Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Black Box???

I posted the other day that the altenator went out on my daughter's 95 Contour. I forgot there was a black box hanging out from under the dash on the left of the steering column. If had a plug of wires in it, well the darn thing melted when we jumped it with our Buick. Smelled horrible and now the stereo, clock, mirrors, map lights, and vanity lights don't work. There was a security system that was remoced by the previous owner, they cut the wire and pulled it out. Does anyone know if this "black box" was part of the security system, or part of the electical system of the car itself?

I have a 99 so i do nto know if there are any difference. Most likely if it blew all those lights then it was part of the system. THe only box i can think of over my fuse panel is the ABS system. Check all the fuses, could be that they jsut all blew from the voltage surge from the other car.

-Greg

The Contour has two "Black" fuse boxes, one under the hood and one under the dash on the left side of the steering! If the box was hanging down someone pressed the botton on it to release it and never pushed it back into place. If you jump started the Contour with another car - and the other car had its engine running, it might have had to many amps for your system and you blew the fuse box - which would cause all of your lights, radio, etc to go out. NEVER jump your car with another car if it is running! The other car should always be turned off.

Thomas

Every thing in the Pasenger compartment fuse box is protected by the Engine fuse box with exception of the ignition system

how big was this black box as it could have been a number of different things the central timer unit mounted on the bottom of the fuse box springs to mind

Yes, It could be an aftermarket security system. A photo of the "black box" would be a big help for ID. But since you said there was a plug connected, try to trace those and if they look like an "add-on' connection, feel free to remove and discard them. Only the "starter disable"'s connection,if present, needs to be fixed by putting back together the interrupted starter cable.
Hope this help...

We were having trouble with the car starting 4 or 5 times and then it wouldn't start. If we unplugged the wires from the black box, it would start everytime, we just lost the clock, stereo, etc. It ran fine until about 3 hours later, even after the clack box melted. When we jumped it the jumper car was not running. The box hangs down right by our left foot( I guess it was supposed to be under the dash). There were the group of wires plugged into it and one wire coming out that was cut. Thought maybe the security system was hooked up to the interior lights. The box is about 4 inches long, 3 inches across and 2 inches deep. And there is no logo or anything on the box. Sorry I don't have a picture. We couldn't find a door to a fuse box, we looked in the manual and it was supposed to be right there, but it is just solid down by the steering column. Thanks for all your help.

Sounds like an aftermarket security system or remote starting system... Mine is located right where you mentioned, and before I reattached it correctly, it was hanging just below the driver-side globvbox.... If the car is starting better without that box, there is definitively something in there to prevent starting....

Most Likely a remote start system. If the car is having trouble starting, then when you melted the box, it is causing the ignition wires to short. i woudl leave it unhooked. Also check all the fuses, when you melted the box it probably also blew those fuses for the lamps.

A "typical" Security system uses at least a green, blue, red, yellow, white, violet, black,orange, brown wires connected to the "main plug" wich if you unplug it from the"box", the sys. is unopperative 'cause the red wire feeds the sys. with (+)positive charge. The car should work ok, we can work with stereo, lights etc, later. There could be other small plugs with 2 or 3 wires attached. A "remote start" at least adds a bundled of four relays (1x1 inch little black box) to the sys. The cutted wire easily could be the atenna, if it is a remote sys., tipically is a black or green wire and it's free standig, no connection here. Fuses shuld be on the red and white wires of main plug.
Hope this help ID your "black box". If indeed it comes to be
a sec./sys. a reputable audio-alarm shop can easily remove it for you or maybe a friend with skills and knowledge.
Can You please tell more about: "from the manual, it was sopposed to be right there"?

We were trying to find the fuse box, and the owners manual made it sound like there was a flip down access next to the steering column. But we couldn't find it. So I'm guessing it's underneath. I was in a bd wreck a few years ago and can't get under there myself, so I'll get someone to do it for me. It's in the shop right now getting a new altenator, so I'm going to have to check again when we get it back. I'm going to have to study that black box again too. Unless the mechanic can figure it out. Thanks for your help.