3 electrical problems at once
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: Manitoba
3 electrical problems at once
Haven’t posted here for a while, been busy keeping the aero running as has now reached 280k.
First, the volt meter is starting to wiggle back and forth when it idles. When idling, it moves back and forth between the L and 18, as soon as I give it gas, it stays rock solid at the L. I had the Alternator rebuilt 2 years ago. Could this be the alternator again?
Second, the airbag light flashes a code of 32, I take it this means the clock spring is gone? Is this expensive? Hard to replace?
Third, sometimes when I turn the steering wheel, I smell an electrical burning smell like wires are burning. It doesn’t happened all the time, but if it smell real strong at the steering wheel. Is this the clock spring as well.
I tried to do a search, but the search button is missing.
First, the volt meter is starting to wiggle back and forth when it idles. When idling, it moves back and forth between the L and 18, as soon as I give it gas, it stays rock solid at the L. I had the Alternator rebuilt 2 years ago. Could this be the alternator again?
Second, the airbag light flashes a code of 32, I take it this means the clock spring is gone? Is this expensive? Hard to replace?
Third, sometimes when I turn the steering wheel, I smell an electrical burning smell like wires are burning. It doesn’t happened all the time, but if it smell real strong at the steering wheel. Is this the clock spring as well.
I tried to do a search, but the search button is missing.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 315
Likes: 0
From: northern mn
korny
Does your horn & cruise work? if it does it may not be the clockspring. Could be the little blue box under the dash on driver side by fuse box it has a fuse in it for the air bag and that may be what is giving the air bag signal. alt is problay getting week regulator may not be working at low rpm
Does your horn & cruise work? if it does it may not be the clockspring. Could be the little blue box under the dash on driver side by fuse box it has a fuse in it for the air bag and that may be what is giving the air bag signal. alt is problay getting week regulator may not be working at low rpm
Thread Starter
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: Manitoba
Yes the horn and cruise do work. I'll check the blue box under the dash. As for the alternator, it seems to be over charging. If I drive at 100kph, the guage goes above the L in normal and sits just below the 18. I think it may be boiling my battery as I am always adding water to the battery.
I still don't know what the burning electrical smell is as it comes and goes and nothing seems to be hot.
I still don't know what the burning electrical smell is as it comes and goes and nothing seems to be hot.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,041
Likes: 1
From: Orland USA
rpokorny:
The burning smell can be the turnsignal control inside the steering coluum under the steering wheel. My wife's 89 areo would smell like wire burning when we drove it around. Noticed more after making a left turn. Pulled the wheel and found where it was arcing on a contact. Replaced and the smell went away.
JaY
The burning smell can be the turnsignal control inside the steering coluum under the steering wheel. My wife's 89 areo would smell like wire burning when we drove it around. Noticed more after making a left turn. Pulled the wheel and found where it was arcing on a contact. Replaced and the smell went away.
JaY
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 5,720
Likes: 5
From: Washington state
all the headlight current 10amps plus goes thru the dimmer turn signal stalk switch and headlight pull switch...both suseptible to overcurrent failure and burning smell....
put in a relay in the headlight circuit close to the headlights and take the current load off the switches....saves money and pain of changing hard to get at expensive switches
put in a relay in the headlight circuit close to the headlights and take the current load off the switches....saves money and pain of changing hard to get at expensive switches
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Thread Starter
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: Manitoba
Looks like the smell is probably from the turn single switch. When I signal for a right turn and straighten out the steering wheel, the turn signal jumps to a left turn signal and I have to turn it off.
Can anything in the steering column be fixed? I have the air bag and have been told that I can't touch it.
I'll have to get the alternator checked and check out the fuse for the air bag light. When it rains it pours.
One thing, can this cause a fire in the van or will it blow a fuse before a fire. the van is parked in an attached garage so if the van goes so does the house.
Can anything in the steering column be fixed? I have the air bag and have been told that I can't touch it.
I'll have to get the alternator checked and check out the fuse for the air bag light. When it rains it pours.
One thing, can this cause a fire in the van or will it blow a fuse before a fire. the van is parked in an attached garage so if the van goes so does the house.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 7,012
Likes: 204
From: SoCal
Any electrical short can cause a fire. I think there was a recall on these vans a few years ago to fix a potential problem with the ignition switch shorting out.
So I would definitely chase it down and fix it. You don't want this little problem to turn into a major burning issue down the road.
So I would definitely chase it down and fix it. You don't want this little problem to turn into a major burning issue down the road.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,041
Likes: 1
From: Orland USA
rpokorny:
This is what you need..........
Niehoff Ignition Directional Signal Switch
Part Number: DS29201
http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductD...pe=832&ptset=A
It's what I replaced in mine,
JaY
This is what you need..........
Niehoff Ignition Directional Signal Switch
Part Number: DS29201
http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductD...pe=832&ptset=A
It's what I replaced in mine,
JaY
Last edited by JTHill24; Nov 26, 2006 at 01:49 PM.
Thread Starter
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: Manitoba
Major problem, when I took out the alternator, the oil filler tube snapped off. any quick fix for this,maybe some epoxy glue?
I've been checking the threads here and will be checking several things. A while ago, I was under the van and noticed the grounding cable had broken. I couldn't get a replacement, so I used a piece of 10 guage wire for now and then forgot about it. I think it may have broken so I will check that. the battery is about 7 years old so I guess it should also be replaced. I checked it, and it still seems good, but seems to need a top up of water way too often.
this van runs 7 days a week 52 weeks a year so getting some free time to fix it is tough. between driving three kids to swimming, dancing and soccer and then driving two sets of parents in their late 80's to their appointments is taking a great toll on the old girl.
Getting ready for a blizzard now so I won't be doing any fixing until the weekend.
I've been checking the threads here and will be checking several things. A while ago, I was under the van and noticed the grounding cable had broken. I couldn't get a replacement, so I used a piece of 10 guage wire for now and then forgot about it. I think it may have broken so I will check that. the battery is about 7 years old so I guess it should also be replaced. I checked it, and it still seems good, but seems to need a top up of water way too often.
this van runs 7 days a week 52 weeks a year so getting some free time to fix it is tough. between driving three kids to swimming, dancing and soccer and then driving two sets of parents in their late 80's to their appointments is taking a great toll on the old girl.
Getting ready for a blizzard now so I won't be doing any fixing until the weekend.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 315
Likes: 0
From: northern mn
mine goes in to a short rubber hose like big heater hose ,then hooks to valvecover with hose clamp,then put filler tube in top of it then clamp it on there, then mount it back to alt. The ignition switch in the steering colom could be bad they are known to smell when they go bad.
Last edited by yendor; Nov 29, 2006 at 08:42 AM.
Thread Starter
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: Manitoba
The oil filler tube seems to be a solid pipe that goes directly into the valve cover. Just by looking at it, it looks as if it may have been broken from before I bought the van. It is a broken right at the valve cover and appears to have been glued with some type of epoxy.
As for the ignition switch, it was replaced at the dealer about 3 years ago. It was right after the dealer replaced the switch that my signal switch started acting up. the dealer said it was a coincidence and not related to their work.
I think this van is trying to tell me something. I got up this morning and it has a flat.
As for the ignition switch, it was replaced at the dealer about 3 years ago. It was right after the dealer replaced the switch that my signal switch started acting up. the dealer said it was a coincidence and not related to their work.
I think this van is trying to tell me something. I got up this morning and it has a flat.
Former ******
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,901
Likes: 2
From: Salt Lake City, Utah
The turn signal switches fail, its a Ford thing. My Dad's 1996 Ranger needs a new switch, as does my 1994 Aero. I replaced the one in my Mom's 1992 Aero. I think what the van is saying is fix me.