1997 Explorer Electrical Problem

[fomoco92]

Hello people... I'm brand new to this forum thingy, so here we go! I'm usually good enough to figure things out on my own, but this one has me stumped. Ok, I have a 1997 Ford Explorer 4.0. 5 speed auto 4x4. I was driving home earlier when I noticed my lights were dim and my voltmeter was low. I figured my alternator was junk (again) or my belt was loose. Well, I pulled over to check it and nothing was out of place. I continued on home when strange things began, and there's quite a list. My instrument panel lights came on and went off over and over again, My transmission began shifting on its own, an electronic beeping noise began underneath my dash, whenever I turned my parking lights on, my car would want to stall, my engine began misfiring, my interior lights would flicker on and off when I opened my door, my tach stopped working, my digital thermometer stopped working. I'm sure there's more, but I couldn't keep up with everything that was going wrong. I looked at a bunch of forums and people seem to be having difficulties with the GEM. But would a bad GEM screw up everything that's going wrong with my car? Whatever this is with my car, it effects everything. I was thinking maybe the computer, but then again, what does the computer have to do with my interior lights flickering and the thermometer not working? Car has never been driven through a deep puddle. I'm leaning towards a ground of some type... but what ground would effect EVERYTHING in the car? I'll do some more looking into this tomorrow, but any pointers would be greatly appriciated. Thanks all!

 

[DjDom]

Sounds like the alternator or battery.
Start simple, check the battery terminals are clean and tight.
Then take it in to a parts place that does free alternator and battery checks. That should give you an idea.
Everything you described here happened to me when my alternator died while I was driving. Random Beeps, lights flickering everywhere, tach not working, and engine struggling to stay on.
I have a feeling your battery might not be taking a charge, or the alternator isn't giving it that charge.

 

[drdoom]

Does that battery have enough water in it?

 

[bobflood]

When the alternator dies, the battery light should come on - did it? This does sound like a dead alternator - as the battery drains down stange things can happen electrically. I would but a battery charger on the battery overnight; if you can charge the battery up with that and everything seems to work again it would be another bad alternator indication. Good luck.

 

[bandit11]

fomoco92 check my post "ford explorer (not knocking) experience" i believe you are on the right track with "bad earth"

 

[rb142]

I also think it's a ground problem. Check the large ground connections between the battery and the chassis, engine, etc. Check the grounds to the dash, instrument cluster, etc. A good diagram of the grounds will help a lot.

 

[fomoco92]

Hey all. I sincerely apologize for taking this long to reply. I forgot all about theposting I created. Well DjDom turns out you were right. I ended up taking my alternator down to a parts shop and that's all it was. Actually I can't say that because at the same time I replaced the alternator, I noticed my ground terminal to my battery was just about rotted away. So I replaced the terminal and the alternator at the same time. I figure it to have been a combination of both. I've never heard of a junk alternator doing what it did to my car though. drdoom, I never did check my water level though. Although it's been a few months, it would probably be a good idea to check it. bobflood, yes my battery light did come on, but all my instrument panel lights were flickering on and off. So I never really took the battery light into consideration. rb142, you might've been right as well. As I said, my negative battery terminal was almost fully rotted away. Thanks all for the help, and again I apologize for taking this long.

-Craig

 

[koda2000]

it was pretty obvious that the alternator was not charging the battery (most likely a bad alternator, wiring or both). you're first indication should have been the CHARGE/BATT light on the instrument cluster should have come ON. as far as the strange symptoms you reported, modern (well semi-modern) vehicles are dependent on very specific electrical voltage. when the voltage starts to gets really low this is what happens. i'm surprised you made it home. now that you've fixed the problems you should also get your battery tested.

 

[fomoco92]

Well, the light did come on but as I said before all my instrument panel lights were going on and off. I didn't feel I could rely on that. I was surprised I made it home too... It was nighttime but no lights, radio, nothin.. Didn't want to use the voltage I had left. The battery has been fine since, only 3 years old. I've checked it with a voltmeter. Reads as it should.