Electrical car is possessed please help was supposed to leave for a 1200 mile trip tody

moon9398 · Nov 15, 2018

Ok guys im going to try and explain this as best as I can my 1993 mustang gt is acting crazy!!
So for the past week or so ive had a few electrical issues nothing I was to worried about. A few examples are my dome light went out. My headlights flashed once and about a month ago my headlights went out all together for a min while driving. Well I decided to drive home to Nashville for the holidays and was installing a new head unit and I couldn’t get it working. Tested to wiring with two separate multi meters and got zero volts from the stereo siring harness. So, I then turn the car all the way on and took both my multi meters and tested the back of every fuse in the panel and got zero volts from all of them (weird….) so I then pulled every fuse and they all were fine. how is that possible with most all the accessories the power were just fine? I then turned my car off changed my oil then tried again first testing the fuses on the back side again all but one had volts this time fuse #6 so I pulled it but this time it was fried. I replaced it decided to go for a drive and on that drive my door chime came on wont go off. My dome light came on and now won’t go off. My head lights flashed, and my dash lights flickered on off several times and the needles were jumping all over the place. I come home park it and this morning the damn door chime and dome light are still on. What do I do?? I was supposed to leave for home today. Also side note I believe my heater core is messed up to because I also smell strong antifreeze in the car and ive had to put about 3 gallons of anti-freeze in her over the last week-two weeks could this be related?

jrichker · Nov 16, 2018

The headlight flash/ turning off is due to a problem as described below...
SEE Mustang GT Fog Light Fix to fix the foglight problem. The stock wiring isn't up to the job and is overheating. The headlight switch & turn/multifunction switch are affected by Ford's wiring problem. Sometimes it overheats so badly that the plastic shells of the wiring connectors start to melt. This will show you how to add a relay to the fog lights to relieve the overload on the headlight wiring.

Be careful not to use bulbs rated at more than 55 watt each with the stock fog light wiring. Using oversize bulbs can result in overheating the wiring harness and electrical fires. Definitely do the fog light fix first.

I did mine differently, but I had to build my own wiring harness for the fog lights. This is more trouble than it is worth for most folks. I left all the wiring on the stock light switches in place and used the fog light wiring to power the relay coil. The other side of the relay coil is connected to ground. I have an inline fuse that picks up power from the battery side of the starter solenoid. It is connected to the relay contact. The other relay contact is connected to the new wiring harness I made for the fog lights.

$attachments\50532$

The advantage of making your own foglight wiring harness is that you can run 100 watt fog light bulbs. The stock wiring harness will not use 100 watt bulbs without overloading and causing a fire.

Unless you are good at electrical wiring, have the skills and tools (crimp tool, soldering gun, heat gun for the heat shrink tubing, etc.) I recommend that you stick with the Corral method.

Technical explanation of why the wiring and switches overheat.
You asked for it...

I= Current
E= Voltage
R= Resistance
W= Watts

Two 55 watt fog lamps =110 watts. Find the current in the circuit
I= W/E
110 watts/14 volts = 7.85 amps for fog lights alone.
Since the lighting circuit supplies headlights, taillights, and parking lights, etc.

56 watts 2 each GE Part # L3156 corner light 28 watts each
90 watts 2 each GE Part # 9004 headlight 45/65 watts each (low beam)
63 watts 2 each GE Part # L194 parking light 31.5 watts each
56 watts 2 each GE Part # L3157 tail light 28 watts each
265 watts Total

Total other exterior lighting current
I=W/E
265 watts/14 volts = 18.92 amps
18.92 amps other exterior lighting current
+ 7.85 amps fog light current
26.77 amps with all exterior lights and fog lights on.

The 12 gauge power feed wire to the exterior lighting switch is rated at 20 amps
26.77
- 20.00
6.77 amps excess current

7.85 amps used by fog lights
-6.77 amps excess current
1.08 amps to run the fog lights left if you stay within the 20 amp limit of the wire.
With 1.08 amp of current, the fog lights probably won’t produce any useable light.

Added resistance required to reduce fog light current to permissible 20 amp limit
R=E/I
14 volts/6.77 amps = 2.06 ohms
Resistor wattage
W=EI
14 volts x 6.77 amps = 94.78 watts
You would need a 2 ohm, 100 watt resistor.

Light bulb ratings from http://www.roadparts.com/catalog/section30.pdf
Radio shack resistor catalog - no matches , and no combinations that could be used to make a 100 watt, 2 Ohm resistor.
See RadioShack.com

Ohm’s law – in case you have any questions about my formulas - Ohm's Law Calculators

Recall on Ford Ignition switches:

Revised 7-June-2014 to add Torx bit picture and source. Also added replacement ignition switch wiring pigtail picture, part numbers and sources.

Some of the symptoms of ignition switch problems are things that don’t work or are intermittent like radio, turn signals, wipers or heater.

There was a FREE recall on Ford ignition switches. They overheat and sometimes catch fire. That burns up the steering column and sometimes the car interior. Since this is very old information, you may not be able to get the switch replaced for free anymore. The auto parts stores sell the switches for $13-$15.

While you are working on the switch, check the wiring and connector closely. A replacement connector with new wiring pigtails is available from most auto parts stores

AutoZone and Advanced Auto Parts have the same Part Number: 434 - may have to order, not always in stock

Advanced Auto Parts alternate part number: PT5534

Saleen0679 was nice enough to dig this up for us awhile back: How to replace ignition switch on 1979-1993 Mustangs.
http://www.mustangandfords.com/how-to/engine/5657/

Torx bit set from Advance Auto Parts

Autocraft torx bit set – have small hole in tip for tamper proof screws.
Part No. AC571/W1386 Cost approx. $12 +tax

Diagrams courtesy of Tmoss & Stang&2birds

Ignition switch wiring

Fuel, alternator, A/C and ignition wiring

General karthief · Nov 16, 2018

Jrichker has your fix, that said I would hope you try to find a ride, you have an epic thrash ahead with no time for test drives!

2000xp8 · Nov 19, 2018

Did you put those brighter whiter higher wattage bulbs in the headlights?
If so, they really put the wiring and switches under duress.
The first thing I would do is pull the headlight switch out (takes about 10 seconds with a screwdriver) and check the condition of the wires and connector.

Search

Search

Electrical car is possessed please help was supposed to leave for a 1200 mile trip tody

moon9398

New Member

Sponsors (?)

jrichker

StangNet's favorite TOOL

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

2000xp8

Similar threads