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Partial Electrical Failure - I/P Dark #1424365 10/30/05 04:53 AM
Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 8 USA (CO) C CantConfirmOrDeny OP Newbie
OP CantConfirmOrDeny Newbie C Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 8 USA (CO)	Got a 98.5 Contour SE 2.5L/MT 120K miles...had a simple, minor problem. Fixed it myself...now it's got a very major (?) problem. Was bucking and missing - replaced plugs, wires, and MAF (lotsa lean trims stored...flow chart said do it). Of course, had battery disconnected during this not-rocket-science procedure. Buttoned everything up, reconnected battery, and...partial darkness featuring no starting or running . When key first turned to RUN, got no I/P lights, but did have clock and PATS light. PATS light, curiously, blinked a few times, went solid, then slowly faded to black over about 5 seconds. Now, there's no clock, radio, or PATS light, no I/P lights, no click or crank in START. Remote keyless door locks work fine, footwell lights work fine, but that's about it. How could I have screwed up connecting the battery? Anyone seen this before? Is there a single point of failure that would explain this group of symptoms? Wondering in Denver, -pmb-

Re: Partial Electrical Failure - I/P Dark #1424366 10/30/05 05:02 AM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 3,395 Hanover Park, Illinois, USA T TaurusKev Hard-core CEG\'er
TaurusKev Hard-core CEG\'er T Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 3,395 Hanover Park, Illinois, USA	Only thing i can think of is to clean the battery terminals... Sounds similar to what ive had on another car. Former owner of a 1995 Ford Contour GL w/ 2.0L ATX Proud owner of a 2005 Ford Taurus SE 3.0L V6 Vulcan --Looking for Commodore stuff (Drives, Units, Amiga, games, etc)If anyone has any of this laying around and wants it gone, lemme know --

Re: Partial Electrical Failure - I/P Dark #1424367 10/30/05 05:12 AM
Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 5,345 Virginia, USA T Tony2005 Addicted CEG\'er
Tony2005 Addicted CEG\'er T Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 5,345 Virginia, USA	Originally posted by ContourKev: Only thing i can think of is to clean the battery terminals... Also check to see if you might have knocked the connectors to the PCM loose (as you were doing quite a few things to the car). "Always do the cheap and easy ones first." 1996 V6 ATX 96K miles

Re: Partial Electrical Failure - I/P Dark #1424368 10/30/05 05:15 AM
Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 8 USA (CO) C CantConfirmOrDeny OP Newbie
OP CantConfirmOrDeny Newbie C Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 8 USA (CO)	Often helpful, but they're perfect in this case. Footwell lights are shining brightly, and I can lock and unlock the doors to my heart's content. Just can't actually go anywhere... Thanks, -pmb-

Re: Partial Electrical Failure - I/P Dark #1424369 10/30/05 05:17 AM
Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 8 USA (CO) C CantConfirmOrDeny OP Newbie
OP CantConfirmOrDeny Newbie C Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 8 USA (CO)	Originally posted by Tony2005: Originally posted by ContourKev: Only thing i can think of is to clean the battery terminals... Also check to see if you might have knocked the connectors to the PCM loose (as you were doing quite a few things to the car). Oooooh - that's over there behind the power steering reservoir, right? I can well imagine leaning on stuff over there whilst yanking plug wires from the coil pack. Will check that tomorrow morning, in the rain-mixed-with-snow we're promised... Thanks, -pmb-

Re: Partial Electrical Failure - I/P Dark #1424370 10/30/05 06:12 AM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 3,395 Hanover Park, Illinois, USA T TaurusKev Hard-core CEG\'er
TaurusKev Hard-core CEG\'er T Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 3,395 Hanover Park, Illinois, USA	Well... if the PCM is loose, the regular lights will come on, ABS/Traction control if equipped, Seatbelt, the door chimes/belt warning, starter should engage, at least on my car, I was able to do the following without a PCM... Rather confusing because seperate circuits I believe operate the Instrument Panel... ABS / Traction Control module will shine its own light to it, Seat belt I believe is on some thing with the door chimes, Brake light should come on if E-brake is up... Other than that I dont know... Might have to check fuses... Former owner of a 1995 Ford Contour GL w/ 2.0L ATX Proud owner of a 2005 Ford Taurus SE 3.0L V6 Vulcan --Looking for Commodore stuff (Drives, Units, Amiga, games, etc)If anyone has any of this laying around and wants it gone, lemme know --

Re: Partial Electrical Failure - I/P Dark #1424371 10/30/05 11:35 PM
Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 8 USA (CO) C CantConfirmOrDeny OP Newbie
OP CantConfirmOrDeny Newbie C Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 8 USA (CO)	Resolved! There are 4 big, fat wires going to the positive battery terminal in addition to the starter primary connection. Two of the four had pulled loose from the (non-OEM) crimped connector on the terminal post. This was not immediately apparent last night, but in the end was easily solved by following the "what did I touch last" rule. Cheers, -pmb-

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