Hello. Let me start off by saying I love my ford. 95 reg cab 4x4 with a 5.0 to 5.8 swap done. I have abused this truck for 12 years (from age 18-22 it was rough) and she survived, mainly on her own will. Reading the past posts I have fixed most problems except for a few. here is one that is REALLY bugging me

When I hit the unlock button my dash lights flash as well as my brake lights and front lights except headlights. I do not have any door panel lights, map/dome lights, outside courtesy lights, or glove box lights. I do have dash lights (half the dash anyways) ashtray lights all other exterior lights including the roof mount 3rd brake light. The door locks go down, but won't come up. I have no mirror adj control as well. I do have working windows though.

But thats not all. The keyless alarm doesn't work. I don't have a speedo or odo, and the airbag light flashes at me as well as the overdrive on/off light.

Also, I don't know if it is or not related, the truck runs horrible, kind of like a chevy. It bucks when it shifts and I have to pop it into neutral when I stop or it will stall.

I have replaced all the bulbs, replaced all the fuses to be safe, hunted down and cleaned as many grounds as I can find. Nearly every light connection I found I disconnected, cleaned, and greased.

A lot of problems, but I think they are mainly all related. Its been doing it for 10 years now, I just liked having no interior lights so never fixed. Now I am going to be 30 and I need those lights to see things.

anyways, any help you can give would be appreciated. I am not too good with electrical stuff so I might have to ask where stuff is, like I want to check a relay but I don't know which one or where it is.

 

I know that is the torque converter not comming out of lock up. Its prob fried.

Your wiring problems are another story. If you hit unlock and all the lights flash, they must be wired in together somewhere. You prob have a buch of messed up wires. Bill (Subford) has alot of wiring diagrams, id ask him for all of the ones that deal with all of your systems that are acting up.

 

Welcome to the forum brother. Sounds like you've got a REAL mess on your hands. You did the engine swap yourself? I would imagine that's when all these problems started right? Did you get the proper EEC and PCM for your year engine and transmission?

Unfortunately I didn't bring my Ford repair manual DVD up here so I can't post the appropriate wiring diagrams. But all's not lost because Bill has even better homemade and Ford diagrams that I'm sure he'll post. Bill is an electrical and vacuum guru, he's your guy here.

As for the TC clutch not unlocking, I would assume that's also electrical, not a bad TC. The TC clutch is electronically controlled via a single wire. You can also tap this wire and install a switch to manually control your TC clutch if you'd like.

 

The bad shifting and TC not locking up is because of the speedometer not working.

 

These problems have been going on for years actually. I just never cared at the time because I enjoyed not having interior lights...teenage years... The swap was real easy actually. Ford said the comp didn't need to be swapped because it does not distinguish between 5.0 and 5.8. The only problem I had was the 5.8's alt bracket was missing so I used the 5.0's and was a pain in the butt to get a belt for. It was bucking really bad before the swap, I figured, because the old motor was letting go..350,000 miles ain't too bad. It's decreased drastically, but still there. I think I am going to check timing and firing order...hmmm.



yea I read about a vss or something. On top of the rear end housing. So I think I am going to pull mine and see what it is about. I have a 95 bronco that just works just fine here at my house, so I have been using it as my guinea pig. I will pull mine and install it in that one to see if it works or not. If not, I will use its vss on mine, if I can? Are they specific to rear end/tranny combos?

thanks for your input. Its getting me in the right direction I think.

 

I think it is also good to mention that the wiring isn't all hacked up and chopped. In fact, other than pioneer head unit it is all untouched. I did go through all the radio wiring though just to make sure.

 

What year did the 5.8 come from? Did it have the same transmission that yours has? It sounds to me like your problem is that you didn't swap the computers! Did you check to see if the induction system matched (speed density or MAF)? You're askin' for a whole lot of trouble if you just swap an engine and don't touch any of the wiring. Give us more details about the swap, I guarantee that's your problem.

Your VSS is not your problem here. Your torque converter CLUTCH is not disengaging. TexasGuy is wrong. There is an electronic clutch in your torque converter that locks it to eliminate slipping and maximize fuel economy at around 40-45 mph. It sounds like the wire is getting a constant ground so it's locked all the time. I would pursue your computer as being the issue. You have way too many different problems going on here for it to just be caused by the VSS.

I'm no expert, but I think you need to find a donor computer from a 5.8L with the same tranny as you (I'm assuming its an e4od because that is the most common), and the same induction system, firing order, etc etc.

 

As I understand it, the 95 5.0 had the same firing order as the 5.8's from at least 1980 and up, according to hayes and internet sources. I should check on here to triple check. The donor was a 91 I had sitting around with 13000 miles on it. I had to keep my tranny, a 4w70, because the bronco's was an e4od so I wouldn't have to swap computers.

What is important is that the symptoms are the same as before the swap. Actually to a much lesser degree now with a stronger motor. I have also did a few more things last night. I rechecked firing order and saw a post on 7/8 criss crossing, which mine were. I cleaned up and straighted all the plug wires. That helped some. It is not fixing the actual problems but I think if I fix all small details the larger problem will show itself.

I think I am going to check the computers though. It is denifately a possibility.

 

So then your firing order currently on the truck should be 13726548......I wanna say the injector pulses were different between those years of trucks and the displacements......have you tried pulling codes on it? www.fordfuelinjection.com will help you alot.I agree with Chris.....since your speedo is not working whether it be because of the VSS or the fuse blown in the fuse block...it's kicking your tranny into Limp Home mode...which is why your TC is Locked up all the time....Luck

JR

 

Well... If your tranny WAS in limp mode it wouldn't be keeping the TC clutch locked up, because that would stall the engine out. The TC clutch is just like a clutch in a manual transmission, if you stop and it's still engaged the truck is going to stall. The fact that your isn't disengaging (amongst other things) indicates you've got as serious electrical problem.

Man I wish some of the experts would show up in this thread because I'm not all that familiar with the way the computer works. But yes Jr is right, the firing order changed from 91 to 95, so those engines initially had different firing orders. You need to investigate that engine swap a little more and get the appropriate EEC and PCMs in that truck, I'd put money on those things being your problems.

 

Oh yeah and definitely pull the codes like Jr said. That should been suggested before but I was so blown away by this problem I wasn't thinking straight, lol. If there are failing components in this system then pulling the codes will pick that up.

 

Not to mention Chris that I think in 92 the FI went from single port fuel injection to multiport fuel injection...which means the ECU's changed....Later

JR

 

I checked and it seems that the impulse is different.

However, while climbing around I found the short to the interior lights. Everything works now inside including the keyless entry/alarm. Sweet.

BUT....

Tried a 5.8 computer. It bumped over and then nothing. I connected my computer, still dead. I can start the truck with starting fluid, but it seems the fuel pump won't kick on. Could the computer swap have shorted out something? The fuel gauge kicked all the way over to beyond full, I know it was at just under a half a tank. I will go read some forum posts..

I am looking for a comp now for a 5.8/4w70...I think you were on the right track.

thanks

 

If it wasn't properly grounded then yea it coulda have shorted something.....what's your battery level read at ?Glad you got the other things figured out it sucks that you have something new....I'll cantact Bill and see if he'll drop by in here.....Later

JR

 

Ok... fixed that problem. It turned out I'm an idiot. I pulled the trim piece around headlights earlier checking wires and disconnected the plug where my tank selector would go if I had dual tanks. Plugged back into harness and works fine. I am going to try that computer again.