A Ford, A Dodge & Another Ford
A PCM hunt, power window problem and a no start problem.
A 1998 Ford Taurus, a 1994 Ford F150 and a 1990 Dodge Caravan
This week explores a 1994 Ford Taurus PCM, a 1994 Ford F150 window and a 1990 Dodge Caravan that won't start.
Question: 1998 Ford Taurus
Where is the Powertrain control module located on a 1998 Ford Taurus?
Bryant Lee
Answer:
Here's a picture of the location of the PCM...
Question: 1994 Ford F150
We own a 1994 Ford F150, we are having problems with the power window not going down or up, but this happens only in the hot weather, when it is cooler outside it works fine. We have switched the power window switches from the working passenger side to the not working driver side and have the same results, so it isn't the switch itself. Do you have any ideas what could be the problem and what part we need to replace? Any help would be appreciated.
Mary Taylor
Answer:
Chances are it's a bad circuit breaker in the power window motor. This circuit breaker is designed to cut out when the motor starts to overheat. When the power window motor starts to go bad it's internal resistance goes up which means an increase of the amount of heat it produces. When it gets bad enough, and the temperature is high enough, the circuit breaker will pop almost immediately and stay popped until it cools off enough for the circuit breaker to reset itself.
You may be able to hear the circuit breaker click on and off if you put your ear to the door panel.
Question: 1990 Dodge Caravan
Hello Vince,
My 1990 Dodge Caravan 3.0 liter V-6, with an automatic transmission won't start. I replaced the battery and it has gas. I put throttle cleaner in the intake manifold and it will start, briefly, and then quit.
The fuel pump was replaced several years ago. I put it through inspection in March and haven't driven it since. If you think it is a fuel pump or filter, where is it and can a normal person replace it?
Thanks,
Len Lawson
Answer:
The fact that when you shoot carburetor cleaner into the intake manifold does indicate that it is a fuel problem. If it were an ignition problem it still wouldn't start.
The first thing to do would be to replace the fuel filter and see if that fixes it. If not then you will need to do a fuel pressure test to see if the fuel pump is putting out. If not, check the dark green/black (DG/BK) wire at the fuel pump connector, or as close to it as you can get without actually removing the fuel tank assembly, for power when the key is in the ON position. Now you will only have power there for only about two seconds so you will need to be under there while a helper turns the key to the ON position.
If you have power there and no fuel pressure, then you probably have a bad fuel pump. You will need to drop the fuel tank assembly to replace the in-tank fuel pump.
If you don't have power there, then chances are good you have a bad fuel pump relay or Auto Shut Down (ASD) relay.
That’s all for this week. Feel free to browse the archives for past topics. And, as always, if you are stuck and need an immediate answer you can always call Vince on the phone.
