I really need HELP! - Page 2

sdwindansea · 02-17-2009, 01:37 PM

Jeffrey - I'm really happy to hear you are back on the road and that it wasn't anything serious in the long run (e.g. failed turbo). Hopefully you can shed more light on this one after your trip, especially since we have the same van

. Have a great time.

**daveb** · 02-17-2009, 02:58 PM

Jeffery good you're goin. I was gonna post about the shock switch located where the passengers feet are placed, but you found your problem.
Jage I have a breaker close to the battery boxes If I remember correctly, the kind with the lever and red button. My work truck is similar.

Jeffrey · 02-21-2009, 01:53 PM

UPDATE:

That 'fix' with the breaker was NOT the solution. The breaker in question was for the air compressor. The ford electrical system just happened to kick in properly at about the time the repairguy fiddled with the breaker. Sheer coincidence. I had a few days of no incidents, and then it happened again in New Mexico. Fortunately, it kicked in again and got me driving, but I can tell that the problem is still there because the lights don't flash when I use the keyfob to lock/unlock the doors. It's still a complete mystery, and does not appear to be anything SMB did. Of course, when I bring it to the dealer again, the problem won't be there!

**BroncoHauler** · 02-21-2009, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeffrey

UPDATE:

That 'fix' with the breaker was NOT the solution. The breaker in question was for the air compressor. The ford electrical system just happened to kick in properly at about the time the repairguy fiddled with the breaker. Sheer coincidence. I had a few days of no incidents, and then it happened again in New Mexico. Fortunately, it kicked in again and got me driving, but I can tell that the problem is still there because the lights don't flash when I use the keyfob to lock/unlock the doors. It's still a complete mystery, and does not appear to be anything SMB did. Of course, when I bring it to the dealer again, the problem won't be there!

Is there a way to reset the alarm system? I've had some problems with the alarm system, where both remotes suddenly stopped working. Naturally, it wasn't because of the remotes, but a system problem.

Herb

**daveb** · 02-21-2009, 03:09 PM

Jeffery somebody posted about the wiring harness going bad often on these vans (like every 40K or something). I have dreaded that post every time I'm in the backcountry. Whenever I smell a burning type oder I get worried. So far no problems to date for me but there is a post somewhere here. I'll look for the post. I don't remember if there were any warning signs. Good luck

Dave

Psomaki · 02-21-2009, 07:00 PM

Don't know if this is of any help, but Dave's mention of wiring harness troubles reminded me. Many years ago we had a BMW 320. While still pretty new and with low mileage, it began to suddenly not want to start. You'd turn on the key, the headlights would light by themselves, and you would crank and crank and crank, and suddenly it'd return to normal and start. A really good Bimmer guy suspected the wiring harness and he was right. He found a spot where it had rubbed, due to normal engine movement, and would execute a partial, temporary short to ground in a couple of switched wires. No sparks, no burned insulation smell, nothing. Might be good to check (or have Ford check) every inch of the harnesses for wear. Groan!!

Jeffrey · 02-26-2009, 09:26 PM

The solution was.....(drum roll.....)..:

BAD BATTERIES! Unlike other vehicles I've owned, the symptoms of batteries slowly crapping out were not familiar to me this time. Only when the problem got much worse, did I realize it was the batteries. I would drive for days and everything appeared fine. Then the weird dashboard behavior began, but the engine still started. Finally, this morning, it wouldn't start at all, and the clicking sound was all I needed to hear. I was able to jumpstart off my house battery (very convenient) and drive it to the dealer, who tested the charging and battery circuits. All else was well, but both batteries failed the test. So, I got got a new pair under warranty, but not before spending hours under the van looking for bad grounding cables and such. The van is only 18 months old. Scary!

**BroncoHauler** · 02-26-2009, 10:04 PM

Shouldn't the van be able to automatically start off the house batteries if the chassis batteries aren't up to snuff?

Herb

jage · 02-26-2009, 10:47 PM

My bad starter batteries were masked by the Separator automatically joining the house batteries whenever the key was in the start position (maybe glow position?) regardless my starters were long since toast and I was able to keep driving the van without realizing it.

I put in a manual switched separator, because that was bad also, but the system would be easy enough to bypass with a common switch so they are separate for starting- unless it's actually needed.

scatter · 02-27-2009, 11:56 AM

Jeffrey - In another post here I had the same problem. I'm on my fourth (yup, that's 4th) set of batteries on my '07. They did the same thing you mentioned at six month intervals. Ford said all checked out fine, but I talked them into a new alternator/regulator. Now the ScanGage voltage indicator gage doesn't fluctuate as much. I'm only three months into my 4th set, so we'll see. At least your's is lasting longer then mine. Thank God for the house battery to get me started in the middle of nowhere.