At my wits end

[bikerboy117]

About a month ago, the dash on my Ranger started acting up. While driving, all gauges would go dead except for the fuel gauge, the Check Engine light would come on and the digital odometer would be a series of dashes instead of numbers. After a few minutes, the instruments would come back, then go off again. The truck would still run without any problems.

When I went to the parts store to check it out, they said they could not find any fault codes with the reader despite the light being on. When I tried to restart the truck, nothing happened. The starter would not engage, the anti-theft light was flashing and the odometer was all dashes.

I had the vehicle towed to the Ford place. The said that the PCM unit was bad and needed to be replaced. The fixed it and the truck ran fine for a couple of weeks until the gauges started doing the same thing again. Sure enough, now it wont start.

Now, I have a hard time believing that my truck went through TWO PCMs in less than a month. And the fact that the gauges come on and off intermittently suggests theres a loose connection or loose ground somewhere. But for the life of me, I cannot figure out where. Im thinking in the starter relay circuit

Can anybody point me in the right direction?

My truck is an 07 Ranger, 2.3L 4-Cyl 5-Speed Manual. Its a base model without power windows or locks.

 

[rtg143]

I'd take it back to Ford and let them know they didn't fix it. It sounds like a connection problem, ground or power.

 

[bikerboy117]

I really don't want to pay for a tow if its something like a loose nut or bad relay I can fix right away.

The problem is that I provided a replacement PCM instead of paying the $1000+ they were asking. I know if I take it back, they'll put the blame on me.

 

[4.0B2]

maybe the second PCM is bad?

sounds more like a ground issue to me.

 

[bikerboy117]

Im starting the to think the same. Any idea where the circuit is grounded?

 

[4.0B2]

That I don't know.. I know mine has a ground next to the ECM passenger kick panel that gave me fits one time..

 

[adsm08]

Hehe, I'm dealing with a very similar issue at the moment. 07 Escape, 2.3L, gauges go nuts, dash lights flash, but it keeps running properly. It hasn't exhibted a no-start, yet. I know it isn't the same vehicle, but with the same year and engine the electrical/electronic arcitechture is going to be very similar.

I do agree you have a connection issue, probably somewhere in the HS-CAN wiring. Kinda sounds like messages aren't getting through the data network, which is also consistent with the one I have here at work, since every important module on the car has some sort of network code, most of them for communication lost with some other module.


If I ever figure out the problem on this Escape I'll let you know what I did. In the mean time get a tube of dielectric grease and start greasing connectors.

 

[Tedybear]

Hehe, I'm dealing with a very similar issue at the moment. 07 Escape, 2.3L, gauges go nuts, dash lights flash, but it keeps running properly. It hasn't exhibted a no-start, yet. I know it isn't the same vehicle, but with the same year and engine the electrical/electronic arcitechture is going to be very similar.

I do agree you have a connection issue, probably somewhere in the HS-CAN wiring. Kinda sounds like messages aren't getting through the data network, which is also consistent with the one I have here at work, since every important module on the car has some sort of network code, most of them for communication lost with some other module.


If I ever figure out the problem on this Escape I'll let you know what I did. In the mean time get a tube of dielectric grease and start greasing connectors.

Ever get the feeling they are making these things just "TOO Smart"? Sounds like a wonky connector somewhere. I'd lean towards a loose ground, but the way they wire cars and trucks now? My electronics degree would no longer apply.

S-

 

[bikerboy117]

Ever get the feeling they are making these things just "TOO Smart"? Sounds like a wonky connector somewhere. I'd lean towards a loose ground, but the way they wire cars and trucks now? My electronics degree would no longer apply.

S-

I feel better in an old beater than a new vehicle. Too many fuses, relays and switches to go bad.

 

[adsm08]

Ever get the feeling they are making these things just "TOO Smart"?

Yes.



All the farther I got with that Escape was that it does have a weak alternator. Then the customer decided to not put any more time/money in it.