Hello all. I recently bought a 2002 7.3 XLT Ex. While this rig is new to me, Excursions are not. My dad had a 2001 7.3 he got new that we took to 400k+ miles. That being said, I'm having some strange electrical issues I wanted to run past everyone.

When I bought the rig it had a non-working cheap aftermarket stereo in it. The day after I bought it I shut the rig off with the driver's window rolled down to talk to somebody. When I started it back up I had no power windows for about a short minute then they started working again. That week I took it into my local shop to have some minor work done to it. One of the things on the list was to install a factory refurbished stereo, that has been slightly customized with a Bluetooth hookup, into the Ex. When it was done at the shop my wife and I were driving it home, and she flipped down a visor, opened the mirror, and when the vanity light came on, it suddenly killed power to the radio, the power windows, and the vanity light. This lasted about a short minute or so then everything came back on. Since then I every once in awhile when I start it, I will not have power windows, and the stereo is dead. This will last a few seconds to a few minutes then everything comes back on.

SO I googled that problem and found thread on here pertaining to relays and fuses. I got a new relay for the power and accessories, I believe #306? And I replaced fuses 35, 41, 42. Since then I am still have the same issues as before, but now other weird things are happening I wanted to mention.

I've now noticed that when the power comes back to the stereo, I only get the clock back first, then after a few minutes more the power windows and the stereo function will come back. Before everything came back at once. Also strange is the seat belt alarm. Since I've bought it I've never heard the seat belt alarm. And I remember vividly my dad's excursion and how annoying the alarm was and how fast it would turn on when you unbuckled your seat belt with the truck running. I just assumed the previous owner had disabled the alarm which is fine with me. But now whenever I start it, if I have no power to the stereo or power windows, the seat belt alarm will ding! And as soon as I get power back to the windows and stereo, the alarm quits working! WTH is the deal there? Those systems can't possibly be connected can they? Also the bottom cigarette lighter is no longer working(I'm going to check the fuse for that shortly, could be that).

Confused? Me too. Here's 2 scenarios that lay out my issues

Scenario 1: I get in the ex, shut the door, and start it. There is no power to the stereo, no power windows, and my seat belt is unfastened. Almost immediately the seat belt alarm begins to ding. After a couple minutes the clock is now illuminated on the stereo. Still no stereo functions, still now power windows, and seat belt alarm is still dinging. Few minutes later, stereo beings playing music, power windows are now working, seat belt is still unfastened, but no seat belt alarm or ding anymore...

Scenario 2: I get in the ex, shut the door, and start it. There is power to the stereo and everything is working. The power windows are also working. There is no seat belt alarm or dinger.

I would like to add lastly that the refurbished stereo is already having issues too. The bluetooth quit working, and I will be receiving a different stereo to install this week.

Could the stereo be the problem? Is the instrument cluster the problem? Something in the fuse panel? Bad wire? Any input would be much appreciated...

 

Wow, I had the same issue today with the visor and the radio. previously it did it once or twice with the window and the radio but im stumped too. ive owned my 02 for 1 year

 

Maybe your problem is related to the relay in the instrument cluster. I intermittently lost power to the radio and windows. I did the easy repair I found and have been trouble free ever since.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post18890589

 

I have nothing to add except to say that I've had this issue ever since I bought my Ex 5 years ago. Radio and windows intermittently don't work for a minute or two after start up. I've just lived with it. But now I know there's a solution I'll look into fixing it. Thanks Kapusta.