1994 Explorer Immobiliser problem

[Andre]

Hi All, I am from SOuth Africa and own one of a few Explorers remaining in this country - only about 1000 were sold in total.
Mine is in mint condition, only 55000 miles on the clock, and only one problem thus far - a fuel pump packed up 50o miles from no-where, and over a holdiay period. I had to leave the car at a gas station, go home and wait 6 weeks for a new pump to arrive from the USA!
But, I love the vehicle and all is forgiven.
Now I have a problem - the immobiliser is erratic - it does not alwas want to come on after the car has stood por two or three days. Once it kicks in, no problems until the next time it is parked for say 48 hours.
Can one override it? How does it work? can I repair it, or even get rid of it altogether? In Africa, when you need a car to start, it better start, if you are not in a nice place. I'd rather be without it than have it not work when it needs to!
Any advice will be appreciated.
Regards to all out there
Andre

 

[marragtop]

Can you be more specific as to what an 'immobiliser' is? When you turn the key to the ON position, do you hear the fuel pump run for a second or 2?

 

[ma96782]

I "think" he maybe trying to bypass the "kill switch"......located under the carpet on the passenger side.......you know, to turn off the fuel pump in the event of an impact/accident.

Aloha, Mark

 

[marragtop]

I you are referring to the inertia switch, check the connection on the bottom of it.

 

[Big Red]

My Hemel! Ek het wragtig nie geweet dat hulle explorer's so oud soos '94 in Suid Afrika gehad het nie. Maar ek is bly dat oom hom geniet en dat hy ten minste die meeste van die tyd werk. Maar ja ek stem saam 'n mens kan nie 'n ding he wat nie wil werk as jy op sekere plekke is nie. Ek hoop oom kom reg met alles wat oom doen en as ek aan di'e kant kan help om iets te pos moet Oom my net laat weet.

Groete,
Johann Kruger
Richmond, VA, VSA

 

[Andre]

Amazing! I did not expect replies so soon - and one from a fellow SOuth African in my mother tongue, Nogal!
By immobiliser, I mean the following. To start the vehicle, when I turn the key I have to press a button, and then the "Check Engine" light goes on - when I turn the key, she will start. If that light does not go on, the starter will swing, but the motor won;t start. Now, pressing the button does not alway get that light to go on, and then the Ford is "immobile" - not going anywhere! So what I want to know, is whether there is a way to override the system so that I can turn the key and she'll start.
I see nothing in the manual but it is a Haynes manual, which is not so complete anyway.
Regards to al out there.
Andre

 

[Turdle]

I had a "similar" problem, a random dying, or no start of engine.

Finally, I caught it--no check engine light with the key on!!!
It was the connections to the PCM relay that were intermittent---just thought I'd throw this in.

 

[Andre]

Jon, this PCM relay - where is it located?
Andre

 

[Turdle]

Jon, this PCM relay - where is it located?
Andre

Ours are different generations--however, mine is under the hood in the power distribution box.
There might also be a fuse for it also--or, maybe an intermittent ground to the PCM ( ECM)???

Also, are you sure of the condition of the push button switch itself???

 

[ma96782]

To start the vehicle, when I turn the key I have to press a button, and then the "Check Engine" light goes on - when I turn the key, she will start. If that light does not go on, the starter will swing, but the motor won;t start. Now, pressing the button does not alway get that light to go on, and then the Ford is "immobile" - not going anywhere!

OK....this sounds like.....something we Americans, w/ American FORD vehicles......DON'T HAVE!!

Aloha, Mark

 

[MrShorty]

Agreed, that doesn't sound like a feature put on Explorers sold in North America.

this immobiliser switch basically sounds like a switch used to manually turn on power to the computer. And, it further sounds like your computer is intermittently not getting power. Whether that is a fault in the immobiliser switch, or the PCM relay (if it still has one in addition to the immobiliser switch), or somewhere in the wiring is yet to be determined. www.autozone.com has wiring diagrams for the north american spec vehicles. I don't know where the immobiliser switch would fit in the circuit, but if you can figure that part out, then it shouldn't be too hard to either bypass this switch or otherwise diagnose the computer's main power circuits.

 

[JStrider]

it sounds like you have a loose wire or a short somewhere

depending on where the switch is located you may be able to short the wires behind it to each other and depending what kind of switch it is that might do the job.

I did a little research and found stuff about immobilisers being used in a lot of third party car alarms. maybe this wiki article will help one of the more knowledgable guys help you out. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immobiliser
it specifically mentions the "low-voltage ignition circuit and the fuel pump circuit"

 

[Big Red]

I did a little research and found stuff about immobilisers being used in a lot of third party car alarms.

I was raised in South Africa and I think you are correct. An immobiliser is usually put in cars because of a very high high-jacking rate. Cars get stolen around every corner and in any part of the country. That being said, an immobiliser can sometimes be a hidden switch that only the driver knows about so when you drive down the road and you open the door, then the car will only drive about 400 yards away before cutting out. This is made so that if someone stops you and steals your car, they can't get too far unless they know where that button is. Well there are a variety of different kinds and they are all made to cut out the engine if something is not in check. Again this doesn't help me solve his problem but maybe some of you other guys are making some connections.

 

[DeRocha]

Sounds as though you need to follow the wire from the immobiliser switch to see if they are making only intermittant contact (or perhaps lead to a 12v relay on it's way out)

 

[Andre]

Hi Guys, saying that the American version did not have it put me on the right track I think. I contacted the assembler (Hi-tech automotive in Port Elizabeth) who has one technician who still remembers these cars, and he also said that these cars were not fitted with such a gadget. In fact, the car was American as it was exported to SA from a dealer in Miami who demounted doors, engine etc and then they were re-assembled in SA for some improt duty related reason. I then spoke to the original owner, who remembered that he had in fact had the immobiliser fitted to please the insurers; I now have the name of the installer and will try to track him down today or tomorrow.
THanks a lot for everyone who assisted; I appreciate it an will keep you posted (hope I don't bore you in the process)
Regards to all
Andre

 

[Andre]

To Johan Kruger

My Hemel! Ek het wragtig nie geweet dat hulle explorer's so oud soos '94 in Suid Afrika gehad het nie. Maar ek is bly dat oom hom geniet en dat hy ten minste die meeste van die tyd werk. Maar ja ek stem saam 'n mens kan nie 'n ding he wat nie wil werk as jy op sekere plekke is nie. Ek hoop oom kom reg met alles wat oom doen en as ek aan di'e kant kan help om iets te pos moet Oom my net laat weet.

Groete,
Johann Kruger
Richmond, VA, VSA

Johan - is jy permanent daar in Richmond? Ek het vir jou 'n e-pos gestuur. Weet jy dalk of hulle daar die dak-konsoles vir die '94 los verkoop? Ek het op E-bay gekyk, maar weet nie eintlik hoe die item lyk nie - nog net daarvan gehoor. Groete en geniet die sneeu.
Andre

 

[Big Red]

Ek is jammer maar ek het ongelukkig nie die e-pos gekry nie. Oom moet hom net na jkrugexx@leeu.edu toe stuur. (Ek wil nie my e-pos hier op sit nie so sit net twee nulle in de plek van die x'e.) Ek is nie seker ek weet wat oom bedoel met die dak-konsoles nie. Beskryf dit asseblief vir my of stuur vir my 'n prentjie en ek is meer as seker as hulle dit het kan ek dit aan die hande kry. Wel oom het ook gevra of ek permanent hier is. Ja, ek is permanent saam met my ouers hier en ons is al vir vyf jaar hier. Dit voel nie so lank nie en ons mis SA verskriklik baie. Ek is nou 19 en werk so elke nou en dan aan my '91 Explorer. Laat weet asseblief en ek hoop dat Oom my met my e-pos aan die hande sal kry.

Baie verlangende groete uit Amerika,
Johann

 

[Jason94sport]

Sounds like a Clifford manual fuel cutoff switch. I had 1 on my 1st used 94 sport I had. I had to put the little key into this box & push it down then I could start the X. With out this it would not start. It was a PITA & had it removed.

 

[Andre]

At last - problem solved

You guys were really helpful. What led me to the solution was the fact that y'all were sure that American Explorers did not have immobilisers. It turned out to be an aftermarket addition; I tried to follow the wiring but it disappears into the depths of the underdash maze! Eventually tracked down the installer, who told me about an override mechanism that he usually installed. I found it, and presto - Ford in not longer immobile. As everything shuts down in SA over Xmas, he can onlyl look at it after the New year, and will then either fix it or remove it - we'll have to see.
A merry Xmas to all out there - hope you have tons of blessings and too much to eat!
Kind regards from a sunny (30 degrees C plus) South Africa!
Andre