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Power Mirror Switch Fire

Fordsgalore4

Elite Explorer
Joined
January 28, 2013
Messages
208
Reaction score
1
City, State
La Habra California
Year, Model & Trim Level
94 EX, 86 Ranger
my 94 explorer power mirror switch shorted out and started I fire. First this is freaked me out so I parked it and the battery is disconnected intill I can find out why. When I took the panel out to look at it here a line fuse with a little 10 amp fuse in it. I went to the junk yard to look at them and 91 and 92 did not have the fuse but the 93 and 94 did and most of the switches were already gone is this this normal for them to catch on fire or just go out
 



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Fire is never normal; that's what fuses are for;

Someone has probably tampered with the fuse block; after market alarm, stereo, off road lights, etc.
 






Yeah, I never heard of the pm switch causing any fires.
 






thats what i thought but i really want to no why it shorted out and caught fire
 






Ford Recalls 1992-1994 Explorer Vehicles for Mirror Switch Issue
Body, Interior & Misc., June 4, 1997

Summary:
Ford has recalled certain 1992-1994 Explorer vehicles for a concern with the mirror control switch. In some cases, the mirror control switch could short circuit, resulting in smoke or a fire. Dealers will install an in-line 10 amp fuse in the positive battery feed to the switch.

Marv
 






wow..what do you know......I never heard of that 1 all the years I owned a X.
 






Ford Recalls 1992-1994 Explorer Vehicles for Mirror Switch Issue
Body, Interior & Misc., June 4, 1997

Summary:
Ford has recalled certain 1992-1994 Explorer vehicles for a concern with the mirror control switch. In some cases, the mirror control switch could short circuit, resulting in smoke or a fire. Dealers will install an in-line 10 amp fuse in the positive battery feed to the switch.

Marv


Sad thing is there is a small inline 10 amp fuse there it smoked then there was fire then when out about 30 sec later i pulled the panel and saw the fuse checked it and it was blown but it should never went that far i think
 






Hmmmmm, adding that little nugget to the "investigate immediately" list
 






Fordsgalore,

Just out of curiosity;

Are your mirrors heated?

Says right on the glass "Heated"
 






Fordsgalore4 said:
FR-425 said:
Hey,

Just curious; do you have the heated mirrors or just the regular power mirrors?

It says right on the glass "Heated"
i just have the power mirrors

Ok, Thanks;

Trying to narrow it down to specific type.

But it looks like it's any and all.

Mine does not have the "patch job" done on it; and it did not even help obviously in your case.

Although it did prevent a real fire.

I think I will do the "fix" myself and use a 2.5 amp fuse. Or convert it to a second gen switch.

Another question. Were you using the switch at the time of the fire? Or did it just smoke out spontaneously?
 






FYI everyone:

Shared some PM's with fordsgalore4 and learned that he came out in the morning and the drivers side mirror motor was running, twitching about.

He then opened the door and fiddled with the switch; and then the FIRE.

So if your moto mirrors start adjusting themselves; DONT mess with the switch!

Disconnect power immediately...

Pull the door skin off and unplug that sucker.
 






Hey FR-425, you really do know the Gen 1's... How would one determine whether or not the fuse fix has been made? Is it an in-line fuse or did they re-wire to an unused socket on one of the fuse panels? I've a '94 Limited with heated driver side power mirror and non-working heat and a right side power mirror that doesn't adjust via either switch. I plan to repair both issues this spring and would want to add the mod if it's not there.
 






It is just an in-line fuse in the door.

My wiring diagram does not included this feature, or the heated portion either, or the trailer lights, etc. Going to have to get some. I already sourced out the Premium audio diagrams, so this stuff is out there just have to find it. Or map it out myself.

It has nothing to do with Heated or not though.

The heated feature is kinda cool though; it's automatic. When the overhead display flashes the word ICE instead of the temp..they come on automatically!

I believe they should also come on with the rear glass defrost. but so far I can't confirm.

Living in Phoenix I have only seen them come on twice in 4 years. and it was automatic and worked real fast.

I used my moto mirrors a lot off road, but after hearing this I ain't touch'n that switch until a fix is in place!
 






You know I've never tested this feature, but I think the mirrors are also connected to the seat memory module.

I'm the only driver so the seat 2 position module has only been used once when I first bought it. Just to see if it worked.

But once I got my seat where I like it I haven't touched the memory module.

My point is that if the mirrors also move to match the setting of the seat (which would make sense) (the newer models do) Then the problem that causes the mirrors to go moto'n on their own may be related to that, and not just a faulty switch.

Think about it, fordsgalor4 said his mirror was moving around when he came out in the morning.


This would build up some heat in the wires, yes. (mirror motor running for hours)

So my theory is that the memory module is the cause and the switch fire is only the symptom.

I'll be tearing into it soon can't get to it this weekend, but soon, I don't like fire in my doors!
 






I went out and bought a new switch and put a 7.5 amp fuse in the in line holder and so far no fires or smoke my explorer is a XLT so it does not have any special memory stuff i never use the mirrors well the power part i set them and forget them
 






Yeah that is what I am trying to narrow down.

The Recall says in "some" cases.

So I suspect that is is year/model/options specific.

Can't find any more specific info.

I does sound like it is just the switch though and includes ANY vehicle with this switch not just explorers.
 






I spent the day in the JY yesterday, but when I got home I unplugged it.

I'll get to the FIX next week.

I wonder if the replacement "new" switches have addressed this issue? Not worth the risk I guess.

I did grab a second gen switch while at the JY . it has 8 pins and ours have 7 so need to go back and trace out the second gen wiring for this. Can't find any diagram for the mirrors yet.
 






i got about 4 switches from the JY and only one of them worked right from a 1st gen I think my 1996 Aerostar has the same switch to i think it looks the same at least
 






Just checked mine (non-heated mirrors, just standard electric) and the fuse has been added to it. I do need to take the switch apart to check the contacts. I have left full control but right only goes up and down. I love taking this stuff all the way apart down to the boards and cleaning things up. Just did some soldered in lights on a few different dashboards and climate controls on other vehicles. Good times right there :D
 



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