Good Timing On That CC Fire Recall Ford!!

[Robb]

So, I get a little time this afternoon to finish up my "won't shift out of Park" problem on my F150. I had replaced a couple of the bushings on the shift tube that weren't allowing the plunger to fully "plunge." Put those on, and it still won't shift. So, then Hartman's "hard time shifting out of Park" thread popped in my head, so I looked and found that my brake lights weren't working either (I know, start with the simple stuff first). Check the BOO fuse, and it is blown. Replace it, lights work and it will shift now. Come inside for a few minutes to look at a couple of wiring diagrams to see what else is on the circuit, and see what I should check out to determine a possible reason why the fuse blew.

Head back outside, and smoke is billowing from underneath the hood. Open the door, pull the fuse I just put in, pop the hood while grabbing a 5/16", and disconnect the battery.

When the smoke cleared, the MC pressure swith, and harness, are pretty much fried. This switch acts as the brake deactivation switch for the cruise control, and is the part that may have a "slight" chance of catching fire and is being recalled. Watch, I will probably get the recall notice in the mail today!!

If you own one of the vehicles under the recall, I would definately recommend disabling the cruise control (or just unplugging the pressure switch).

 

[briwayjones]

Woah, real close call. Just think if the phone had rang or if you had to go to the can.

 

[section525]

What year(s)? We have an '03.

 

[Robb]

What year(s)? We have an '03.

You're in the clear!

94-02 F150s
94-96 Broncos (my mom's '95 will have to go in also )
97-02 Expes
98-02 Navigators

Ford's Little Video Explaing The Recall From what I gather on this video, their "fix" isn't to install a proper, "leak free" pressure switch, but install an inline fuse with the pressure switch. Quality is job #2 I guess. They admit that brake fluid can leak into the switch, and cause it to corrode, but actually replacing that is up to the owner I guess.

 

[TheFox88]

Glad you are okay. It's wierd that that would happen so soon after the recall. If you get the recall letter in the mail today then that would be incredibly wierd.

 

[Ford_Racing_Guy]

dude thats scary, my dad just took his 98 in last week for that

 

[spindlecone]

Glad it was not any worse, was a thread about the problem several mos ago, how to I.D the bad switches, the red ones.
Is a 15 bux 5 min fix, don't wait for a recall notice, DIY now

 

[Robb]

Glad it was not any worse, was a thread about the problem several mos ago, how to I.D the bad switches, the red ones.
Is a 15 bux 5 min fix, don't wait for a recall notice, DIY now

Hell no!! I disconnected the switch (and taped the wires off), and removed the main harness from the cc actuator/servo. The pressure switch, and the harness plug to it, are melted rubber right now, Ford can fix that at their cost tyvm. Why would I pay a nickel to fix anything that they knew was wrong, and their problem almost caught my truck on fire? The switch itself does nothing but notify the cc that you have touched the brake, and I can live without cc. My mom has the recall letter for her Bronco, it actually advises not to park close to any highly flammable object!!

The rest of the circuit works fine now, I have been driving it all evening with no problems.


Another fawked up part of that video, is that the guy mentions that if the switch goes bad, it will probably blow the fuse and cause your cc not to work. UMMMMMMM!!! In a '97 F150, it will also cause you to not have any brake lights (which is always nice and safe), it will cause you not to have ABS, and it will cause you to not be able to move the shifter out of park. :fire: It has slightly more effect on your vehicle than the cc not working. And the fact that their fix is just an inline fuse pisses me off A LOT!!!! How many vehicles are out there that don't have pressure switches that catch fire? How about replacing mine with one of those!!

aight, rant off

 

[spindlecone]

The intent of my post Robb, was alert others before they have the same problem, get it done now if need be, thats all

 

[Robb]

The intent of my post Robb, was alert others before they have the same problem, get it done now if need be, thats all

I will agree with that.

If you haven't gotten a recall letter and followed the instructions on it, PLEASE disconnect the pressure switch on the master cylinder (this should kill the whole cc circuit) and remove the harness from the cruise control module (servo/actuator). You will lose the ability to use cruise control, but that is small potatos compared to what I have seen happen.

I truly believe that a fire could have started from this simple meltdown. It is hard for me to beleive that a fused 15a (12v) circuit could do such a thing, but from the smoke and heat that I witnessed, I think it could. 12v @ 15a max is only 180 watts max, and that is hard to understand how that little amount of energy can start a fire, but it can.

 

[spindlecone]

Exs have started house fires because of this problem, the red switch is powered 24/7, hit it with a VOM, you can see it, a fuse as robb says will do nothing, you IMO need the new switch and circuit, you need to cut power when the ex is off or the membrane beetween the switch and the fluid will errode, maybe causing a problem

 

[Stic-o]

Ummm My wife's has CC, but mine does not. Every once in awile You get in the truck and turn the key and a liitle puff of smoke comes up from the hazard lights button. It's one of those "did you see that! " "See what? "

 

[spindlecone]

Ummm My wife's has CC, but mine does not. Every once in awile You get in the truck and turn the key and a liitle puff of smoke comes up from the hazard lights button. It's one of those "did you see that! " "See what? "

sounds like an accident waiting to happen, guess its no biggie tho

 

[Stic-o]

sounds like an accident waiting to happen, guess its no biggie tho

I don't know what it is though, I replased the turning indicator unit. and it stopped but then it happend again.

It seems like it happens when it's really hot outside, and the sun is shinning on the steering column.

 

[spindlecone]

I don't know what it is though, I replased the turning indicator unit. and it stopped but then it happend again.

It seems like it happens when it's really hot outside, and the sun is shinning on the steering column.

The old saying is: where there is smoke, is usually fire