OK - I know it's been like 5 years since anyone has posted on here about this - and so I Googled this 'message center' problem everyone is talking about - just to find that there are literally 1000's of posts from others over the past 10+ years of those that have/had this same issue - and best I can tell after reading 50 different forum sites, is that it's ether the battery, the alternator, the belt(s), corroded connections, or faulty/bad/defective 'replacement gear' for any or all of the above listed...
So, that said and understood - Here's why I'm digging up this corpse of a post after 5 years...
Have a 2004 AWD Ford Explorer V8 Eddie Bauer edition that I picked up online as a 2nd 'beater car' to be used here in Colorado Rockies during the winters - as 4x4/AWD vehicles here locally, they just gouge you on pricing - and this one I found was a one-owner with <75,000 miles - V8 as said - and the price was just 'too good to be true' - but for $124 O/W flight out and $130 bucks in gas back - it's been a great SUV and was a great find -
Now, all that said, when I picked the car up (it was traded into a wholesale lot for a new car 'as-is') and I had all the 'issues' listed before buying - so knew it'd need a new battery and alternator ... (also turned out to need a belt as well) - So, I had it serviced out east, filled it up and drove it straight back to Colorado - Threw some BFG A/T's on it and have never once had any issues with it in the past 11 months - till today...
So I was up in Denver and it was pretty hot today - and while I was sitting in a parking lot waiting on someone and had the A/C blasting (it has dual A/C front/back - but don't think that matters) - but I do use my iPhone as my GPS navigator - so have that plugged into the center cigarette charger plug - and what I like about this charger I bought off Amazon - is that it has 2 ports and a LED Voltage Display - (one side is lower amps for mobiles, other side is higher amps for like a iPad or tablet what have you) - so I'm sitting there waiting on this guy to meet me and all of a sudden a loud BEEEEEEEEP! goes off and I'm like WTF is that??? So I kinda scan the dash and gauges and everything looks normal at first glance - Well, I then look down to my center console - and see my USB charger with a huge red light flashing saying "LOW" - yet the voltage is around 12-13V (usually runs around 14.4-15V max) - never paid much attention to it before TBH -
Anyway - so I unplugged that - just to stop the screeching alarm - and seemed like everything was back to fine - I put the charger back in - and it sounded again - so I didn't need to be told a 3rd time not to try that -
So I then shifted focus to my dash and gauges again - and now I've got the red 'idiot light' battery ico on glowing read - but my "L" / "H" voltage meter is just a tick above center - and to the best of my recollection, that's where it usually is along with all my other gauges (less fuel obviously)
So fast forward several mins - and I was talking to my better half moaning about the heat as the E/B has dual climate controls and inside/outside temps - and it was showing 96*F ... but as I looked at it, it literally started to 'count down' right in front of my own eyes!!! 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 91 - all the way down to "0" and just froze there??? (did that all in like 30 seconds) - so now I'm like starting to get concerned b/c it's like a poltergeist has taken over my vehicle - Radio is still working (that didn't work either when I bought the car but the kid at Car Toys direct connected it to the IGN box) and was a $20 fix - so that's now got me worried -
Anyway - the guy I was waiting on finally shows up and we do what we planned on doing (never shut my car off all that time - like 30 mins) and then started to head back to my home about 50 miles away - Well, the next thing I notice is as I put my turn indicator on (both left and right) they are going a million MPH now tick tick tick! - Much like when you add a U-Haul trailer harness and tow something - it's that speed - Of course I checked all my bulbs and nothing was burned out - so hopped back in and headed home - but as I was getting ready to pull out - that's when I got a whiff of the dreaded 'electronics burn' or 'wires being fried' smell coming in thru my vents - Ahhhhhh S@#%$!!! - I hate gremlins and wiring harnesses...!!!
So I scanned my gauges yet again - and everything is looking normal still (outside of the red battery idiot light) but then looked down to my "Message Center" and sure enough, it reads "Check Charging System" ... Sigh...
I then rang Sears Auto Center as that was the only place in BFE, Maine where I purchased the car that was open on a SAT back a year ago that could do the work so I could get on the road (obviously I didn't/couldn't haul all my tools on a flight) - so I bit the bullet and they dropped a new 'Die-Hard' XL battery in and a NEW alternator as they had no rebuilts in stock, along with a V8 serpentine belt - and $700 later, I was on the road and it drove like a champ for 2,113 miles home - and never had a problem since -
OK, so I head out in the a.m. to Sears to see what their thoughts are - and of course I'm gonna have them check everything that I've bought over with a fine-tooth comb - but be it a battery lead or 'bad' alternator or even a battery, all that will be covered under MFG / Sears warranty (and FWIW, am NOT a fan of them or their services - but fair play to them - they did get me in and out and it's run well for a year - just didn't appreciate being gouged when I was 'stuck' in nowhere land) (Oh, they changed the oil and trans oil too - so suppose that's not too bad) ...
Now for a 'telling hint' - Around 8PM as I was almost home, I hit the headlights on as it was getting dark - and that's when I saw my Volt Gauge/Meter just nosedive - and I do mean nosedive... so I turned them off - and it kinda popped back up towards center (between L&H) but HAD to put them on as it was dark now - and it just tanked my volt meter again - So this tells me I basically drove home on either just the battery - or alternator 'only'... Right? and so if true - I'm praying it's only one of those 2 new items - and they'll just do a warranty swap/repair - But what has me concerned, is the electronics burning smell - for that is NEVER good... Could be a harness - Could be a lead - Could be anything... But the fact that the voltage tanked when I put the headlights on - combined with either a fried cable or harness or dead short somewhere - I just don't wanna get screwed over tomorrow -
So, for those far wiser than me - my main Q and concern is - a dead battery or dead alternator isn't going to give you that burning smell - right? The voltage drop means I've lost charge somewhere and odds are it's a fried cable - Hoping for corrosion or something basic/simple - but are there any 'common' points of failure I should be on the lookout for with this year, make and model?? Seems allot have had the same issue over the past 10+ years ... but the burning has me truly worried as chasing down gremlins and fried harnesses can cost more than what the SUV is worth now lol ... I just don't wanna be taken for a ride tomorrow - so trying to get a quick education - fully aware that no one can diagnosis an 'electronics problem' for me here online - but figured if I gave as much detailed info as I could - someone could give me some tips or pointers or 'what to watch out for' once they get under the hood .. (I just had back surgery - so me doing this is out of the question - sorry) ...
Also apologies for "War and Peace - Part 2" here guys... but the obvious question is - What should I be on the lookout for tomorrow when I go back in for servicing?
Many thanks -
BB