Number Twelve, Electronics Nerd

[Number Twelve]

I bought a 2005 Explorer for 1/4 of its KBB value because the previous owners were oblivious to words like, "maintenance", "repairs" and, "hygiene". All the known defects for this year/model were present and it was finally abandoned for being too expensive to keep running (four bald tires and two new transmissions). It smelled of dog so badly that I had to strip the entire interior to get the odor out. Now it's pretty and it smells good.

I'm a noob here, but I'm not all noob. I have nearly 15,000 posts on an electronics teaching site. I know the basics of Internet Forums, but I will probably make mistakes. Rule #16 : When you mess up, admit it and move on.

I never met a car with so many microprocessors in it, and I hate people who install microprocessors when a couple of relays would do the job. The list of defective microprocessor controlled options in this car is longer than the list of functional defects that I fixed. Still, I'm an electronics nerd. I should be able to figure these things out. I will be eliminating either the defects or the microprocessors, and sharing some of my adventures here.

I have already asked about some of the microprocessor controlled defects, and I seem to be alone, shouting into an abyss. I think that is called an opportunity. There is plenty of room for me to be the person who explores the myriad of microprocessor controlled options and features that fail in a Ford Explorer. If I'm lucky and smart, maybe I can help other people.

 

[Rick]

Welcome to the forum. Sounds like you'll fit right in.

I'm a bit of an electronics nerd myself. Amateur radio license, wire vehicles for side work etc...

 

[Number Twelve]

Welcome to the forum. Sounds like you'll fit right in.

I'm a bit of an electronics nerd myself. Amateur radio license, wire vehicles for side work etc...

Thank you! I have already posted, "How to kill the dinger" and "How to do a Fake Dark Car mod". I'm afraid I'm about to go into a stall because I have the car working to my satisfaction and it's getting to be summer here in Florida. That is NOT when you want to be crawling over, under, around, and through a black car.

So...it runs smooth. I got all the functional parts working, and most of the frills and decorations are the way I like them (amputated). Just waiting for a dead 2005 to show up in the junque yard so I can snatch the sun visors and front dome light bracket. The previous owner jerked them off and threw them out the window because there is a short in the bk/lt bl wire that keeps some of the interior lights always on. What the heck. I only want a manual dome light in the front, anyway. I just need the adapter to stick the module back up on the ceiling.

And that's the way it is today. Everything I really need works. Everything I really hate has been disabled. It's a really pretty car...or should I say, "truck"? Here's to several years with a sweet ride that doesn't break (much).

 

[Celeborn]

You've got that right about the hot in Florida part! I'm a large geek myself, I've had my entire interior stripped twice, rewired the entire dashboard ( not because I had to, but because I didn't like the way the wiring was done from the factory ), and done misc. little mods to my Mountaineer. On the side I do the scripting work for a few gaming servers, I design websites for side money when I'm not actually at work, and I'm that cousin/brother/nephew that everyone calls when something isn't working right. ( Did you try turning it off, and on again? )


Welcome to ExplorerForum, and howdy from Inverness! I moved here from Clearwater roughly 2-3 years ago.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! I'm into wiring, designing electronic circuits, and putting together electronic modules. I haven't built anything with a microprocessor yet. Do you build Arduino based circuits?

 

[Number Twelve]

Do you build Arduino based circuits?

No, but my usual website is allaboutcircuits.com

They were invaded by Arduino lovers about a year ago and there is a lot of Arduino stuff there. Personally, I hate people who install a microprocessor where a couple of relays would do the job. Why? Because a microprocessor in a commercial product is not repairable. The Mfg will not sell you a new chip for any price and the program is a big secret, so bring $100 and more for a new, "module"...if they even carry replacements.

I spent more time disabling defective microprocessors in my Explorer than I spent repairing functional defects like ball joints and an EGR valve. Here's the way I put it: My 1948 Ford pick-up truck had everything I wanted except air conditioning. You can take your microprocessor controlled dome lights, fuel gauge, and keypad entry system, and shove them where the sun don't shine. But if that's the way you want to play, I know a great playground. allaboutcircuits.com

 

[1Aauto]

Welcome to the site

Tony