Ask the Car People.SM


Ford Escape Electrical Problems

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

You are in the Ford Escape Forum.

What is this discussion about? Ford Escape, SUV

Messages Page 13 of 14

#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

#117 of 129 Battery and airbag indication problem by binbin93

Dec 03, 2012 (5:00 am)

My car is ford escape 2005, recently, It had has problem: both indicator: "battery" and "airbag" indicated at the same time, first I think battery or alternator problem but I think all are still OK because I can start engine even leave it overnight and day by day.
everyone can help me to define the problem, is it may from electric wire/jack lossen?
 
thankrs.
 
binbin

#119 of 129 gear indicator light on 2003 Ford Escape Limited by djdeva3

Feb 06, 2013 (7:47 pm)

I recently bought a 2003 Ford Escape Limited with 60,000 miles in mint condition. I noticed that the gear indicator light on the panel isn't lit....I had to turn on the interior lamp light to see it. everything else on the panel lights up just fine. I called the salesman who told me that his friend's Escape had the same condition. It doesn't make sense to me. I need to know ASAP what I should do. I have only had the car for a couple of days, and I can take it to the dealership and have them service it if it's a problem worth addressing. Otherwise, I can live with the symptom because it's a great car for 10 years old. And I got an excellent deal.

#120 of 129 Re: gear indicator light on 2003 Ford Escape Limited [djdeva3] by stevedebi

Feb 07, 2013 (10:29 am)

Replying to: djdeva3 (Feb 06, 2013 7:47 pm)
You know, they dropped the instrument panel gear indicator in the 2008 model refresh, which tells me it isn't really that important. If you car is going into gear fine, I would just let it go. If there is any indication of transmission trouble, then have it looked at.

#122 of 129 2012 Escape AC by bretcamp

Apr 06, 2013 (10:54 am)

AC wasn't getting cold. My son brought car in for repairs. First they said bad gasket. Now they are saying "major electrical problems not covered by warranty." I've never heard this on a car that is 1 year old. It has never been offroad, has no modifications, kept clean and shiny. all regular service. I called Ford customer service line, and they said depending on the part it might not be covered, even if it's an internal electrical or mechanical component, even if no abuse, damage, etc. Has anyone ever heard of such a thing? How can they say it's bumper to bumper warranty. I've had many. many cars, and been driving for 30 years, including other Fords that have needed major repairs, and I've never heard this said before. I'm dumbfounded.

#123 of 129 Re: 2012 Escape AC [bretcamp] by kyfdx HOST

Apr 07, 2013 (6:05 am)

Replying to: bretcamp (Apr 06, 2013 10:54 am)
Is it over 36K miles?
 
Unless they are proposing that the car has been damaged by accident or the weather.... or, because of lack of regular maintenance, then I don't see how it could be uncovered...

Messages Page 13 of 14

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement