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I have a '98 CSVT. About a week ago I was stopped at a light and I noticed my speedometer needle started jumping around and my odometer and trip meter started to turn. To make a long story short, at idle while stopped my speedometer will jump to 60 to 80 MPH and my odometer will turn. During the past week I must have "added" 20 or so miles to my car while standing still. Anyone heard of this?
1998.5 Contour SVT - Silver/Blue - 107K miles.
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Addicted CEG\'er
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Check the VSS,
Also, a faulty battery will cause all sorts of wierdness (wipers come on by theirself, all lights on dash flash, tach/speedo jump around, or any number of things)
Ray
'99 CSVT - Silver #222/276
In a constant state of blow-off euphoria.
Originally posted by Kremitthefrog:
I like to wear dresses and use binoculars to watch grandmas across the street.
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CEG\'er
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I searched and found another CEGer with the same problem. The solution is his case was to replace the alternator. For a while my lights were dimming at low idle while the speedo jumped up and down. That is not happening anymore. I do notice sometimes that my horn is weak and my power windows are slow to roll up. The car runs great otherwise for being 7 years old. I got 26.5 MPG on the highway today at 80MPH with the AC on! 200 miles on a half tank of gas! I do not get a charging lamp, but sometimes I can hear the engine whine/howl through the speakers with the radio on. I'm going under the hood this weekend to check things out. I'm hoping all this is due to a worn out battery (three years on it). I pray I don't have to replace the alternator! Gulp!
1998.5 Contour SVT - Silver/Blue - 107K miles.
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Joined: Jun 2005
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Originally posted by ValCor:
I'm going under the hood this weekend to check things out. I'm hoping all this is due to a worn out battery (three years on it). I pray I don't have to replace the alternator! Gulp!
To test the battery, turn on your headlights for 60 seconds, then the voltage should read slightly more than 12. (maybe 12 to 12.5).
To test alternator, start the car, turn on all accesories and lights, test the battery and it should be 14 to 14.5 volts.
"Always do the cheap and easy ones first."
1996 V6 ATX 96K miles
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Originally posted by Tony2005:
Originally posted by ValCor:
I'm going under the hood this weekend to check things out. I'm hoping all this is due to a worn out battery (three years on it). I pray I don't have to replace the alternator! Gulp!
To test the battery, turn on your headlights for 60 seconds, then the voltage should read slightly more than 12. (maybe 12 to 12.5).
To test alternator, start the car, turn on all accesories and lights, test the battery and it should be 14 to 14.5 volts.
Thank you very much for these tips. I will give it a go on Monday, Labor Day. I hope and pray it is not the alternator. Gulp!
1998.5 Contour SVT - Silver/Blue - 107K miles.
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,345
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Originally posted by ValCor:
Thank you very much for these tips. I will give it a go on Monday, Labor Day. I hope and pray it is not the alternator. Gulp!
Don't forget it could be the VSS (which is "easier" to remove and reinstall than a alternator).
"Always do the cheap and easy ones first."
1996 V6 ATX 96K miles
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Hard-core CEG'er
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Before you do anything else, have a good hard look at the battery. Strange things happen when the voltages get flaky. One of the most famous on our cars with the original batteries that were going out was the air bag light flashing a signal for low voltage WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. Sometimes flaky batteries seem to test OK.
This sort of thing is a strong enough of a posibility that it may be worth trying to find a known good battery from another car to swap in for a day or two.
Jim Johnson
98 SVT
03 Escape Limited
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Thank you "Big Jim" and "Tony2005" for your suggestions. I tested my battery and it was bad, only 10.1 volts. Yikes! The alternator is fine. I got a new battery and all is well once again. I pulled the codes from the OBD and I have a faulty O2 sensor, P1131. Gonna try cleaning my MAF sensor to see if that works. I'm no longer getting the P0430 code. It just disappeared. I pray I don't have to replace a CAT. Anyway, this forum rocks!
1998.5 Contour SVT - Silver/Blue - 107K miles.
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Posts: 113
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Ray! I forgot to thank you also. THANKS GUYS!
1998.5 Contour SVT - Silver/Blue - 107K miles.
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 7,100
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7:13...7:18..  You can get most answers to problems in the troubleshooting forum in 5 minutes. Congratulations on fixing the problem.. its always nice to not worry about your car! Ray
'99 CSVT - Silver #222/276
In a constant state of blow-off euphoria.
Originally posted by Kremitthefrog:
I like to wear dresses and use binoculars to watch grandmas across the street.
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