twostar
Member
- Joined
- August 24, 2008
- Messages
- 12
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Bellevue, WA
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- '99 Ranger 3.0L V6
99 Ranger 3.0L V6
I tried starting the truck after running in to the grocery store for some food. I get a clicking sound like it's a dead battery. Engine won't turn over, etc. Call the GF for a jump and while I waiting I tried starting it again a couple of times. One time I notice smoke come out of my steering column cover, out of the hazards button hole. Not good. She gets there and I can't jump it. Just get this clicking noise when I put the key in the ignition.
I tow it to the dealer but it's after hours so I just leave it out front and do the overnight key drop. Do some research online and suspect that the multifunction switch might have gone out and be shorting the system. (odd since the fuse should blow) After calling the dealer and talking with them on rates I tell them to not do any work and I'll work on it myself. They also claim the battery is shot and that my serpentine belt is also bad.
I tow the truck back to my place to take a look figuring it'd be an easy fix with a short in the steering column somewhere. I also go get the battery checked at les schwab (where I bought it) and they tell me it's fine and do a recharge on it. Also check the belt and it's in fine shape. Two strikes against the dealer.
Now i get the clicking noise whenever I hook up the battery. I've done some looking around and it appears to be coming from the A/C area in the dash. I can't actually hear the noise if the doors are closed then I hook up the battery so i'm fairly sure it's not in the engine compartment.
I've also pulled the multifunction switch and the starter switch to check for shorts, any easy tests or walkthroughs I should use to check these? The battery is still drawing power and the dash clicking when I hook the battery up and all these parts are removed. Any ideas of how I can isolate this now?
Update: I started going through all the fuses and when I pull either fuse 25 or 26 the clicking stops. Only if BOTH are installed does the clicking continue.
25: Generic Electronic Module (GEM), Instrument Cluster
26: Bettery Saver Relay, Electronic Shift Relay, Interior Lamp Relay, Power Window Relay, Electronic Shift Control Module, Dome/Map Lamp, GEM
I'm reading through my electrical diagrams in my Haynes repair manual now.
I tried starting the truck after running in to the grocery store for some food. I get a clicking sound like it's a dead battery. Engine won't turn over, etc. Call the GF for a jump and while I waiting I tried starting it again a couple of times. One time I notice smoke come out of my steering column cover, out of the hazards button hole. Not good. She gets there and I can't jump it. Just get this clicking noise when I put the key in the ignition.
I tow it to the dealer but it's after hours so I just leave it out front and do the overnight key drop. Do some research online and suspect that the multifunction switch might have gone out and be shorting the system. (odd since the fuse should blow) After calling the dealer and talking with them on rates I tell them to not do any work and I'll work on it myself. They also claim the battery is shot and that my serpentine belt is also bad.
I tow the truck back to my place to take a look figuring it'd be an easy fix with a short in the steering column somewhere. I also go get the battery checked at les schwab (where I bought it) and they tell me it's fine and do a recharge on it. Also check the belt and it's in fine shape. Two strikes against the dealer.
Now i get the clicking noise whenever I hook up the battery. I've done some looking around and it appears to be coming from the A/C area in the dash. I can't actually hear the noise if the doors are closed then I hook up the battery so i'm fairly sure it's not in the engine compartment.
I've also pulled the multifunction switch and the starter switch to check for shorts, any easy tests or walkthroughs I should use to check these? The battery is still drawing power and the dash clicking when I hook the battery up and all these parts are removed. Any ideas of how I can isolate this now?
Update: I started going through all the fuses and when I pull either fuse 25 or 26 the clicking stops. Only if BOTH are installed does the clicking continue.
25: Generic Electronic Module (GEM), Instrument Cluster
26: Bettery Saver Relay, Electronic Shift Relay, Interior Lamp Relay, Power Window Relay, Electronic Shift Control Module, Dome/Map Lamp, GEM
I'm reading through my electrical diagrams in my Haynes repair manual now.