Aerostar Electrical Problem
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Aerostar Electrical Problem
I know this is going to be hard to diagnose, but here goes anyhow. I had this problem a while back and could never figure out what it was. It largely went away, but now it's back.
Whenever I turn the steering wheel, I lose power to all cabin electronics. The radio goes out, the blowers go off, etc. Turn the wheel, *CLICK*, everything goes off. Turn it back, *CLICK* it all comes back on. This happens sporatically. Very rarely, this also affects the shifting, the transmission lags badly and refuses to upshift.
After the last time, I pulled the steering column apart and looked at it, nothing appeared bad. I drained the tranny and replaced the filter and there was no sign of wear or grinding in the transmission (nothing in the pan whatsoever). Once I put it all back together, it seemed to improve, but in the last couple days, the problem is back. I ended up getting stalled in the middle of an intersection for about 5 minutes after the whole van died in the middle of a turn.
Ideas?
Whenever I turn the steering wheel, I lose power to all cabin electronics. The radio goes out, the blowers go off, etc. Turn the wheel, *CLICK*, everything goes off. Turn it back, *CLICK* it all comes back on. This happens sporatically. Very rarely, this also affects the shifting, the transmission lags badly and refuses to upshift.
After the last time, I pulled the steering column apart and looked at it, nothing appeared bad. I drained the tranny and replaced the filter and there was no sign of wear or grinding in the transmission (nothing in the pan whatsoever). Once I put it all back together, it seemed to improve, but in the last couple days, the problem is back. I ended up getting stalled in the middle of an intersection for about 5 minutes after the whole van died in the middle of a turn.
Ideas?
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Originally Posted by DaveMac2Vans
I'd be looking at the ignition switch, its connecting harness, and the accessory relay for a starting place.
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From: North Alabama
Originally Posted by Cephus
The ignition switch is relatively new, I had it replaced maybe 2 years ago. I looked at the others but didn't see anything wrong (not that it means much) but I'll take another gander and see what I can see.
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Originally Posted by asavage
Does it happen if you turn in both directions, or only one?
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From: Oak Harbor, Washington
When I can't figure out a problem, my rule of thumb is, "fix the things you *know* are wrong first".
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What year is it? If it has an airbag, could it be the clockspring? I don't know much about them but from what I've heard, they seem to make weird things happen when they are broke.
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From: North Jersey, New Jersey
Diskskratch:
The clockspring confused me for awhile too because I couldn't find a clear definition of its purpose but I thought about it and figured it out myself.
The clockspring acts as a rotating set of wires or contacts that maintain a continuous electrical circuit for the horn, cruise control, airbag, and on some cars remote radio switches that rotate with the steering wheel no matter if your wheel is fully turned or in the middle it allows the switches on your wheel to have a continous circuit with the device it connects to. If your clockspring is defective it can't be repaired if it doesn't work or the air bag has been deployed it must be replaced as well.
The clockspring is a very important part of the vehicle because it controls the horn if wires were run into the wheel they would be twisted and flexed and they would eventually break.
Back when I had my 83 Toyota in 94 when I couldn't tell a piston from a crankshaft my horn stopped working and when I turned the wheel in a certain direction the horn worked I had no idea why but I know now that the clockspring was shot hope the other guy I sold it to fixed it
.
The clockspring confused me for awhile too because I couldn't find a clear definition of its purpose but I thought about it and figured it out myself.
The clockspring acts as a rotating set of wires or contacts that maintain a continuous electrical circuit for the horn, cruise control, airbag, and on some cars remote radio switches that rotate with the steering wheel no matter if your wheel is fully turned or in the middle it allows the switches on your wheel to have a continous circuit with the device it connects to. If your clockspring is defective it can't be repaired if it doesn't work or the air bag has been deployed it must be replaced as well.
The clockspring is a very important part of the vehicle because it controls the horn if wires were run into the wheel they would be twisted and flexed and they would eventually break.
Back when I had my 83 Toyota in 94 when I couldn't tell a piston from a crankshaft my horn stopped working and when I turned the wheel in a certain direction the horn worked I had no idea why but I know now that the clockspring was shot hope the other guy I sold it to fixed it
.
Last edited by krankshaft; Jun 19, 2005 at 11:48 AM.
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Originally Posted by diskskratch
What year is it? If it has an airbag, could it be the clockspring? I don't know much about them but from what I've heard, they seem to make weird things happen when they are broke.
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From: Orland USA
Cephus:
Did it do it before the Switch was changed?
I think that a wire was not put back where it should be and is being rubbed when the wheel is turned, and has finally rubbed a hole through to the wire inside and that is why it is happening more often.
Jay
Did it do it before the Switch was changed?
I think that a wire was not put back where it should be and is being rubbed when the wheel is turned, and has finally rubbed a hole through to the wire inside and that is why it is happening more often.
Jay
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Originally Posted by JTHill24
Did it do it before the Switch was changed?
I think that a wire was not put back where it should be and is being rubbed when the wheel is turned, and has finally rubbed a hole through to the wire inside and that is why it is happening more often.
I think that a wire was not put back where it should be and is being rubbed when the wheel is turned, and has finally rubbed a hole through to the wire inside and that is why it is happening more often.
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From: Mitchell, SD
Just a thought, but maybe when you turn the steering wheel the linkage is somehow causing an interuption in the ground. You might want to check your negative lead from the battery for corosion or the seath being worn. It is a way out there idea, but it is worth checking. Along with if there is any binding/rubing on any part of the elctrical harness around the PS.