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        General >> Problems >> Electrical problem with 2.3 Ultima
        
(Message started by: mondeoman on Jan 19^th, 2010, 5:21pm)

Title: Electrical problem with 2.3 Ultima
Post by mondeoman on Jan 19^th, 2010, 5:21pm

Hi,

Just to add to my woes, as well as the radio not working correctly, my wife now has an electrical fault with the car.

When I tried to start the car the dials flicked up quickly and then dropped again. Then trying to turn the starter motor over causes the warning lights on the dash etc to flash rapidly with a short of clicking noise. I've checked the battery and it's giving out 12 volts. Any idea what the cause is and likely solution? We drove the car at the weekend and everything was fine then :-/

Cheers,

Mondeoman

Title: Re: Electrical problem with 2.3 Ultima
Post by mondeoman on Jan 19^th, 2010, 5:33pm

I should add that the dials flicking round only happened the first time I tried it.

Title: Re: Electrical problem with 2.3 Ultima
Post by lleewar on Jan 19^th, 2010, 5:37pm

Hi Mondeoman. Sounds like your battery is failing slowly as the flickering dash suggests low power. Mine is doing the same at the moment in the mornings and after the car is left for a good few hours. Lee

Title: Re: Electrical problem with 2.3 Ultima
Post by Jonnycab on Jan 19^th, 2010, 5:55pm

on 01/19/10 at 17:37:55, lleewar wrote:

[]

Title: Re: Electrical problem with 2.3 Ultima
Post by PJDavis on Jan 19^th, 2010, 9:14pm

Yep I agree too. Having been away for most of the Xmas period, and not started the car (It lives outside) for five weeks, when I returned it was minus 12 degrees C. The car turned over rather slowly, and just before it started the dials all flicked around the faces, and the warning lights flashed. It only happened that once, and we have had lower temperatures and it's not done so again. :D

Title: Re: Electrical problem with 2.3 Ultima
Post by Mike Holmes on Mar 20^th, 2010, 8:23pm

Same here again. I've had this too. Means battery is severely low charge.

First symptom (don't know if this is common) ABS light flashes on when starting. (Assuming they're all out to start with)

Extreme symptom, dashboard does like a "complete reset" (I think it's like a separate microprocessor?) like testing all the dials "lock to lock", think this is caused by it being turned on then the supply Volts are unexpectedly dropping below some threshold when the starter motor comes online, hence it like "resets".

If the car's not being used much as mine isn't often I find I have to put a charger on it at least every couple of months and typically needs 24 hours minimum (at 8 Amps). 48 hours is better. ;)

I rigged it up with a cigar lighter plug so simply plug it in the back cigar lighter socket.

Title: Re: Electrical problem with 2.3 Ultima
Post by Mike Holmes on Mar 20^th, 2010, 8:31pm

Appendix ~ bear in mind even while its not being used the PCM is running all the time, albeit at reduced power, (disabling the alarm e.g. by unplugging a sensor makes no difference) then there's your radio memory, then there's the radio receiver for the remote, which is turned off by the PCM only after 300 hours of inactivity, (I think that's right), not to mention all the lock motors if you just nipped out to get something out of the glove box ;D

Title: Re: Electrical problem with 2.3 Ultima
Post by emptypockets on Mar 21^st, 2010, 11:55am

Hi.

Also check the battery terminal connections. I fitted a new one a couple of months ago and everything was fine until two weeks ago when I had non starting, clicking dash and every sign of a jammed starter motor.

The culprit was simply the terminals. After slightly loosening them and reconnecting all was fine. God knows how this fault developed but this is the wonderful world of the Scorpio!

Cheers.

Title: Re: Electrical problem with 2.3 Ultima
Post by Mike Holmes on Mar 21^st, 2010, 12:58pm

Ah yes, reminds me I was told once a "light tap" with something (I dunno, screwdriver handle?) on the terminals might work as a "get you going" remedy. :D