Ford Scorpio Forum - Print Page


    
      
        Ford Scorpio Forum
        (https://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl)
      

        General >> Problems >> Dash goes off with half the electrics
        
(Message started by: BrianC on Apr 22^nd, 2009, 10:24am)

Title: Dash goes off with half the electrics
Post by BrianC on Apr 22^nd, 2009, 10:24am

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

Title: Re: Dash goes off with half the electrics
Post by Jonnycab on Apr 22^nd, 2009, 10:39am

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 :)

Title: Re: Dash goes off with half the electrics
Post by big_timer on Apr 22^nd, 2009, 10:49am

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

Title: Re: Dash goes off with half the electrics
Post by BrianC on Apr 22^nd, 2009, 11:07am

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

Title: Re: Dash goes off with half the electrics
Post by Simmo on Apr 22^nd, 2009, 11:16am

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?.

Title: Re: Dash goes off with half the electrics
Post by scorpio_man on Apr 22^nd, 2009, 11:18am

hi there

change the battery and see how you get on with that, but also have a read through this post. (http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=Problems;action=display;num=1238527140)

hth

Title: Re: Dash goes off with half the electrics
Post by BrianC on Apr 22^nd, 2009, 11:59am

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?

Title: Re: Dash goes off with half the electrics
Post by scorpio_man on Apr 22^nd, 2009, 12:03pm

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

Title: Re: Dash goes off with half the electrics
Post by BrianC on Apr 22^nd, 2009, 12:20pm

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!!!