Auto Tech & Repair

» LCDH - ABS and Airbag lights on.

In response to ABS and Airbag lights on. posted by MZ7510:
I just reread your description and all those things are controlled by switches at the dash or have indicators in the cluster. I am sticking with a ground problem. What follows was written a few minutes ago.
I have years of Ford repair experience, so here is my best guess/advice. When a vehicle has numerous codes in different systems, a low voltage condition is often the cause because modules do not do well at voltages below, say, nine volts. However, your description includes systems that are module controlled and very sensitive, (passive restraints, ie. air bags,and ABS), and systems that are less sensitive to resistance issues, (like rear window defroster which is just a heating grid and very basic). The backup light is controlled by the TPS, transmission shift position sensor, part module, part plain old lighting. So, my advice is to look for a bad ground connection. When a system loses a ground, it will seek to ground the current wherever it can. Often this is through another component making that component function oddly. Ford puts ground connections at several places under the hood, behind the front kick panels,(those plastic trim panels outside of the front passenger feet areas, both left and right), and in the rear quarter panel inside the car, behind the trim. These grounds use green screws with 8mm or 10mm hex heads. They are obvious because they have a bare eyelet screwed right to the body metal. Another critical ground is the frame to body strap. Since the body is rubber mounted to the frame, a dedicated ground is provided. In the old days, like twenty years ago, this was a not an unusual problem, a corroded strap. Odd things would occur, for instance a customer would complain of flickering lights and, by the way the u-joint is making noise. What would happen is, without a ground, the body electrical would seek a ground through the driveshaft and back to the engine and generator. This current would etch the u-joint bearing surface and cause them to fail Wierd huh? But true. Test this by running a wire from the battery negative to the body.
Sorry, but since those are such different systems you describe, each could just be bad on it's own.
One other thing, has your car been struck by lightning? Probably not, as it isn't likely to run after. Good luck. If this doesn't help, you can check out my website and ask more there at www.trustywrench.com

-- posted by LCDH