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Topic: Dash goes off with half the electrics (Read 472 times) |
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BrianC
Newbie
Posts: 18
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Dash goes off with half the electrics
« on: Apr 22nd, 2009, 10:24am » |
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Can anyone help please? I have a 98 Cosworth Ultima that normally behaves well. I was driving along quite happily at night when all the dash went to 0 and the trip and milages went blank. The climate control also went blank but the radio kept going. Lightd stayed on but the indicators, brake lights and electril windows stopped working. I stopped the car but could not see any loose conections arround the battery, which was my first thought. Tried to restart the car but the starter motor didn't have enough power to turn the engine over. After a few seconds, all came back and the car started perfectly and I set off again. Little later on, all goes off again but as I was only a short didtance from home, I carried on. A minute later, all comes back on again and the system goes through a start up procedure with all the dash warning lights comming on, ast did the interior light. Got home and spoke to the local ford dealler and they suggested that as the battery had reccently been disconected to replace a vacuum hose, It was probbably just resetting itself. Didn't really believe them but carried on and there have been no problems for a few months. Today, it didn.t want to start and on the way home, all went off again and didn't come back. Now it won't start at all. Could it be a faulty battery? It is at least 7 years old but can a bad battery couse these problems? I have checked the earths and battery turminals that I can find
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Jonnycab
Senior Member
Former owner of 2.3 Ultima Facelift saloon
Posts: 3900
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Re: Dash goes off with half the electrics
« Reply #1 on: Apr 22nd, 2009, 10:39am » |
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It could be a faulty battery, especially as it's 7 years old...also, make sure that the small black lead on the negative terminal is on nice & tight, if this lead is even slightly loose then it can cause similar problems 
Do you have a battery cover fitted ?
P.S.......welcome to the site
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big_timer
Full Member
2.3 manual ultima saloon
Posts: 183
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Re: Dash goes off with half the electrics
« Reply #2 on: Apr 22nd, 2009, 10:49am » |
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it sounds definitely like a battery problem,it could do no harm anyway to change it as i think your present one has had a good innings.butas jonnycab avises that small piece of plastic that covers the battery is one of the most important part of these cars.if damp gets in and around that fuse box it can "unearth " a whole feast of gremlins and cause untold heartache.if its not there im sure one of the forum gentlemen would oblige on how to get one.
hope you get your probs sorted
atb
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BrianC
Newbie
Posts: 18
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Re: Dash goes off with half the electrics
« Reply #3 on: Apr 22nd, 2009, 11:07am » |
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I will change the battery this afternoon and let you all know how I get on. The battery cover is there and yes I know all about damp in the fuse box from my granada days!!! My experiece with the Granada was that things swithed them selves on rather than off!!!
Thank you for the help and the welcome
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Simmo
Administrator
I'm an OAP !
Posts: 5508
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Re: Dash goes off with half the electrics
« Reply #4 on: Apr 22nd, 2009, 11:16am » |
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Brian, the symptoms of the breakdown also point towards the alternator being dodgy so that is worth a check. Is there any sign of power steering fluid leaking on to it as they DO NOT like that?.
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scorpio_man
Administrator
Ford Kuga awd
Posts: 5654
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Re: Dash goes off with half the electrics
« Reply #5 on: Apr 22nd, 2009, 11:18am » |
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hi there
change the battery and see how you get on with that, but also have a read through this post.
hth
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BrianC
Newbie
Posts: 18
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Re: Dash goes off with half the electrics
« Reply #6 on: Apr 22nd, 2009, 11:59am » |
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Success!!! Thanks Scorpio Man
Having read the posts you pointed me to, I swaped relay 18 and 21 and all lighted up. Swap them back and all goes wrong. Swapped them back again and try to start the car and the dead battery sudeny has charge again. Also of interest is that when I tried to start it, it would not tick-over properly and stalled so had to restart it again. It then ticked over too fast for a bit and now has settled down again and is perfect. Is this to be expected?
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scorpio_man
Administrator
Ford Kuga awd
Posts: 5654
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Re: Dash goes off with half the electrics
« Reply #7 on: Apr 22nd, 2009, 12:03pm » |
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hi there
did you have the battery disconnected at any time between swapping the relays?
if so, it might just be re-learning it's values again.
hth
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BrianC
Newbie
Posts: 18
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Re: Dash goes off with half the electrics
« Reply #8 on: Apr 22nd, 2009, 12:20pm » |
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No, the battery was connected all the time. Perhaps it is on it's way out too? I think you are right about it re-learning but that might have something to do with the same reason that the starter would not push the engine over. I am struggling to understand how a relay failing can starve the starter motor. To me, it should either work or not - wierd!!!
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