Odd electrical problem
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Junior User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 85
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From: KC
Odd electrical problem
Looking for input on a wierd problem. Sometimes (usually when outside temp. is above 80 degrees) or my EX is parked in the sun for several hours, my radio and power windows dont work when I start vehicle. It is not everytime, and as far as I can tell everything else is working fine. After 30 to 90 seconds radio comes on and the windows work. These two items dont seem to be related as far as fuses or relays. Talked to two dealer techs and neither have heard of such a thing, nor feel I should spend the money for diagnostics since it is intermittent at best, and temporary when it happens. Am I the only one with this particular electrical gremlin?
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 242
Likes: 2
From: Chippewa Falls, WI
I have a similar problem in my Ex and there have been a number of similar posts in the past. I swapped relays and it did not help. It's cold here now and I have not seen the problem for a couple months, so it is definitely heat related. Sometimes at startup my gauges peg and then return to normal and occasionally my trip odometer resets. This is happening in the cold too. So far it is pretty infrequent, so I haven't spent much time on it. If the window/radio issue returns in the spring, I will try to resolve it.
In some old posts there was mention of a relay that is integral to the instrument cluster that could be the culprit. I may pick up a cluster on eBay and see if that helps.
If you find the cause, please post it - I (and many others) would love to know about it.
In some old posts there was mention of a relay that is integral to the instrument cluster that could be the culprit. I may pick up a cluster on eBay and see if that helps.
If you find the cause, please post it - I (and many others) would love to know about it.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 283
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From: Minnesota
Gremlins hide in plain sight.
This may seem funny but:Look for moisture on top and under your fuse panel (drivers side inside firewall)
We have had 2 Expeditions at my work (yes not Excursions) that have had all kinds of electrical problems which we traced to water leaking from a body plug.
This caused corrosion in a few connectors on the fuse panel as well as trapped water in the fuse panel and we had intermittant "gremlins" in the electrical system.
We have since drilled 2 small drain holes in the bottom corners of the fuse panel and taped a small PH strip there to see if the leak re-occurs.
We chased our tails for a few months before this cured our problem.
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 25
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I had a 2002 F-150 that had a similar problem. Once in a great while it would just not start up again, or when driving I would lose all of the dash electronics. Gauges would all peg at the max, then drop to the bottom, funny thing is if this happened while driving it would still run. Dealer replaced the fuse box and put in a new ground. Never had the same issue again. I would check ground wires.
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