MAJOR Electrical Problems
Thread Starter
1st Gear
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
MAJOR Electrical Problems
Hey All,
I've got 2001 and over the last year or so been having major electrical problems.
1. Odometer reset to ZERO!! It went from 75k to 0 miles and seems to be counting normally.
2. Gauges 'freak-out'. I'll be driving and they start jumping around.
3. HUD will sometimes die.
4. Wacky characters on the LED read-out in the gauge cluster
5. Driver window is now sticking.
6. AM radio popping.
7. I'll get Service Warnings, but then they go away.
8. Won't pass emissions. Its not failing, just (2) of the memory banks they check via the computer have no data. Thus they won't pass it.
I know that is a whole lot of things wrong. I'm afraid....very afraid of the service bill that is coming my way.
Any ideas? Grounding problems?
Any feedback is appreciated!
I've got 2001 and over the last year or so been having major electrical problems.
1. Odometer reset to ZERO!! It went from 75k to 0 miles and seems to be counting normally.
2. Gauges 'freak-out'. I'll be driving and they start jumping around.
3. HUD will sometimes die.
4. Wacky characters on the LED read-out in the gauge cluster
5. Driver window is now sticking.
6. AM radio popping.
7. I'll get Service Warnings, but then they go away.
8. Won't pass emissions. Its not failing, just (2) of the memory banks they check via the computer have no data. Thus they won't pass it.
I know that is a whole lot of things wrong. I'm afraid....very afraid of the service bill that is coming my way.
Any ideas? Grounding problems?
Any feedback is appreciated!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,811
Likes: 31
From: Minnetonka MN
St. Jude Donor '06
Bill Curlee on this forum is your man... he is the electrical guru!!!
hopefully someone here can chime in and post his screenname so you can pm him...
What has your local dealer said on this?
Aj
hopefully someone here can chime in and post his screenname so you can pm him...
What has your local dealer said on this?
Aj
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 24,987
Likes: 26
From: Kerrville, Texas USA Hook 'em Horns!
CentralTX Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Click here for one of Bills threads with some detailed info on checking out your electrical systems and grounds.
Good luck.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
Bill is going to have you check the accordian tube in the driver's door for a wire than is subject to shorting to the frame. This will cause several of those indications, although this is the first I've heard of the odometer going to zero. The odometer mileage is stored in the IP Cluster and receives a command once per mile to update. Zeroing it is nearly impossible, but since it did, I strong suggest that you write down the date and time that this happened and the mileage on it at the time to the best of your knowledge and then keep that information with your registration for the rest of time!
Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 735
Likes: 7
From: Bucks County Pa
Hi, appears like you have a bad connection or ground.
1, Load test battery, you need to have a verified good battery to run these cars.
2, Check the battery cables at the battery, ground, starter lug, very important as some have found that connection to be loose, or severely corroded. They should not be able to be wiggled at all, and need to be very clean. Sometimes the bolts holding the cables to the battery terminals are a bit to long and don't allow for a good tight connection.
3, Check the connection to the underhood fuse box.
4, As stated by dgrant, check the wires and connections in the accordion boots both sides of the car between the doors and front pillars.
5, Check and clean all grounds, SEE LOCATIONS BELOW.
6, If all the above fails to fix it, see Bill Curlee's excellant instructions on fixing the ignition switch.
Good Luck
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
1, Load test battery, you need to have a verified good battery to run these cars.
2, Check the battery cables at the battery, ground, starter lug, very important as some have found that connection to be loose, or severely corroded. They should not be able to be wiggled at all, and need to be very clean. Sometimes the bolts holding the cables to the battery terminals are a bit to long and don't allow for a good tight connection.
3, Check the connection to the underhood fuse box.
4, As stated by dgrant, check the wires and connections in the accordion boots both sides of the car between the doors and front pillars.
5, Check and clean all grounds, SEE LOCATIONS BELOW.
6, If all the above fails to fix it, see Bill Curlee's excellant instructions on fixing the ignition switch.
Good Luck
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Last edited by bestvettever; Nov 18, 2008 at 11:48 PM.
