Electrical problems

[SteveRanger]

Hello all,

I've been having a few electrical problems with my 1999 Ranger XLT. Everything is stock.

Problems:

- dim headlights
- radio turning itself on while driving
- radio switching to the CD player from FM radio and displaying " no cd,"
- CD player activates like it is trying to find a CD when the headlights are turned on with the vehicle off.
- AM radio buzz with alternator/blower motor
- Key chime with door open doesn't always work (sometimes after waiting or jiggling the key it will)
- Loss of all power when attempting to start. (Could temporarily solve by detaching and reattaching a battery terminal)

I have solved some of the issues:

- New headlight housings and bulbs (Sylvania XtraVisions)
- replaced positive terminal clamp on battery
- Cleaned and greased all chassis grounds I could find in the engine compartment
- one by the battery/radiator
- one on driver side near fuse box
- one on passenger side near blower motor
- one top, center firewall
- Engine strap to top of firewall
*I was unable to reach the starter or the strap at the motor.

- I also found one ground behind the passenger kick panel in the cab. I looked for more, but couldn't find any.

This has solved my dim headlights, AM radio squeal that corresponded with the alternator/blower and I swear my speakers sound better and have more bass! It also has a stronger crank.

Still a problem:
- CD player's motor turning on when the headlights are activated with the truck off. I've never checked to see if it would play if I had a CD in it with the truck off.
- I haven't driven enough to see if the radio will come on by itself or switch from FM to CD yet. I can actually hear AM stations now, but the 700 range bands have a high pitch whine to them. Other stations are very clear though for the first time in a long time.
- Intermittent key chime

Are there any more grounds that I should clean? Thoughts?

Thanks
Stephen

 

[Diesel Mechanic]

How does your fuse panel look under the hood and in the cab (the driver side dash panel). Any corrosion from a leaking windshield or door seal could be causing power from the lights to be jumping circuits.


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[85_Ranger4x4]

The radio lights up when you turn your lights on, may be something wrong with the wiring or inside the radio.

I am betting it is in the radio. It does not have a separate external power wire for the CD portion of the unit.

 

[SteveRanger]

Both fuse panels look good. And that is what I was thinking about the radio.

Unfortunately it died on the road today. I jumped it when the battery couldn't turn it over and moments later down the road it wouldn't maintain power. The engine pulsed until I could get off the road. Seems like it might be the alternator, but it may be too much of a coincidence to have failed right after working with the ground connections...

It ran great last night. All I did today was pull the passenger kick panel and clean and grease the ground there...

First time I've had that truck towed that I can remember and I've been driving it since 2005!

 

[modelageek]

Hmm, how about the neg battery cable? What's the connection like from the wire to the terminal? Could the cable be corroded inside? Where do you live? Northeast?

As a long shot maybe the ignition switch?

"Losers focus on winners, winners focus on winning" TB12

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

A corroded negative battery cable can cause all sorts of issues. Strange thing is, it can corrode inside the insulation where you can't see the damage. I usually start there when there are electrical problems. I've taken to making my own cables out of welding cable, crimp and heat shrink my own ends and use dielectric grease.


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[JerryC]

A corroded negative battery cable can cause all sorts of issues. Strange thing is, it can corrode inside the insulation where you can't see the damage. I usually start there when there are electrical problems. I've taken to making my own cables out of welding cable, crimp and heat shrink my own ends and use dielectric grease.


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I had that happen on one of my Rangers, about 5 inches from the battery it just turned to mush. You couldn't tell by looking at it.