2004 X 6.8 v10. Garage is telling me that I need a new Central Junction box (fuse box under the steering wheel). Corroded from a leaking windshield. They are also telling me they can't find the replacement and Ford says it's discontinued. The part number is 13C7214A06B. The 8th digit (A) is the VIN number of the part as I understand it.


Anyone had any luck finding a replacement or an acceptable substitution?

 

This is the actual part number 3C7Z 14A068-DB and you are correct, it is obsolete and there are no dealers in the country that have any. The 8th digit of your vin is the engine code. You can try this website Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market or look for one in a salvage yard.

 

I plugged the part number into the P/N search for Silver State Ford Parts (a sponsor above). It cam right back with MSRP of $397.88, and your cost of $274.54. Might want to call them....

 

The part is obsolete. Ford has none and the dealer locator shows no one in the country having one.

 

I've found some that appear to be in Russia. I can't find any in the US.


It would seem there has to be some interchangeable possibilities here. Perhaps with an F250 or 350 from the same year? I have found a couple from 03 F250 and 04 diesel which appear to be 100% the same with the exception of the bottom right mounting bracket. Thoughts on me giving one of those a try??

 

Had a similar issue with my X. On the 05 there is a fuel pump relay incorporated within the junction box… when it goes bad, the whole junction box has to be replaced. (no water issues… the relay just went bad) Crazy. My mechanic was able to do a bypass and make a "new" relay. Works like a charm.

Good luck.

 

The mechanic that looked at mine told me about being able to do a bypass as well. He said he's done them before but refused to do it for me. Anyone seen any instructions on how to do this bypass?

 

Why would he refuse to do it for you? tell him you will sign a waiver not holding him responsible. I have done the conversion as well, using a regular fuel pump relay 85 and 86 is the coil that turns on the relay, 30 is ignition power and 87 is the feed to the fuel pump. Take the fuse box out and you will see the relay on the back side of the box, cut the terminals holding the relay in, solder wires to the terminals you just cut, should have 4. Determine which one does what with a test light, I use a power probe. one lead goes to the fuel pump, one lead is power with key on, or you can have 2, if you have 2 then you will have 1 ground with the truck cranking, If you only have 1 power lead with key on and it must stay there for longer than 30 seconds, you will have a ground at all times, and a positive with key on, then it should shut off and when you crank the engine the power will come back on, thats the one with the ground that closes the relay terminal 85 and 86 on the new relay. If your not good with electric it seems like French, but it really is simple, make your wires long enough so you can mount the new relay somewhere nice and neat and crimp female terminals to plug into the relay. I would be willing to do it for you but shipping time might be a problem for you, It would take me a couples hour's to do and put it back into the mail. If your interested PM me and we can figure something out.

 

You can also find "Number Dummy" here at FTE he worked for ford parts department his whole life and has a knack for finding parts that everyone else says there are none. I got into it with him a while back but he does right for the FTE crowd.

 

Thanks for the reply, David. Mechanic didn't want to do it because he was swamped with business, felt it was a fire hazard, and I pissed him off by simply asking if he was sure the relay was part of the fuse box because I knew there was another one behind the radio. He asked me if I was a mechanic, LOL.


I'm good with electrical. Actually an engineer for a radio station. I'm going to pull the box tonight and see what it looks like. Might give it a shot. I've also found one on ebay from a 2003. Different part number but front and back look exactly the same. Wondering if I should give that a shot. My part is 3C7Z14A06B and the 03 is 2C7T14A067AN. As best I can tell the 03 has the same circuit board as the 04 so if nothing else thinking I could pull just that part and replace mine. Of course I would try the whole new box first. I've been searching for the last couple of hours to see if these are interchangeable. Can't find the answer. You would think Ford would have a service note out there somewhere about this.

 

Times have changed Ben I figured you pissed him off I just didn't want to say anything, you have every right to ask we just dont like being seconded guessed. Yea the one you found probably will work, the number can be off because of a single fuse is not in the same place or a different amp fuse is used some where, that's all it takes. But the relay would be the same no matter what. Sounds like you know what your doing so go for it. I enjoy sitting at the work bench, soldering iron smoking away and tracing circuits, I got a feeling you will blow it right out! Good luck.

 

If the fuel pump relay in our 2002 Ex goes bad I'm not real inclined to find a used one to replace it with or buy a panel with the same relay. From what I've been reading the only problem with the OEM fuse panel is the board mounted fuel pump relay. I would rather install a new replaceable relay that I could change out/troubleshoot if it goes bad without pulling the panel again. The wiring diagrams show the fuel pump circuit is 20A so the OEM board mounted relay is probably rated 20A. Replaceable relays rated 40A are common and they should last longer. If one were inclined to overkill there is a Ford relay 5M5T-14B192-EA rated 70A.