92 Aerostar problem
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92 Aerostar problem
Got an error code 3 flashing on the dashboard, Ford dealer won't tell me what it is unless I let them fix it. Need to what it means. This is my 2nd Aerostar , buy them cheap and drive them 'till they drop , which takes a long time. Last one was a 93 , put 320,000 km. on that one . The 92 shows 158,000 on the clock , some life left in it yet.--- Bill
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From: 3rd Rock
Originally Posted by MakemineaMassey
Got an error code 3 flashing on the dashboard, Ford dealer won't tell me what it is unless I let them fix it. Need to what it means. This is my 2nd Aerostar , buy them cheap and drive them 'till they drop , which takes a long time. Last one was a 93 , put 320,000 km. on that one . The 92 shows 158,000 on the clock , some life left in it yet.--- Bill
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if you have paid the dealer to chech out the van they should give you an estimate and tell you what is wrong,what needs to be replaced. if they do not want to do this i would take it to another dealer. thats not standard practice.
Laughing Gas
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From: Dallas, Texas
Answer: Your car will flash an error 3 when you have a problem with the brake system. Therefore you need to scan the ABS (brake system) for fault codes.
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I have a '92 AWD, which I bought in July of '96. One week after getting it, I stopped for lunch and then went to gas up before continuing on my trip. The speedometer, odometer and a few other things didn't work; but I drove on to the next town 40 clicks down the highway while my son went through the owner's manual. It turns out that a fuse was blown, so I stopped at the next town & replaced it. Everything off came back on: but the odometer flashed between Err.3 and the mileage. I also took it to the Ford dealership where I had bought it the previous week. They couldn't tell me anything about the problem without an extensive test, so I left it alone and have driven it the past 8 years that way. I tracked the problem down to being a correction tag for the speedometer/odometer circuit being tampered with, possibly as a result of driving it while that circuit of the electronic dashboard was disconnected due to a blown fuse. The Ford manual I consulted was for a full-size van. Maybe you had a similar experience which resulted in that message. Hope this helps.
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When the speedometer and odometer (and in my case cruise control and it also doesn't feel like it is going into overdrive) quit, and you replaced a fuse, was it in the interior fuse block?
I have a '92 with rear ABS, so the speed sensor is in the differential. I replaced it, as it is used as a sender to the speedo (and ABS control...perhaps the cruise control and odometer?) but no change. So I am hoping maybe a fuse, fusilble link or relay?
Any thoughts appreciated.
I have a '92 with rear ABS, so the speed sensor is in the differential. I replaced it, as it is used as a sender to the speedo (and ABS control...perhaps the cruise control and odometer?) but no change. So I am hoping maybe a fuse, fusilble link or relay?
Any thoughts appreciated.
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From: 3rd Rock
Originally Posted by Jim-in-RP
When the speedometer and odometer (and in my case cruise control and it also doesn't feel like it is going into overdrive) quit, and you replaced a fuse, was it in the interior fuse block?
I have a '92 with rear ABS, so the speed sensor is in the differential. I replaced it, as it is used as a sender to the speedo (and ABS control...perhaps the cruise control and odometer?) but no change. So I am hoping maybe a fuse, fusilble link or relay?
Any thoughts appreciated.
I have a '92 with rear ABS, so the speed sensor is in the differential. I replaced it, as it is used as a sender to the speedo (and ABS control...perhaps the cruise control and odometer?) but no change. So I am hoping maybe a fuse, fusilble link or relay?
Any thoughts appreciated.
See you on the boards.
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Yes it was the #8 fuse in the interior fuse block. I've had to change that fuse a couple of times since; but it didn't affect the err.3 message flashing on the odometer between odometer readings. I just looked in my copy of the Ford "Electrical & Vacuum Trouble-Shooting Manual" for 1992 Aerostars. The manual really didn't detail a solution to the problem you are describing, other than to: check for voltages and continuity in certain circuits, to check the Programmable Speedometer/Odometer Module and for further diagnostic information refer to Section 13-02B of the Shop Manual. I think you would need both manuals to find and check the circuits the manual describes. My advice is to change the fuse first. As a sidenote, there is another fuseblock in the interior. It's located behind the cubbyhole on the driver's side near the rear wheel.
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From: SoCal
Jim-in-RP:
When my van displayed those symptoms (CC out, AWD out, RABS out, OD out, all at the same time) the cause was the brake lights burning out. I looked at those speed sensors in the rear diff and the transfer case and transmission before someone told me to check the brake lights.
I also had a case where the IP displays went out in fits and starts. I ended up taking the panel apart and cleaning the contacts on the two electronic modules and the circuit board that they were mounted on. They are sort of clamped on, so it's pretty easy to remove them. That fixed them pretty well.
By the way, the sensor for the speedo is a bi-directional thing mounted on the transfer case that costs almost $100. I'm glad I did't have to replace it.
When my van displayed those symptoms (CC out, AWD out, RABS out, OD out, all at the same time) the cause was the brake lights burning out. I looked at those speed sensors in the rear diff and the transfer case and transmission before someone told me to check the brake lights.
I also had a case where the IP displays went out in fits and starts. I ended up taking the panel apart and cleaning the contacts on the two electronic modules and the circuit board that they were mounted on. They are sort of clamped on, so it's pretty easy to remove them. That fixed them pretty well.
By the way, the sensor for the speedo is a bi-directional thing mounted on the transfer case that costs almost $100. I'm glad I did't have to replace it.
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Originally Posted by Jim-in-RP
When the speedometer and odometer (and in my case cruise control and it also doesn't feel like it is going into overdrive) quit, and you replaced a fuse, was it in the interior fuse block?
I have a '92 with rear ABS, so the speed sensor is in the differential. I replaced it, as it is used as a sender to the speedo (and ABS control...perhaps the cruise control and odometer?) but no change. So I am hoping maybe a fuse, fusilble link or relay?
Any thoughts appreciated.
I have a '92 with rear ABS, so the speed sensor is in the differential. I replaced it, as it is used as a sender to the speedo (and ABS control...perhaps the cruise control and odometer?) but no change. So I am hoping maybe a fuse, fusilble link or relay?
Any thoughts appreciated.
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Exactly, but you get used to it after awhile. Judging from the number of entries in this forum, there is sure has been a lot of problems with Aerostars; but people must like them to not give up on them and it is hard to argue with the millions still on the road.