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Cruise control "fire" problem

Joined
February 23, 2005
Messages
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City, State
Milwaukee WI
Year, Model & Trim Level
'00 Sport
To alleviate the problem with the cruise control switch potentially causing a fire, can you unplug a fuse that would remove the electrical flow to the problem area? Or do you need to unplug the plug at the master cylinder??

thanks!
 



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Nope... the fuse will take out a whole bunch of stuff... not good (at least in 96 schematics).
 






No need to bother with it. That recall was so massive, if Explorers were really at risk, I think the lawyers would have made sure Ford recalled them too.
 






I admit to being somewhat ignorant on this, it could be that the configuration of the engine in the Explorer is such that even if it does have the same switch (which I have heard it does) that somehow it is not as likely to have the associated leak cause a fire.
Having said that, the glass-is-half-empty side of me says that for how badly the domestic auto manufacturers are hurting, they would do what they can to save costs right now, and the Explorer is, I believe, a far greater exposure in terms of sheer numbers than the units that were recalled (excepting possibly the F150) but either way the Explorer represents a HUGE liability. They would cite any statistical evidence possible to not incur that kind of cost unless absolutely necessary.
This hit home again last week as I watched an Explorer burn up. I work in the 7th floor of an office building overlooking a three story parking lot. An Exporer that had been parked for several hours suddenly started on fire. I never did hear what the cause was, but I'll tell you my Explorer is not going in the garage anymore.
 












Thanks Al, is it easier to replace it, or just unplug it? I don't need the cruise control anyway...
I have no mechanical background, so any tips on the easiest way to do this is appreciated. thanks!
 






I unplugged my switch several months ago, when the news first came out. Yes I am paranoid, but I now sleep better at night. The switch is located on the end of the master cylinder, and takes 2 seconds to unplug.

Ford's fix for the recall is to install a fuse on the power wire going to the switch. I don't know what size fuse, though.
 






Two great options have been mentioned for you to be able to keep your CC and be safe:

1) replace the pressure switch with a more modern design. I would assume that all the aftermarket, modern switches should be safe from the fluid leakage problem. The switch is that cylinder looking thing with a plug on it at the end of the master cylinder. A simple pair of channel locks will remove and replace this switch in a matter of minutes.

2) place an inline fuse in this pressure switch circuit (Ford's fix, and one that I don't believe in). The pressure switch simply acts as a signal, and shouldn't pull much amperage at all. A 1amp-3amp fuse should be more than enough, depending on the type of fuse holder you use. The problem with Ford's design is that the circuit is always hot and protected by a 15amp fuse, and with nothing else operating, this switch can use this entire 15 amps and heat up like mad.

I would go with 1) if it were me and I was paranoid about the problem. If I was overly paranoid, I would even go to the local Ford dealer and ask them for a pressure switch that won't leak......................I would guess, by now, they know the difference. ;)
 






youonlylivetwic said:
Thanks Al, is it easier to replace it, or just unplug it? I don't need the cruise control anyway...
I have no mechanical background, so any tips on the easiest way to do this is appreciated. thanks!

I use cruse all the time therefore replacing was my only option.

There was a thread a while back about this problem in which I did a post about replacing the switch ( with pictures ) but I cannot find it; if anyone else can, please post a link.
 






The Explorers were not included for a few reasons. First of all, there have not been reports of fires caused by them. Second, there have not been warranty claims made because of them. Third, the Explorers operate at lower pressures than the heavier full-size trucks, which could explain #1 and #2.

If it makes you sleep better at night, unplug and/or replace the switch with the new one. It's a $15 part, and replacement takes all of 10 minutes. Personally, mine's staying right where it is. I'm insured. :)

(FWIW, I also had an F-150 that WAS a part of the initial recall. It has since been repaired.)

-Joe
 












Thanks all. Bottom line, if I just unplug the damn thing and leave it dangling there, does that cover me??
I am altogether too naive to trust putting that thing in the garage again without completely removing the problem, and it sounds like swapping the part is not as easy as unplug/plug-in.
I really don't need the cruise control.
thanks again... !
 






youonlylivetwic said:
Thanks all. Bottom line, if I just unplug the damn thing and leave it dangling there, does that cover me??
I am altogether too naive to trust putting that thing in the garage again without completely removing the problem, and it sounds like swapping the part is not as easy as unplug/plug-in.
I really don't need the cruise control.
thanks again... !

Swapping the switch is a 10 min. max swap.
 






youonlylivetwic said:
Thanks all. Bottom line, if I just unplug the damn thing and leave it dangling there, does that cover me??
I am altogether too naive to trust putting that thing in the garage again without completely removing the problem, and it sounds like swapping the part is not as easy as unplug/plug-in.
I really don't need the cruise control.
thanks again... !

Unplugging it is a guaranteed fix.

The swap is simple: Unscrew the old one, place a few drops of brake fluid into the orfice on the new one, and screw it back into the master cylinder. Then connect the adapter harness between the old plug and the new plug. Viola. 10 minutes, topps.

-Joe
 






but back to my question please, if I do simply unplug it, do I just leave it dangling? Any issues with brake fluid then?
I cannot overemphasize that I do not care about the cruise control. I just want to alleviate any concern in the easiest and cheapest way possible.
thanks
 






YOLT, yes, you can simply unplug it to remove any danger of fire. In fact, that was the Ford temporary fix, until they recieved parts to fix the recall.

Unplugging the switch removes the powered wire from the master cylinder, with which it shorted to ground, causing the fires. You can zip tie it to something nearby if you wish, although I left mine 'dangling'. (BTW, this dosen't cause a MIL to light.)

Unplug the switch, garage the Explorer, and sleep like a baby..... :D
 












Hi Al,
I simply don't have anywhere I use it. I only drive the Explorer to and from work, about 20 minutes each way on the edge of rush hour where I'd be lucky to go half a mile without having to change speed. Further, I drive the Explorer about 1/3 of the time max anyway, mostly winter, I have another car I prefer to drive. And, for family drives we use my wife's vehicle equipped with all the kid's stuff.
To be honest, the Explorer has been so frustrating for me I'd probably ditch it if it was worth anything. But, as a back up vehicle, being able to park my other car during the winter, and the low resale value with gas prices rising it's not worth getting rid of either. oh well. long story. sorry. It'll be my first and last Ford.
thanks for all the help.
 






How do you guys "live" without cruise control?
Al, I could rant all day about the traffic in my area. It's impossible to use cruise control here and the traffic seems to get worse every day...... :mad:

YOLT, sorry to hear you've had such a hard time with your Sport. I also have a 2000 Sport, and am just now getting all the bugs worked out of it. I heard good news today though; gas went down almost 20 cents overnight..... :D

ROE
 



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ROE,
Glad you're happy with yours.
I am inclined to rant, but I'll just say this should anyone from Ford read these threads and care;
I am EXACTLY the demographic Ford should care most about. For all the problems I have had with the vehicle, the single most frustrating thing has been Ford's unwillingness to so much as acknowledge much less address my correspondence to them. And I am not referring to ranting letters and screaming phone calls. I mean well written, to-the-point concerns posed by a first time customer. And yet, even though they have not acknowledged me personally even once, I continue to get their marketing brochures on a routine basis. I mean, come on, wake up Ford! They had many opportunities to make me feel like I matter, and for a maybe a hundred bucks (their cost) they could have really made me feel like an important customer. But instead of stopping at nothing, they decline to acknowledge me and then insult me by telling me to head to my local dealer to check out the new models. Well, as is often the case, my woes have lost them not only me, but any number of other people I have discussed this with. And so goes the US automotive industry. Hello out there!! I want to "buy American", but if you so much as tell me I don't exist in your world, why would I buy your product just to deal with the poorer quality and higher repair costs??

YOLT
 






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