koda2000
Explorer Addict
- Joined
- September 2, 2011
- Messages
- 13,874
- Reaction score
- 1,579
- Year, Model & Trim Level
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Hello fellows. I haven't posted here in a while. I haven't had to fix anything on my Explorers in a couple of years as near as I can remember.
Some History:
When I first got my '01 Sport Trac back in 2015 I recall posting about having some weird electrical gremlins and thinking they were somehow security system related because if I "aggravated" the system the headlights would flash on/off for about a minute and the dash lights would come on and stay on. I recall wondering if perhaps the previous owner had installed an aftermarket security system, but I never went looking for one as otherwise the factory PATS system worked fine and as long as I didn't mess with the system by repeatedly turning the key on/off (like when trying to program a key fob, or when I turned off the annoying seat belt reminder chime) the flashing headlights issue didn't get triggered. The ST did not come with any key fobs (factory or other) and there wasn't a siren or obvious non-factory wiring installed on the truck anywhere.
The Problem:
The other day I drove from my house to the street to get my mail. When I stopped at the end of my driveway the engine just died and the starter wouldn't crank. No click, nothing. I tried switching from PARK to NEUTRAL but still no crank. I opened the hood and wiggled the battery terminals and connection to the power distribution box. Everything was tight and clean. Then I let the truck roll backwards to get it off my driveway and tried other electrical systems (like the windows, door locks, blower fan, radio, wipers) and everything worked normally. Then I tried the starter again and it cranked, the engine started, ran and the truck drove normally. In repeated testing the starter motor would sometimes crank and sometimes not. The next day I cleaned the battery terminals and power distribution box connections, checked the starter and alternator wiring connections, and swapped the starter relay. Everything seemed fine. I had a spare starter motor and decided to install it though I didn't see how the starter could have caused the engine to have stalled in the first place. My concern was that as it happened multiple times, it would continue to happen again, and I didn't want to take the chance on it happening in traffic.
Analysis/Diagnosis:
While I pondered the issue, I decided to fix something that's been bugging me for about a year now, in that the PRNDL indicator needle has gotten way out of adjustment to the point where it's hard to tell what gear I'm selecting. I pulled the plastic lower panel from the dash and the steel reinforcement panel to gain access to the PRNDL cable adjustment wheel and was shocked to find a rat's nest of aftermarket wiring connected to a black box stuffed under the steering column. I'm pretty sure it's a dealer installed aftermarket security system, but there are wires running everywhere, many of which have in-line fuses and they are "vampire spliced" into the truck's factory wiring. There are even 3 wires which are twist-spliced into other factory wires and are poorly wrapped with black electrical tape.
Opinion & The Fix:
IDK why people let "stealerships" convince them these systems are a good ideal (or necessary) when they buy a new vehicle. Just to make money I suppose. In my experience if these aftermarket systems don't cause problems, then the ****ty installation of them will. This device has got to go! I'm just concerned that removing it may prevent the truck from working as it should. I'm planning to carefully document what device wire is currently connected to which factory wire before I start pulling/cutting wires just in case things don't go as planned. I'll let you know how it turns out.
Some History:
When I first got my '01 Sport Trac back in 2015 I recall posting about having some weird electrical gremlins and thinking they were somehow security system related because if I "aggravated" the system the headlights would flash on/off for about a minute and the dash lights would come on and stay on. I recall wondering if perhaps the previous owner had installed an aftermarket security system, but I never went looking for one as otherwise the factory PATS system worked fine and as long as I didn't mess with the system by repeatedly turning the key on/off (like when trying to program a key fob, or when I turned off the annoying seat belt reminder chime) the flashing headlights issue didn't get triggered. The ST did not come with any key fobs (factory or other) and there wasn't a siren or obvious non-factory wiring installed on the truck anywhere.
The Problem:
The other day I drove from my house to the street to get my mail. When I stopped at the end of my driveway the engine just died and the starter wouldn't crank. No click, nothing. I tried switching from PARK to NEUTRAL but still no crank. I opened the hood and wiggled the battery terminals and connection to the power distribution box. Everything was tight and clean. Then I let the truck roll backwards to get it off my driveway and tried other electrical systems (like the windows, door locks, blower fan, radio, wipers) and everything worked normally. Then I tried the starter again and it cranked, the engine started, ran and the truck drove normally. In repeated testing the starter motor would sometimes crank and sometimes not. The next day I cleaned the battery terminals and power distribution box connections, checked the starter and alternator wiring connections, and swapped the starter relay. Everything seemed fine. I had a spare starter motor and decided to install it though I didn't see how the starter could have caused the engine to have stalled in the first place. My concern was that as it happened multiple times, it would continue to happen again, and I didn't want to take the chance on it happening in traffic.
Analysis/Diagnosis:
While I pondered the issue, I decided to fix something that's been bugging me for about a year now, in that the PRNDL indicator needle has gotten way out of adjustment to the point where it's hard to tell what gear I'm selecting. I pulled the plastic lower panel from the dash and the steel reinforcement panel to gain access to the PRNDL cable adjustment wheel and was shocked to find a rat's nest of aftermarket wiring connected to a black box stuffed under the steering column. I'm pretty sure it's a dealer installed aftermarket security system, but there are wires running everywhere, many of which have in-line fuses and they are "vampire spliced" into the truck's factory wiring. There are even 3 wires which are twist-spliced into other factory wires and are poorly wrapped with black electrical tape.
Opinion & The Fix:
IDK why people let "stealerships" convince them these systems are a good ideal (or necessary) when they buy a new vehicle. Just to make money I suppose. In my experience if these aftermarket systems don't cause problems, then the ****ty installation of them will. This device has got to go! I'm just concerned that removing it may prevent the truck from working as it should. I'm planning to carefully document what device wire is currently connected to which factory wire before I start pulling/cutting wires just in case things don't go as planned. I'll let you know how it turns out.
