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        General >> Problems >> Electrical Problems 2.3 Ultima Estate
        
(Message started by: exucasvu on Oct 14^th, 2012, 7:55am)

Title: Electrical Problems 2.3 Ultima Estate
Post by exucasvu on Oct 14^th, 2012, 7:55am

HELP!!
I recently bought a 1997 2.3 Ultima Estate admittedly for not much money. I was aware that it had some problems with the electrics I think due to corrosion getting into the area around the fusebox adjacent to the battery more or less as described in this site home page. It would run for a while then cut out. I believe also some water may have ingressed into the area under the passenge side part of the dash. A mechanic friend gave the whole area a good clean and for a while the car ran without problems. It then became necessary to replace the battery and that is when my problems really started. Having replaced the battery, the car simply refused to start. However, the garage got it going again and all went well until I decided to top up the air conditioning. I took the car to a specialist air conditioning/electrical workshop which then diagnosed a fault in the electrics serving the air conditioning. In trying to rectify that fault, the previous fault of not starting at all reappeared. The garage have had some real problems trying to diagnose just what is the problem but again it seems it is down to the corrosion around the fusebox near the battery.
Apart from the electrical problem the car is otherwise in prestine condition and I am loath to scrap it. I know nothing about Scorpio electrics but if anyone can give me any idea as to what can be done to cure this I would be very grateful. Could the problem have spread elsewhere eg to the engine control unit and if so could this or other electrical units be replaced? I do have another Scorpio a 1995 2.0 litre saloon which is up and running perfectly. Are any of the electrics interchangeable?

My frustration is such that I am even thinking of offering a free trip to SW France to anyone who would be prepared to come over and sort this out for me! ;D ;D

Title: Re: Electrical Problems 2.3 Ultima Estate
Post by leewar on Oct 14^th, 2012, 12:23pm

"Water ingress into the area under the passenger part of the dash." There are controls behind the glove compartment, ECU?? that could have got wet. Have caused problems before. Change the fusebox is another thought. I'm sure others will recommend other ways to help. Lee

Title: Re: Electrical Problems 2.3 Ultima Estate
Post by Scorpio_Mike on Oct 14^th, 2012, 1:28pm

Do you have the battery cover correctly fitted ?
If this part is missing your fuse box will get wet.

Title: Re: Electrical Problems 2.3 Ultima Estate
Post by exucasvu on Oct 19^th, 2012, 10:45am

The battery cover is properly covered although I cannot vouch for what happened before I bought the car. It has already been recommended by the auto electricians that a first good step would be to change the fusebox so I will do that. Thanks for advice so far

Title: Re: Electrical Problems 2.3 Ultima Estate
Post by Simmo on Oct 19^th, 2012, 11:03am

When changing the passenger side (auxillary) fusebox be sure to correctly seat the large rubber grommet through which the cables pass into the interior and the ECU. IF this is not properly seated any build up of water will run into the car and over the sensitive electronics. The usual sign of this problem is wet carpets in the passenger footwell. Any sign of this?. It is essential to keep the drain holes clear in the front bulkhead by the battery.
Have a look at This article (http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/battery.htm) which shows the area well. :)

Title: Re: Electrical Problems 2.3 Ultima Estate
Post by Jonnycab on Oct 19^th, 2012, 3:20pm

What condition is the engine wiring loom in ?....as this can also cause many of the problems you describe.

After a few years, the loom insulation goes brittle & falls away leaving exposed wires which can short out. The worst places are where the loom goes to the coil packs & also where the loom goes down at the front end of the inlet manifold to the manifold sensors & crankshaft sensor.

Hope this helps :)

Title: Re: Electrical Problems 2.3 Ultima Estate
Post by exucasvu on Oct 22^nd, 2012, 10:21am

I am expecting the arrival of the auxiliary fusebox this weekend. I will make sure that the seals are properly seated. I suspect there may at some point there may have been some ingress of water into the passenger side. No sign of any wet now though. If necessary, is the ECU something that could be replaced? As I have may have said previously, I am much baffled by any electrics if it goes beyond changing a 3 pin plug. ::)

Title: Re: Electrical Problems 2.3 Ultima Estate
Post by leewar on Oct 22^nd, 2012, 10:20pm

The ECU can be replaced.

Title: Re: Electrical Problems 2.3 Ultima Estate
Post by Mike H on Oct 24^th, 2012, 1:04pm

Or simply dried out?