Electrical nightmare
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Electrical nightmare
Okay, crazy question. My ABS light came on yesterday. The transmission started to run hot because the torque converter wasn't locking up, I have a five disk ATS five star torque converter. This morning, the left blinker was flashing without the keys in the ignition. The battery is too dead to start the truck.
The transmission is now working fine but the ABS light is still on. The left blinker is now on for no reason without the keys in the ignition. Hitting the blinker switch would not turn off the blinker. Hit 4-way flasher switch and it shut the blinker off. Obd II diagnostic code readers flash no codes.
I have tried disconnecting the battery to reset the computer, pulled out ABS speed sensor switch, cleaned and reinstalled it, flushed transmission and replaced filter, checked the computer to see if the high performance chip was working loose, scanned with 3 different Obd II scanners, none of them pulled up any codes.
Any help would be VERY appreciated. Signed, wife of a back yard mechanic that doesn't use computers.
The transmission is now working fine but the ABS light is still on. The left blinker is now on for no reason without the keys in the ignition. Hitting the blinker switch would not turn off the blinker. Hit 4-way flasher switch and it shut the blinker off. Obd II diagnostic code readers flash no codes.
I have tried disconnecting the battery to reset the computer, pulled out ABS speed sensor switch, cleaned and reinstalled it, flushed transmission and replaced filter, checked the computer to see if the high performance chip was working loose, scanned with 3 different Obd II scanners, none of them pulled up any codes.
Any help would be VERY appreciated. Signed, wife of a back yard mechanic that doesn't use computers.
The village idiot.
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,126
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From: Southern WV
A little background info:
Did this happen all of a sudden?
Been wrecked?
Been in high water?
Happen after any modifications?
Anything at all out of the ordinary happen right before or when this started happening?
Did this happen all of a sudden?
Been wrecked?
Been in high water?
Happen after any modifications?
Anything at all out of the ordinary happen right before or when this started happening?
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We just went out and pulled the speed sensor, tested it, it tested at 1.10 ohms, cleaned it, cleaned out the hole in the differential, getting ready to change the fluid in the rear end. About 45 minutes after I found the left blinker on, the right blinker was on instead flashing for no reason with no keys in the ignition. Checked the black wire with orange tracer wire under glove box to see if it would throw a code and still no code.
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From: USCGC Never Home
This might be a shot gun throw parts at it approach, but I worked on a friends Impala, and it had a bad ignition switch that would make the car do all kinds of weird, things. The abs light was on, the brake warning light, the ac would only work on high, the blinkers wouldn't work... They are cheap, might be worth a try.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Easton,Ks
When this kinda thing happens it turns out 90% of the time to be a bad ground.
Sounds like a hot body.
Did he change out the NEG (-) battery cable?
If so is there a smaller black wire going from the NEG (-) post of the battery to the body (not the frame) of the truck?
Is the NEG (-) battery cable hooked to the frame or the engine block?
It goes to the engine block.
Sounds like a hot body.
Did he change out the NEG (-) battery cable?
If so is there a smaller black wire going from the NEG (-) post of the battery to the body (not the frame) of the truck?
Is the NEG (-) battery cable hooked to the frame or the engine block?
It goes to the engine block.
Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2011
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From: Endwell, NY
This might be a shot gun throw parts at it approach, but I worked on a friends Impala, and it had a bad ignition switch that would make the car do all kinds of weird, things. The abs light was on, the brake warning light, the ac would only work on high, the blinkers wouldn't work... They are cheap, might be worth a try.
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Junior User
Joined: Apr 2011
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From: Ct
I agree with lost ground or pinched power for some of the odd electrical questions. Couple of other thoughts. The blinkers do not have power when key is out - only emergency flashers. Try unplugging the flasher switch when it does that and see if it stops. The flasher switch may be bad. On the issue of the ABS light - small "Engine Light" scanners can not read the ABS, Airbag, or Body computers. You have to have a machine that asks which computer you want to read. If the machine does not have a seperate function actually asking you if you want PCM, ABS, or Airbag you can not read anything but the PCM. Ask around at places that do free scans and find one that can read everything. If you do find a good machine that can also read the body GEM/Dash modules it may even tell you what the electrical issue is.
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Fleet Owner
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From: Easton,Ks
On the issue of the ABS light - small "Engine Light" scanners can not read the ABS, Airbag, or Body computers. You have to have a machine that asks which computer you want to read. If the machine does not have a seperate function actually asking you if you want PCM, ABS, or Airbag you can not read anything but the PCM. Ask around at places that do free scans and find one that can read everything. If you do find a good machine that can also read the body GEM/Dash modules it may even tell you what the electrical issue is.
This is an OBD-1 truck with the plug under the hood.
The truck is a 1996 F350.
Junior User
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From: Ct
It has been a while but I think my 93 Bronco requires the machine to be set to ABS to read the codes, and it is actually a different plug under the hood if I remember right. Have not had to do it in a while. I will have to go look when I get a minute to see if the truck has seperate plug. (Below & behind other) The older vehicles do use seperate systems for the PCM (OBD 1 & 2) and the ABS. I have not looked at the book in a while but if you do the KOEO or KOER test they too may not spit back ABS. I think it is seperate computer. Like I said my old Bronco has 4 wheel ABS that did not work and I think I had to read different than OBD. It is my big plow truck in winter so needed the ABS. Will look later at truck and book.
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From: Ct
Your truck is 96 - it was mandated that everyone use OBD2 starting in 95 but maybe the trucks did not have to? Anyway - no matter if OBD1 or 2 the ABS is seperate computer. On OBD 2 you can read via the one plug but a standard code reader will not see ABS computer. You can get codes by jumping pins and reading flashes, or if your light is flashing look at the pattern and it may be flashing you the code. My 96 Explorer (same year Ford Truck) has one plug under dash for all. It does require machine to be set to read ABS or Airbag if you want to check those systems. Maybe 96 pick up was still on older system but I know on every ABS I have ever worked on reading the ABS system codes was not in same computer as engine or "PCM" codes.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Easton,Ks
The 96 Truck does not have the 4 wheel ABS, it has the RABS.
Not all F-series Trucks had OBD-2 until 1999.
The only OBD-2 Trucks in 1996 were the F150, Trucks with the 5.8L under 8500 GWV and trucks sold in California.
Yes the RABS module (computer) is separate from the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) computer and is not connected in any way.
The Air Bag codes can only be read by counting the flashes in the cluster.
Not all F-series Trucks had OBD-2 until 1999.
The only OBD-2 Trucks in 1996 were the F150, Trucks with the 5.8L under 8500 GWV and trucks sold in California.
Yes the RABS module (computer) is separate from the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) computer and is not connected in any way.
The Air Bag codes can only be read by counting the flashes in the cluster.
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I've never done this online before. This wife is learning a LOT in this process, heck I even know what a differential is now, where it is and how the drive train and rear end work together!! You guys have been a WORLD of help!! Autozone has computers that they will hook up to your vehicle for free to diagnose. My hubby is now armed with all of your information and is taking the truck into Autozone for diagnosis. He may become a computer believer!! I will keep you posted and thanks so much for all of your advice! Signed, Happy Wife
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2011
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From: West Central Wisconsin
Welcome to FTE, wife of a back yard mechanic that doesn't use computers! 
I had this exact trouble on my 89 F250 immediately after we replaced the passenger side exhaust manifold.
We had forgotten to hook the ground strap up from the body (on the firewall) to the engine (on a manifold bolt)!
As soon as I found it and reattached it, all the electrical problems went away.
I did notice that the braided metal that the ground strap is made from was badly frayed and green corroded, so I am planning to replace it with a better cable.
Seriously check that ground and make sure the ends are clean where bolted on
I had this exact trouble on my 89 F250 immediately after we replaced the passenger side exhaust manifold.
We had forgotten to hook the ground strap up from the body (on the firewall) to the engine (on a manifold bolt)!
As soon as I found it and reattached it, all the electrical problems went away.
I did notice that the braided metal that the ground strap is made from was badly frayed and green corroded, so I am planning to replace it with a better cable.
Seriously check that ground and make sure the ends are clean where bolted on
Junior User
Joined: Apr 2011
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From: Ct
The 96 Truck does not have the 4 wheel ABS, it has the RABS.
Not all F-series Trucks had OBD-2 until 1999.
The only OBD-2 Trucks in 1996 were the F150, Trucks with the 5.8L under 8500 GWV and trucks sold in California.
Yes the RABS module (computer) is separate from the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) computer and is not connected in any way.
The Air Bag codes can only be read by counting the flashes in the cluster.
Not all F-series Trucks had OBD-2 until 1999.
The only OBD-2 Trucks in 1996 were the F150, Trucks with the 5.8L under 8500 GWV and trucks sold in California.
Yes the RABS module (computer) is separate from the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) computer and is not connected in any way.
The Air Bag codes can only be read by counting the flashes in the cluster.
I own a shop and restore what ever we can get from Motorcycles to Audis to boats. I fired up my $7000 piece of test equipment and in 96 everything from F250 to F350 to Super Duty asks if you want to test PCM, Generic OBD II, Airbag, or ABS. The manuals I have all list the system for the engines as basically the same so calling it OBD 1 or 2 does not really mean much but according to the software all 96 got labeled OBD2. The Bronco was given the 4 wheel ABS but F trucks did just get rear ABS. I never looked at them because I have never worked on F truck from that exact time in history. Just the Bronco which is a chopped F. According to the book (picture enclosed) the test port for reading the RABS is either near the parking brake pedal or behind glove box depending on if system is RABS 1 or RABS 2. I assumed because my Bronco had 4wheel ABS the F trucks did too but you are right they do not in 96. But the pic shows how to get at the test ports to read either system with correct machine.
