Electrical issues. All of the gauges flicker while the vehicle is on or off.

[drewsu2]

I have a 2004 Ford Explorer XLT 4x4 and just recently started having electrical issues. When I unlock my doors using my aftermarket keyless entry that I have had for years, all of the gauges start flickering and the needles hover between the 0 and all the way to the left. This is happening before I even try to start the vehicle. Then when I start it, the explorer starts just fine, but the same thing keeps happening over and over again. Also during this time, the stereo tries to come on, but does not. All of the dashboard lights turn on and off as well. However, after driving for about 5 minutes or so, everything goes back to normal for about 10 seconds, but then it goes back to the electrical issues. This happens over and over while driving. Then when I turn the Explorer off, the needles on the gauges still flicker between the 0 and all the way to the left.

My battery terminals are clean and my battery is fairly new. I am not too mechanical, but I try. Any idea what my problem could be? im trying to avoid the dealer, so any help here would be greatly apprciated! Thanks in advance

 

[OneLever]

Have the battery checked on a tester. What brand and model number did you get? Also make sure the battery terminals are snugly fit onto to it.

 

[ragajungle]

def sounds like a grounding issue. The first place I would check would be the after market connections (specifically the grounding)

 

[OneLever]

Ah didn't catch the aftermarket bit. He's right, check those connections.

 

[Sams01XplrSprt]

welcome

 

[drewsu2]

I just got back from AutoZone and they tested the battery and the alternator. The alternator was good but the battery was losing juice, so they replaced it for free under warranty. After the replacement, the issue still exists.

I took a video just now of the problem so you guys can see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDe93uZ6cNo

The aftermarket keyless entry and alarm was installed back in 2006 and I have never had a problem with that specifically. However, I've checked as many of those wires as I could see and can't find anything loose or wrong....everything seems tight. Then again, I'm not an expert.

I've checked all of the fuses underneath the driver seat and all is good there too...

Any other ideas? Do you think that this is something I would need to get a dealer or another mechanic to look at?

 

[OneLever]

Oh wow, possessed is right.

When I unlock my doors using my aftermarket keyless entry that I have had for years, all of the gauges start flickering and the needles hover between the 0 and all the way to the left.

If you unlock it manually with a key and don't touch the aftermarket remote does this still happen?

The easy way to see if it's the aftermarket system is to disconnect it entirely. I'm sure they just used butt splices or there should at least be a main connector to the aftermarket unit. Disconnect it as much as possible and test again.

 

[drewsu2]

If I unlock it manually with a key and don't use the keyless entry, the alarm goes crazy and I can't shut it off until I click unlock on the keypad on my keychain for the alarm/keyless.

Do you know how I would disconnect the aftermarket keyless/alarm entirely? Would it be something I disconnect under the driver side panel? I know its aftermarket and might be hard to tell, but do you have any idea where I should start looking?

Thanks for all of your help so far! This has been super frustrating and I'm glad I found this forum...

 

[OneLever]

Honestly, there is no way for me to know how somebody's aftermarket systems are installed. If you don't know I'd try calling the people who installed it and explain the situation to them. Tell them you don't necessarily want them to fix it you just want to know how to uninstall their system.

Does this system have a remote starter?

 

[drewsu2]

They are out of business now unfortunately...I'll look into this and update this thread once I disable the alarm/keyless and see if it fixes the issue.

No, its just the alarm and keyless. It's an AutoPage alarm and Keyless.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! I've moved your thread into the stock 2002-2005 section.

 

[waskly]

in the video are you turning the ignition on and off? i keep hearing a click every time like your cycling the key.

the gauge flutter is actually semi normal. they can do that.

anyway, if your not turning the key, i hear a key clicking back and forth, could be something else, and if it, you can cut out the alarm, by the colum. i would say the alarm since it is set to interrupt an ignition circuit, is the culprit. or the relays on the alarm.

you can open the housing around the ignition, and the lower part of the dash, then find the cut ignition wire, and just reconnect it, taking the alarm wires out.

 

[drewsu2]

Ok, here is the latest update: I ended up bringing the car into a local auto electrical specialist and they brought in a retired certified Ford mechanic who has worked with Ford for over 30 years. He checked everything (grounds, shorts, you name it). He then hooked up his IDS diagnostics computer to my Explorer, received a bunch of different codes, cleared them, and all seems to be working temporarily. I know...very weird. The bad news was that he wasn't able to come to a firm conclusion on what caused it, but here are his theories:

1) The old battery that I had before caused the issues then when I got the new battery, the old codes were still stored in memory which was causing everything to restart itself continuously.

2) The instrument cluster could be failing and causing some of the issues, but there is no way to really confirm this theory.

3) The aftermarket alarm/keyless could have caused the issue but since I have had it since 2006 with no problems and that because the installation of the alarm was very clean compared to most he has looked at, he said he would lean more towards the first two theories before this one. However he did say anything aftermarket could always cause problems...

I'm going to continue to watch it closely and update this thread with any further news so that if anyone else experiences a problem like mine, they will know what to do.

Thanks for all of your help!!!

Waskly - In the video, I have the keys out of the ignition, then I put them in the ignition, then I start the car. That click you hear sounds like it is coming from underneath the fuses below the steering column. If I put my hand over the fuses, I could actually feel it clicking from behind there. Thanks for your help!

 

[waskly]

only one thing will cause this. since you are powering the system through the alarm box. this is complicated but the alarm box sends power/ ground signals from the igintion 12v which it is also spliced into.

since its powering the cluster prior to key on, the alarm which will be wired into a few other feeds, the relays or the box is acting up.

i would really take that alarm out.... you have to start somewhere, and alarms fail alot. since they are just chucked into the dash and secured with wire ties.

 

[jjlittle1]

Hey I've had the same exact problem with my explorer! To the "T" I even have an aftermarket alarm that was installed when I purchased the truck back in 06. For the last 5 months I have had this issue. The only difference is that mine is an 05. I wanted to ask since you cleared the codes has it happened since? I sure hope not I can clear the codes tonight and work on the bad external temp sensor!