Multiple electrical problems all at once.

[SilverSPL]

Hello,
I got in my 03 Explorer EB 4 door last night and the gague cluster pins do not move, nor does the power windows work. Also the stereo doesn't power on and the automatic nightime running lights don't come on. It all worked fine the day before. All maxi fuses under the dash and hood check out fine with an ohm meter.
Car starts fine and power locks and seats work fine.
Any ideas on what it could be?
Thanks

 

[SilverSPL]

oh also the dome lights don't come on

 

[BigRondo]

I had a similar issue with my 02 xlt. The dome lights would stay on until the battery saver feature turned them off, the driver side puddle light didn't work, the keypad on the door would set off the alarm when I pressed it, the door ajar light would flash and beep at highway speeds, etc. A lot of issues can be traced back to broken wires in the boot between the body and the door. I found a broken wire and repaired it and all is back to normal!

Here is a great thread with pics for checking for broken wires in boot between door and the body: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums//showthread.php?t=270081

Post #3 in this thread has great instructions for removing the door panel: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=271333
Hope this helps. Good luck.

 

[SilverSPL]

hmm will have to check that one, not quite the same problems, any other ideas

 

[zerodevil]

this realy sounds like a blown fuze... get an LED tester, you can check EVERY fuse with ABSOLUTE certainty in less than 5 minutes... if it was a ground or a short a lot more things wouldnt be working.

 

[jrowe6]

could be a ground wire got disconnected somewhere. or a small wiring harness under the dash or a seat or something that got unplugged or damaged somehow

 

[BigRondo]

this realy sounds like a blown fuze... get an LED tester, you can check EVERY fuse with ABSOLUTE certainty in less than 5 minutes... if it was a ground or a short a lot more things wouldnt be working.

While I agree with zerodevil that this might be a fuse, I think you are having too many problems for this to be 1 fuse. You may have many fuses blown: you have stated a whole bunch of things are not working. Ergo, many things: many circuits: many fuses. The ground can be common for multiple circuits. You can check the fuses by using your multimeter and testing continuity on each fuse. This will not take long. Be sure to check the power distribution box under the hood behind the battery toward the windshield. You may have many problem wires in the boot, not just the ground, or maybe not the ground but the hot wires for multiple circuits. Electrical issues are a strange breed. Zerodevil, I hope I didn't steal your thunder.

could be a ground wire got disconnected somewhere. or a small wiring harness under the dash or a seat or something that got unplugged or damaged somehow

An unplugged connector is also a possibility. The connectors often deal with multiple circuits.

They don't call it troubleshooting for nothing: You are going to have a bunch of trouble and feel like shooting yourself before you get it fixed!

 

[zerodevil]

no thunder to steal good sir, i HATE electrical gremlins, they are my worst fear when working on vehicles lol. best way to go about this is to start simple with a fuze tester and some electrical diagrams. if you dont find an issue with the fuses, you have to graduate to getting a volt meater and visualy inspecting the wires and connectors of each electrical circut effected. Good luck, and keep us informed please?

 

[BigRondo]

no thunder to steal good sir, i HATE electrical gremlins, they are my worst fear when working on vehicles lol. best way to go about this is to start simple with a fuze tester and some electrical diagrams. if you dont find an issue with the fuses, you have to graduate to getting a volt meater and visualy inspecting the wires and connectors of each electrical circut effected. Good luck, and keep us informed please?

Yes, please keep us informed!

 

[SilverSPL]

thanks for the replies but like I said I checked all the fuses.
I talked to my cousin that works at a ford repair center and he seems to think it's a computer module that is bad since he never sees the gague needles not move.
So off to the repair center when I get time to do so.
Thanks!

 

[BigRondo]

Any update? Is it all set? Inquiring minds want to know!!!
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[SilverSPL]

naa have not taken it yet.

 

[Deleted member 139008]

You may want to check out this post/thread. It is not exactly the same as your problem, but it might give you some ideas.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=275811

 

[jrford]

if the battery gets low it will turn off delayed accessories. . .which is what you listed as some of the symptoms. How old is the battery? With mine the battery checked out OK, but it didn't have enough juice to power everything. Replaced the battery and it was fine. . .

 

[Curtis]

Cant explain the gauges not working... but the radio, windows, and lights are all delayed accessories.
There is a fuse under the dash for that.

I accidentally short circuited mine and had the same problem. No radio, windows or lights.
I cant remember what fuse it was but 17 rings a bell. Check your manual, its a fuse that's under the steering column.

This fuse controls the things that stay on after you remove the key such as your radio, windows, interior lights etc

 

[DLinkOZ]

When my battery began getting weak, I experienced all sorts of what could be categorized as electrical gremlins. It really did manifest itself as electrical problems, even before it got to the point where it would not consistently crank. Quick and easy to get it tested.

 

[Curtis]

When my battery began getting weak, I experienced all sorts of what could be categorized as electrical gremlins. It really did manifest itself as electrical problems, even before it got to the point where it would not consistently crank. Quick and easy to get it tested.

That could explain the gauges then, as when my battery was getting weak, the needles would shake for a bit upon start up, then go fully counter clockwise and stay there for a few seconds, then go to the normal position.

I also noticed my 6 cd changer, would initialize on every start up and shuffle though all 6 disks.

After a new battery, it never happened.

 

[DLinkOZ]

Yep, that sounds familiar. But to be honest, I don't recall the exact symptoms in great detail as at the time the Explorer was primarily my wife's vehicle and I drove our Mustang.

 

[BigRondo]

I cant remember what fuse it was but 17 rings a bell. Check your manual, its a fuse that's under the steering column.

It is fuse 17. Good memory Curtis

 

[SilverSPL]

Dorping the truck off monday night to my cousin to look at it. Will post results. Batteries should be fine only 2 years old and there are 5 Kinetik 2400 batteries in total.
all fuses checked out ok.
thanks for the replies