel so stupid!!!
My 2004 Escape XLT has been doing the same thing. Yippee, I'm not alone, although sorry for everyone's same issues.
 
Mine started about a year ago when my car began to shutter, shake and rock n roll. It finally did it when the service manager was there so he could see what it was doing. As a woman you always feel that eye of the man thinking we don't know anything. (shaking my head now)
 
They had my car for 2 days, and found that a coil wire leading from the battery down to some other part had burned out two solenoids or something to that effect that was causing the shaking of the car. So, they replaced the coil wire and off I went. Then that's when this battery light issue kept coming on.
 
I went the next day and had Autozone test my battery. They said the battery was fine as well as the alternator. I went back into Ford, and they suggested it could be the battery because now the battery is testing bad.
I told them Autozone just tested it and they said it was fine.
 
Ford's service manager said, they (Autozone) don't have the right battery equipment that Ford has. Like OK, whatever, don't buy it, but fine. I said, go ahead and replace the battery. Yes, I know could have gotten it less expensive elsewhere, just wanted their battery so they couldn't say, it was the "other businesses fault" causing the issue or bad battery.
 
Guess what, the Ford battery was in place and the stinking light came on again not more than 5 seconds after they replaced the battery and I was at the stop light. Grrr, I said, Grrr.
 
I turned around back to the Quickland and the service manager said well maybe it's the alternator. Yes, another $400.00 they wanted to charge me with, only as a guessing issue.
 
After having my car in there for 2 days, then another day for them to look at it again. I said, give me my car keys and I left a little upset by this time.
 
I went to my friends mechanic who works on any car. He tested the alternator, tested it again, it kept coming back fine. He let it sit, tested it again, alternator was fine. He tried to duplicate the failed test like the dealer found, he couldn't duplicate it. So, the friends mechanic kept the car over night to see if it tested differently in the morning. No, still alternator was fine, ignition was fine, everything was fine. In fact, he said, my car is so clean, doesn't see anything wrong with it and suggested that I do NOT put a new alternator in because I didn't need it!! What??!!! I exclaimed. You are telling me it doesn't need an alternator and you're not trying to upsell me? He laughed and said No, you don't need it and I'm not in the business to steal from people. Found out later, he has his business only to tinker on cars so he can drag race, his passion is cars and helping people. Loved this man!! LOL
 
That was about 6 months ago. My solution, I put a little business card over the battery light and I don't see it any more. Haven't had any problems with my car until I got the recall letter regarding the cruise control.
 
You'll all like this one.
 I just took it in today 8/23/12 for the newest recall regarding the cruise control issue.
 
The service advisor opened my hood and said, "Ummm".
I asked what did that mean. He said, I'm missing my engine cover.
I said, "What?" How on earth is that missing? I never look under my hood and Quick Lane always does the servicing, so you better check with them."
 
He, said I'll be back, and the service manager I've dealt with for years from Quick Lane came over with the advisor and was shocked too.
He said, "In fact come to think of it, I don't remember it ever seeing one. But I will get one for you. That should arrive in about a week."
 
 So, waiting for engine cover, and they disconnected my cruise control, which actually would have been OK, since the cover was the problem with the cruise control and I didn't have an engine cover for it to hang up on. Gezzzz..lol
 
My Dad, a Chevy man always said, Ford stood for, Fix Or Repair Daily, and my daughter gives me a ration of poo about my car that I should buy a Chevy or a Toyota. So, although I love my Escape. I'm thinking towards Toyota.
 
Is there a way we can all get together and file some kind of an alert with the safety commission or something regarding this issue?
 
Otherwise, keep us up to date and safe travels everyone...

#116 of 129 02 Ford Escape electrical problem/battery dies by rbeck65

Nov 03, 2012 (5:03 pm)

I have a 02 Ford Escape and the battery drains and the brake light on the console is on but dim but when I use the left turn signal the brake light flashes along with the turn signal. Autozone could not find any issues. Does anyone have anything similar that you would know the cause for this problem

Messages Page 12 of 14

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