Mutiple things stopped working
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Junior User
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From: Northwestern corner of VA
Mutiple things stopped working
I have a 1992 E350 with a 460ci (7.5L) engine that has the motor home chassis. A friend of mine was installing a brake controller and tapped it to the wrong wire. Well, now the speedometer, brake lights, and turn signals do not work. The ABS light stays on and the transmission won’t shift out of low when in drive. He has determined that the RABS module may have a reset button on it but he cannot find it. Is this true and if so where is it located?
Thanks,
Thanks,
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The RABS module is under the dash at far right end, just below the air outlet & to the R of the wiper module. Don't know about any "reset button" there, but seem to recall a reset function on the RABS valve under the floor on the L frame rail. Doubt it could cause the rash of problems you describe.
Towing package Econolines have generous trailer wiring built in. This includes a plug under the dash next to the steering column for a brake controller. Also a hot line to charge a trailer breakaway battery. An accidental shorting could pop a fuse. If this wiring was "tapped" into, the circuits are fused in the box under the brake master cylinder. Without knowing which circuit was involved when the "wrong wire" was "tapped" we're left guessing.
Towing package Econolines have generous trailer wiring built in. This includes a plug under the dash next to the steering column for a brake controller. Also a hot line to charge a trailer breakaway battery. An accidental shorting could pop a fuse. If this wiring was "tapped" into, the circuits are fused in the box under the brake master cylinder. Without knowing which circuit was involved when the "wrong wire" was "tapped" we're left guessing.
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From: Northwestern corner of VA
Thanks for your reply, Club Wagon. I believe he said that he tapped into a red wire with a white stripe. Yes, after the fact he found out about the plug under the dash for the brake controller. He has removed the wire tape and use the plug but we need to the rest of the electrical stuff working first.
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The color of the wire isn't such a great clue. You need to figure out what "which circuit" was mistakenly "tapped" into. Also, what was connected to that wire when your friend's attempt resulted in "Multiple things stopped working".
At this point we'd need to presume the location of the "red wire with a white stripe". You need to identify what it connects to in order to begin to resolve your problem. We also must presume you've checked all the fuses are OK.
Originally Posted by bluestarva
I believe he said that he tapped into a red wire with a white stripe.
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From: Northwestern corner of VA
Update
He checked all the fuses he could find and one was blown under the dash but he replaced it and it did not fix the problem. He rechecked the fuse and it is good. I will try to find the circuit that the wire went to that he tapped into.
Update: he said that he tapped into the cold side of the brake switch.
Update: he said that he tapped into the cold side of the brake switch.
Last edited by bluestarva; Mar 19, 2008 at 10:41 AM. Reason: Update
Cargo Master
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If he used the tap I think he used he may have cut the wire in two even thought the insulation still shows it to be togather. I would also check for more fuses bad in all the fuse panels there are more than one.
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From: Northwestern corner of VA
Thanks to all who responded to my question. This is what happened: after Dave hooked up the brake controller and everything stopped working, he disconnected the brake controller and started tracing wires to the different modules and found a wire that went from one (I don't remember which one he said it was) to the disconnected cruise control deactivation switch (unplugged by the dealer due to current recall, but has not been replaced due to Ford's lack of concern for us older E350 owners). When he plugged that unit back into the circuit, everything that did not work started to work again! He then unplugged the cruise control deactivation module and everything except the left rear turn signal/stop light worked. He had someone with special automotive electronics equipment come in and that person tracked down a corroded connector that was preventing the rear turn signal/stop light from functioning. Went camping and everything worked great!
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Posting Guru
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Clear as mud, but glad things are working again.
Its seldom a good idea to leave any "unit" unplugged.
Its seldom a good idea to leave any "unit" unplugged.
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From: Northwestern corner of VA
I have Ford to thank for the unplugged unit. It was a recall that caused it to be unplugged because Ford is being very slow in getting the replacement unit to the Ford dealers.
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Still glad the "Multiple things (that) stopped working" are now working & you think you have a handle on why.
However rereading your posts it remains as "Clear as mud". IMO the FORD recall procedure for CC deactivation 'wet switch' couldn't possibly have caused your symptoms. Curious what might've caused the delay in onset of problems until your "friend" got to it? Still always fun to blame FORD.
However rereading your posts it remains as "Clear as mud". IMO the FORD recall procedure for CC deactivation 'wet switch' couldn't possibly have caused your symptoms. Curious what might've caused the delay in onset of problems until your "friend" got to it? Still always fun to blame FORD.
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