Weird electrical issue

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Feb 2, 2010 | 03:23 PM

VR6Nutt

Thread Starter

Tuned

Joined: Nov 2007

Posts: 370

Likes: 3

From: SoCal

Weird electrical issue

Hey all - I've had a really strange electrical issue with my X since purchasing it. It seemed more apparent during the summer months. Randomly, when starting the engine, the radio, power windows, and map lights wouldn't work. I'd wait a while while driving and magically, they'd start working again. Well the same thing happened again last week....its not summer and hot (yet). Happened while driving, the kid opened the glovebox looking for something. Same issue: no lights in the glove box, either. Approx 5 mins afterwords, everything started functioning normally. I've checked fuses and panel wiring; making sure it wasn't getting wet and I am lost! Has anyone had a problem similar to this? Suggestions???

Feb 2, 2010 | 04:48 PM

Black 03 Exc.

New User

Joined: Jan 2010

Posts: 5

Likes: 0

I had the same exact thing happen to my Expedition last year, except it didn't matter what season or temp. it was and then it began having trouble starting. Changed the fuel filter and checked fuses but nothin. We would also be able to hear almost like a sizzle but not the same behind the radio in the dash when it happened most of the time. We finally ended up trading it in. During a hard rain we would get some drips from the drivers grab assist handle but I never tore it apart to find the problem, just got rid of it. Could of been a big contributing factor I guess. Oh yeah forgot to mention the tranny started acting up in it as well.

Feb 2, 2010 | 09:33 PM

wallz

Cargo Master

Joined: Jan 2008

Posts: 2,566

Likes: 18

From: The Great White North!

I haven't had the problem, but from reading on here there seem to be a few possibilities.
1.The grounds. Check them out, including the battery terminals.
2.The other possibility could be water intrusion into the fuse panel. Easy way to look would be to pull out the fuse panel and look behind it for corrosion. If you find some, you need to take care of the water leak in the windshield before you can get rid of the corrosion.

Feb 3, 2010 | 06:41 AM

DSMMH

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Jun 2006

Posts: 1,589

Likes: 20

It sounds like dirty relay contacts. Check your owners manual for problem related relays. I would start by swapping the "delay timer" relay with another relay. If that solves the problem, take the relay cover off, remove the moving arm (very easy to do) clean the contacts with crocus cloth or Scotch Brite and reassemble. Most of the time a black residue builds up on the contacts. If you have a lot of miles on your X and electrical gremlins start showing up, relays are a good place to start. When I had my relay issue I ended up taking them all apart and cleaning them. It is a lot cheaper then buying new relays from Ford. Another supplier option is Radio Shack. Basically, any standard SPDT 30 AMP relay will work. If you are not familar with relays, here is a site that will help.

Relay - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

DSMMH

Feb 3, 2010 | 09:40 AM

VR6Nutt

Thread Starter

Tuned

Joined: Nov 2007

Posts: 370

Likes: 3

From: SoCal

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSMMH

It sounds like dirty relay contacts. Check your owners manual for problem related relays. I would start by swapping the "delay timer" relay with another relay
DSMMH

Ya I thought about relays as well. Those are in the same location as the fuse panel right? Which one is this "delay timer" you refer to?