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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 871
Veteran CEG\'er
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Veteran CEG\'er
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 871 |
I would have to agree with your statement about Ford or their part suppliers around that time. Our '92 Escort needed a harness and after seeing everywhere it went, I decided to pay to get it done and let someone else bust their knuckles and get covered in grime up to their pits. And yes, there were some strange electrical problems.
Keith W
98.5 SE Sport ATX
Lt. Denim Blue
Other car
'02 3.0 Duratec Taurus wagon
Want some real political discussions? Try
www.freeconservatives.com
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,163
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
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Originally posted by phil:
What year is your car? How many miles? Are you past the extended warranty coverage? If your car is still within the limit,
95
86k
I was told that I was by ford that I was not
I do not know if my car is within the limit. I purchase it in 94
Originally posted by phil:
Be sure the read through the details of 99M03 before talking to the dealer.
I have read 9903
One of my concerns with paying for a wire harness replacement myself is that the job cost more than my car is worth and so from an insurance point of view would I be covered by Gieco for the expense of this work if for example the next day the car was totaled by a garbage truck.
Does it make sense to spend so much on a car not worth less than the needed work? One justification would be that many people it seems purchase old cars and spend twice the price or more to keep it running. Last night I saw a 96 tour on sell for 1200(on the street no miles listed no problems disclosed).
Is the a/c compressor constantly turning on and off (with slight rpm tach movement while in park) a sign of an electrical gremlin?
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,163
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Feb 2001
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One more thing Phil. decided to look in the engine bay while doing laundry this weekend and noticed that the positive battery cable wires could be seen thru the insulation bright copper/silver ish wires shown thru the cracking insulation.
Were your battery cable replaced as well?
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,037
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
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Originally posted by contour_phoenix_when:
Is the a/c compressor constantly turning on and off (with slight rpm tach movement while in park) a sign of an electrical gremlin?
I would assume that it is, although I have been told (a long time ago, a different car) that it can also indicate a low refrigerant problem, but I would treat it as an electrical issue first.
"Think of it, if you like, as a librarian with a G-string under the tweed." Clarkson on the Mondeo.
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 313
CEG\'er
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OP
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Posts: 313 |
Originally posted by contour_phoenix_when:
One more thing Phil. decided to look in the engine bay while doing laundry this weekend and noticed that the positive battery cable wires could be seen thru the insulation bright copper/silver ish wires shown thru the cracking insulation.
Were your battery cable replaced as well?
No, my battery cables were not replaced. Mine don't have any cracking. It doesn't appear that 99M03 covers battery cables. Yours is the first I've heard of battery cable insulation breakdown.
Sadly, since it appears that yours is past the 10-years-in-service date, I wouldn't expect help from the dealer. I know other CEGers have talked about replacing the harnesses themselves, but I don't have experience in this area.
1995 Contour GL V6 ATX T/C
1986 Mustang GT 5.0
2000 Windstar LX
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 65
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
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Posts: 65 |
c_p_w, the battery positive wiring branch is covered by the recall. Not the big fat battery cables, but the ones that run down off the red triangular thing clamped onto the B+ terminal.
I ordered the repair kit from Bill J. ~$120. This was for 4-cyl, no ABS, and am doing the replacement myself. If that is your car I would recommend it. There are 3 harnesses: 2 were easy, unplug and replug. The third you have to splice into the power distribution box and I haven't tackled that one yet.
The work took me probably 4 hours. I expect another 6-8 hours for the last splicing job. For the V6 I would say probably 3 days (without ABS) because there is an extra harness involved.
If you have ABS, forget it. Then you are up to a total of 4 entire harnesses, and you have to drop the radiator/fan assembly to reach one of them.
Quote from dealer for even the 4-cyl no ABS was $750. If you don't feel you can do it yourself, or have the V6 ABS, then I would tape up all the exposed wires you see, make sure your insurance is paid up, and carry a fire extinguisher.
'95 Contour GL, Zetec/ATX
Repairs: * wheel bearings * sway bar stop * CV joint * alternator * shift interlock * heater tube * VSS * tensioner * ingition coil * wire harnesses * ball joint *
Why do I still love it?
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Joined: Jul 2001
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They pulled my Duratec when they did my car. It was a 4-harness job that under optimal circumstances would have taken probably 3 days, at least, on a job that's booked at 12 hours.
"Think of it, if you like, as a librarian with a G-string under the tweed." Clarkson on the Mondeo.
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Joined: Feb 2001
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Hard-core CEG\'er
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Originally posted by pangloss:
c_p_w, the battery positive wiring branch is covered by the recall. Not the big fat battery cables, but the ones that run down off the red triangular thing clamped onto the B+ terminal.
Yes the four small diameter red wires is what I am talking about not the large cable.
Originally posted by pangloss:
.....Quote from dealer for even the 4-cyl no ABS was $750. If you don't feel you can do it yourself, or have the V6 ABS, then I would tape up all the exposed wires you see, make sure your insurance is paid up, and carry a fire extinguisher.
Yea well I do have the abs v6 atx 95 lx model and I did paint those wires with the liquid tape.
So you say that a fire can be started under hood with exposed postive wires. This is not good. I have to call my insurance company and have a short discussion with them?
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 65
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
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Well I should say that I have not heard of any actual instances of harness cracking causing a fire. But I feel wary when the metal wires are exposed, it is possible to have a short or a spark.
But I would definitely NOT discuss with your insurance company ... if your car does ignite, you don't want them to know that you had prior knowledge of an electrical fault and did not repair it.
Disclaimer: I am not an electrician, a fire safety professional, or an insurance adjuster so my advice may be worth what you've paid for it.
'95 Contour GL, Zetec/ATX
Repairs: * wheel bearings * sway bar stop * CV joint * alternator * shift interlock * heater tube * VSS * tensioner * ingition coil * wire harnesses * ball joint *
Why do I still love it?
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 313
CEG\'er
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contour_phoenix_when -
I took a closer look at my wiring: While the primary battery cables (feeding the engine starter) were not replaced, it does appear that the other, smaller cables were replaced (several each on positive and negative sides).
I had to dig a bit next to the battery to see them - and it doesn't appear that the small metal plates that attach them to the battery terminals were replaced, just the wires themselves.
1995 Contour GL V6 ATX T/C
1986 Mustang GT 5.0
2000 Windstar LX
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