2001 Explorer XLT - same old 4WD, windows, map light issue...

[nuke649]

OK...same old story...MY version.
Just bought a 2001 Explorer XLT last week. I plan to use it as my hunting vehicle because it has selectable 4WD. Everything worked as it should UNTIL I tried to fix a non-working map light. After checking the bulbs...both good...NEITHER map light works. At the same time, all windows stopped working, 4WD stopped working, and the 4HI and 4LO lights flash periodically on the instrument panel. I've read previous posts about similar issues but STILL find no definitive solution...fuse 25 is good, fuse 27 is good. Which relay should I suspect or should I go straight to the GEM? I've read ACC delay relay, window auto-down relay, battery saver relay...
Surely after 22 years there MUST be something definitive that simply has not been mentioned in this forum yet.
Any help would be much appreciated...I NEED my 4WD! Thanks in advance...

 

[J_C]

When vehicles get this age, any random thing can go wrong. It could even be the fuse or relay is fine but some corrosion/tarnish has built up and simply removing the relay or fuse and plugging back in a few times will clean the contacts... hopefully if it's contacts, they didn't end up with so much resistance that it created too much heat and melted the plastic holding them.

Usually the way to go with this type of multi-fault situation, is pick the one that seems simplest/easiest to troubleshoot, find the fault for that subsystem, and see if it accounts for the other faults as well.

I'd guess that possibly there's some damage to the foil contacts for the map lights and it's shorted out. It looks like fuse 26 (interior fuse panel), and the battery saver relay are the two to focus on first. Next, accessory delay relay but a lot runs through that battery saver relay including windows, 4WD, etc. Conveniently, you recently asked about the relay box it's in, in another topic, and were referred to this topic:

1998 Ford Explorer Map light Vanity Mirror Lights Not Working

Greetings my fellow Explorer Owners! I read just about every thread relating vanity mirror issues but I still have not been able to solve the problem I’m experiencing. Any help would be greatly appreciated : ) I am restoring a 1998 Explorer. The map light and vanity mirror lights do not work...

www.explorerforum.com

You can just swap that relay with one of the other next to it to see if it changes anything, but "IF" your map light circuit is shorting out, you need to fix or at least disconnect it first. Wiring diagrams for all this are linked in my sig below, 2nd gen wiring diagrams. Otherwise you just pick the circuit you want to troubleshoot and trace where power stops with a multimeter.

 

[nuke649]

Thanks! I found fuse 26 blown...hadn't seen that one mentioned in any other threads...took out the map light bulbs. The socket wires look pretty gnarly. Replaced fuse 26 and the windows and 4WD work...for now. I'll leave the bulbs out and see if that fuse blows again.

 

[nuke649]

OK. I carefully put the bulbs back in the map lights, making sure not to short the wires. Map lights work and no further problems with the windows and 4WD! Thanks!