E150 '95 Conversion - ABS - Air Bag lights on - shaking

redmanuy · #1 (**permalink**) 04-08-2004, 12:26 AM

Hi,
I just got an E150 Conversion Van which at first seemed to be pretty well conserved.
The van has 106000 miles and still runs ok but there is some stuff that I need help with:

-The ABS light is on, not blinking just plain on... when the van is parked and I start it the light is off until I start rolling... sensor?
- Air bag light is blinking ..... I guess there is a code...
- Over 55 miles/hour starts to shake.... you can see this easly watching the side mirror.... I tried to go to neutral at that speed and the shaking continues so I guess is tires or balancing problem rather than engine or transmision?
-The rear fan is not working, the fuse is ok ... any ideas?
- Some of the wiring seems to be done wrong way, I mean, the passenger door locking system works opposite as it says... to lock the door u depress unlock... can this be the cause of all my problems?

Thanks

Gabriel

Leo_T · #2 (**permalink**) 04-10-2004, 03:20 AM

I would get the tires balanced first. Then disconnect the battery for about 15 minues to clear the codes. If they come back, I would fix the air bag. probably the clock spring.
Alot of guys just use the black tape method on the dash light,and live with it. Your brakes will be the same as if you didn't have ABS. Some guys gotta have it fixed, but it can run into money if it's a HCU or control module. I had them done under warranty. Dealer said if I had to pay..close to a grand. I have the light on again. In my state the air bag light or abs light won't keep you from getting an inspection sticker. Think of all the cars on the road that never had an air bag or abs. Well good luck either way

redmanuy · #3 (**permalink**) 04-10-2004, 10:19 PM

Leo,
Thx for the info.... well guess ur right... those blinking lights drive me crazy. I guess I can survive without the ABS ... but Im afraid of an unexpected air bag deployment..... so I will try to see if just reseting the sensors can fix them or if I have to go deeper.
I will balance tires monday .. and see what happen with vibration... I let u know.
Thx

north5.0 · #4 (**permalink**) 04-21-2004, 01:12 AM

Did you get somewhere with your problem? I am experiencing the same thing.
joe

redmanuy · #5 (**permalink**) 04-21-2004, 09:29 AM

Well so far,

-Air Bag is sending codes 51 and 13 ... so for what Ive read this is the problem with the wiring on the dirving wheel.
-Still vibrating and getting worst ...... today I will balance tires ....and let u know.
-ABS ... one of the sensors in the rear wheel is no working (or working bad) I have no time to replace it.

-Rear fan... .seems that the problem is in the electrical distributor located under the hood. Since I dont have the users manual Im trying to get one to discover which fuse or relay belongs to it.
- I didnt start with the rest.....

north5.0 · #6 (**permalink**) 04-21-2004, 11:22 PM

Thanks
Look forward to hearing the results of your tire balancing. I was told by a tire guy that it could also be the tires separating. A Ford serviceman told me today that air bag problems aren't the cause of vibrations if the vibrations occur at all speeds.
Joe

phantmlord · #7 (**permalink**) 05-12-2005, 04:54 PM

Did you ever figure out your shaking problem? I would suggest getting the Universal joints on the drive shaft replaced. It probably costs around 150 dollars to have someone do it. The needle bearings inside the U joints go bad and there is really no way to test them. I guess its almost like a repair that has to be done on blind faith. I suspected mine were bad, thanks to help from this site, and once I replaced them, the shaking was gone.
good luck

Dannym · #8 (**permalink**) 05-12-2005, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redmanuy

Leo,
Thx for the info.... well guess ur right... those blinking lights drive me crazy. I guess I can survive without the ABS ... but Im afraid of an unexpected air bag deployment..... so I will try to see if just reseting the sensors can fix them or if I have to go deeper.
I will balance tires monday .. and see what happen with vibration... I let u know.
Thx

As far as I know you need that light to come on when the key is first turned and have it go off a few moments later to pass inspection.

Beware messing with those airbags. I'm pretty sure they're well designed not to fire accidentally while driving, but during disassembly/troubleshooting I couldn't say. Sucks to be halfway under the dash and probe a wire the wrong way and it takes your head off.

pfogle · #9 (**permalink**) 05-13-2005, 01:44 AM

The rear blower is powered from the switch for the front blower. Pull the controls out and make sure the connector isn't fried.

IceWagon · #10 (**permalink**) 05-13-2005, 12:11 PM

If your van still shakes at 55 after balancing the wheels, check the drive shaft universal joints. You can check this out yourself, the way the garage found my problem.

I had a shaking van, even after balancing and rotating the tires. The drive shaft u-joints seemed fine with the vehicle on the ground and nothing moving. Sometimes you can find bad universal joints just by wiggling the drive shaft with the vehicle in neutral. There should be no play and I didn't have any.

They jacked my Van up by the rear axle, started it up and hit 60mph right there in the parking lot, standing still. That van shook like crazy!!! I replaced all the u-joints, that van had three. I was riding smooth again after that.