Mountaineer on Fire

[SN95GT50]

Driving to work this morning and started to smell something burning, first thought is hope that isn't me. Started looking around and then smoke started coming out from under my seat, between my seat and the center console. I jumped out and looked under the seat and felt around under the seat (maybe not so bright) and couldn't see anything. The smoke stopped, I then unplugged the only 2 electric connectors I could find, seat power and seat belt indicator. I then drove the rest of the way to work without incident.

I will tear out the seat tonight, anything I should be looking for? Besides the obvious. Are there any known problems with seat fires and `97 Mercury Mounties? It has leather seats, power seats and lumbar, no heated seats.

Any insight would be appreciated!

John

 

[nickm347]

Do you smoke? The cherry in my cig fell out once inbetween the console and seat of my Mustang, scared the hell out of me....didnt even notice it at first either

 

[SN95GT50]

The first comment from someone at work was whether I dropped my joint between the seats. Nope, I don't smoke anything except cigars and not in my vehicles.

John

 

[cgriffin_5139]

Mmmmmm cigars, 10 cent or 10 bux?

 

[SN95GT50]

Mmmmmm cigars, 10 cent or 10 bux?

Mail order, somewhere in between

 

[cgriffin_5139]

Sweet, i used to own a cigar shop.

Now back to the post, you also have wires running under the carpet for the T/case and some other stuff.

EDIT: nevermind jtsmith set me straight

 

[Turdle]

Sweet, i used to own a cigar shop.

Now back to the post, you also have wires running under the carpet for the T/case and some other stuff.

The v-8 AWD in 98 has no wires to the transfer case-
Most of the wiring to rear of truck is through the door sill channel--
There are some wires inside the console for the rear air blower, and stereo controls-cd changer (if equipped)

If there was a short causing a burning wire--and no blown fuse-one would assume it is a high load circuit. I suspect the seat motor circuit---

Is there a chance something was resting on one of the switches--
heavy coat?

 

[SN95GT50]

I have an AWD Mounty, not a 4WD Explorer so I don't think that I have any wires running to the t-case. I noticed that the smoke stopped when I shut it off and jumped out of the truck. Could be a pinched wire in the seat shorting out. I go about 245 lbs so that could explain that it seamed to stop when I got out. I believe the seats work with the truck off, correct?

John

 

[SN95GT50]

The v-8 AWD in 98 has no wires to the transfer case-
Most of the wiring to rear of truck is through the door sill channel--
There are some wires inside the console for the rear air blower, and stereo controls-cd changer (if equipped)

If there was a short causing a burning wire--and no blown fuse-one would assume it is a high load circuit. I suspect the seat motor circuit---

Is there a chance something was resting on one of the switches--
heavy coat?

It is possible that something got between the door and seat and pushed a button and held it. I wouldn't notice it moving if it was a down button, the seat is always in the lowest position, I'm over 6'.

I have the power disconnected now, I will pull the seat tonight and see what I find. Of course this happens when my Mustang is torn apart as well.

Keep coming with the ideas of things to check.

John

 

[SN95GT50]

Drove home for lunch and pulled the seat out, nothing looks even remotely burned under the seat. I then drove back to work with the power seat hooked up and working fine, absolutely no problem and no smoke.

I guess the next step is to pull the center console tonight.

Something burned and I will find it, there is no way I can get that much smoke and there not be something charred.

John

 

[SN95GT50]

Got into the center console, the smell seamed stronger. I removed the rear climate/stereo controls and the duct work in the back. The rear fan is still in place. Still don't see anything but then I started playing a bit and noticed that the fan selector has 4 positions 1 off up to 4 full speed and I noticed that fan speed 2 does not work at all. This leads me to my grand prix gt that I used to have, it was missing one speed as well and I needed to replace a resistor pack that was build into the duct work. I replaced the resistor pack before putting it back into the ductwork, it worked great, then I realized why the put it in the duct work, that thing gets EXTREMELY hot. This makes me believe that I might be on the right track with this one.

I am done for tonight, but, I was wondering if anyone has the schematics for this section? In the mean time, I am going to put the fire extinguisher in the truck.

Any help would be appreciated!

John

 

[Turdle]

Got into the center console, the smell seamed stronger. I removed the rear climate/stereo controls and the duct work in the back. The rear fan is still in place. Still don't see anything but then I started playing a bit and noticed that the fan selector has 4 positions 1 off up to 4 full speed and I noticed that fan speed 2 does not work at all. This leads me to my grand prix gt that I used to have, it was missing one speed as well and I needed to replace a resistor pack that was build into the duct work. I replaced the resistor pack before putting it back into the ductwork, it worked great, then I realized why the put it in the duct work, that thing gets EXTREMELY hot. This makes me believe that I might be on the right track with this one.

I am done for tonight, but, I was wondering if anyone has the schematics for this section? In the mean time, I am going to put the fire extinguisher in the truck.

Any help would be appreciated!

John

Better than that, I have the resistor which is burned I believe--

I have been waiting for someone to need it--

Pm me your address

 

[EMG7895]

The resister is probably it. Mine went when it was -10 out when a bunch of leave around it caught on fire. That was fun.

 

[Turdle]

It's down there under the rear blower motor--

yeah-it's kind of tedious to disassemble--:thumbdwn:

 

[Turdle]

Picture of rear blower and duct--
funny-that is a blend door actuator motor on there--

Picture 2 shows resistor-inside duct

Picture 3 -resistor close up

 

[SN95GT50]

I am guessing that the coil in your last pic is the culprit. I suspect that speed 1 goes through that resistive coil, speed 2 is through the ceramic resistor and speed 3 (high) is a direct short. Tonight I will tear it down a bit fuirther and check the impedance of each of them. I still have to keep digging to find the actual burn. Until I find the burn, I will not be able to let my wife drive the vehicle with the kids.

John

 

[Turdle]

The ceramic component with blue end, is a thermal cut-out (fuse)

 

[SN95GT50]

Really, good to know, I will check to see if it is an open.

I am to the point now that I can see what you are holding but do not have it out yet. How do I lift the center console out to get that piece out? I need to get the changer out first, to this point, I have the screws out that loosen the changer, but, I can't get to the harness to disconnect it and get it all the way out. Any clues on getting the rest of the console out?

John

 

[Turdle]

There are 4, 8mm bolts--
2 under cupholder area-
2 behind cubbyhole--going into dash

then remove the bolt in center of wire harness at front of console

now--there is an angled piece of metal under the kleenex box-coin slot area--

hit it HARD rearward toward back seat ( BIG hammer and block of wood)--console needs to go back about 2 inches to unlock--

 

[SN95GT50]

( BIG hammer and block of wood

Please explain, does anyone really have a small hammer?