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Ford Freestar Electrical Problems

111 messages,  Last post on Apr 16, 2013 at 6:08 AM

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Messages Page 5 of 12

#34 of 111 Re: Freestar ICM [robitzer] by djcriddle

Jun 06, 2010 (3:43 pm)

Replying to: robitzer (Jun 06, 2010 3:16 pm)
We checked. The Haynes manual says passenger side fender wall, between the coolant reservoir and the right strut tower. We didn't see it. guess we're blind. lol

#35 of 111 2004 Ford Freestar by ffemt451

Jun 21, 2010 (2:20 pm)

My family has a 2004 Freestar we were at the store the other day after a 10 mile drive and the van died it initially restarted without any problems so we parked it and went in the store when we came back out and tried to start it it would click only once like the starter couldn't turn the flywheel anyone else ever have this problem? We had the starter tested and it came back fine but I can't get it to start!

#36 of 111 Re: 2004 Ford Freestar [ffemt451] by farmtech31

Jul 20, 2010 (7:53 am)

Replying to: ffemt451 (Jun 21, 2010 2:20 pm)
Where do I start...purchased a 2004 Freestar privately and after a week the transmission and computer went out. My wife turned it on one day and it wouldn't go anywhere. Had it towed to Ford dealer and they replaced both items. Brought it home and after a week or two the van stalled and coasted to the side of a gravel road. Again would not go into drive or reverse and it happened after a heavy rain which I thought was interesting. Had it towed back to Ford dealer and after a month or so of troubleshooting they thought it was a bad PCM from Ford and they replaced it. (Ford covered it apparently) I expressed from the get go that I thought water was getting into the PCM due to forums like these and they disagreed with me. So I took the van home after the different PCM was installed and the next morning the battery was dead. After troubleshooting, I found out that the van was turning on the radio and listening to 590 AM w/out the keys in the ignition. Again this confirmed my idea about water getting into the PCM. Took it back to dealer and they again disagreed with me and after a couple months of troubleshooting on their part finally found water in the PCM. Except this time they want me to cover the new PCM!! Unbelieveable. They will not back down from this and I even called Ford and complained to them about this whole situation and engineering problem on their end. Nothing...and let it be known that i am a FORD guy! This has really left me wondering if I will purchase another Ford. Very upset. I have spent 3500 on it already and if i have to pay for the PCM it will be another 700. I found a post about a guy finding a firewall support column full of water and drilling a hole in it but the dealer won't even try to find this column. Have tried to pick it up twice and both times the service engine light comes on before going more than 10 miles. This time it is saying the cam sensor. I think water is still getting into the computer even though they claim to have siliconed the heck out of it. The TSB 6-10-14 has already been done apparently.

#37 of 111 2004 Freestar Electrical by zild

Jul 21, 2010 (10:19 am)

I too have had my PCM "fixed"....for $500....about 3 years ago. It ran fine after that. Now a new problem and I was hoping to get some opinions here.
 
1. In the last 2 months I've had my AC "recharged" and the transmission rebuilt. Does anybody know if the guys doing any of that work would have reason to access the PCM? If so, they probably didn't re-seal it properly and I should do it. My electrical problem seems to happen more in wet weather.....or maybe it's coincidence.
 
I suspect I have a short:
 
2. Sometimes when trying to start the van it just goes 'click', 'click', 'click', etc. So I lightly jiggle the positive battery cable and it will start. Sometimes it takes 1-2 tries...sometimes it takes 7-9 tries.....but always worked for last few weeks. Had it checked at Autozone.....Starter is good, Alternator is good, battery was bad so I replaced it 2 weeks ago and still have the problem. Went to leave for work today and it won't start. Tried the jiggle wire trick 25-30 times.....no deal.
 
a. All the connections are tight: Battery terminal, starter, ground.
b. When it does not start, I still have power.....windows work, lights work, bell goes ding, ding with door open.
c. One time the van will go click, click, click, etc. Jiggle cable and maybe it will just go click (once) and then dead. Jiggle cable again and maybe get absolutely nothing--no click, completely dead (but still have lights, bell, etc.) Every time I jiggle the cable I get one of these responses....completely random.
 
For the last 2 weeks it hasn't been too bad. Like I said, usually only 2 or 3 jiggles and I would find the "sweet spot" and the van would start.
 
Do these symptoms sound like water in the PCM?
 
I suspect that a short developed somewhere in the positive cable over time but never reared it's ugly head until somebody got under there and moved stuff around while working on the van. Does this sound to anyone like I'm on the right track?

#38 of 111 Re: 2004 Ford Freestar [ffemt451] by rosco804

Jul 21, 2010 (3:43 pm)

Replying to: ffemt451 (Jun 21, 2010 2:20 pm)
hello farmtech31 and ffemt451:
 
please read my posting, I believe its # 11, (re the 2005 freestar with 90,000...)
 
Sounds like the trouble I had could be what you went through... I was lucky enough to spend less than $10 to get it fixed...
 
Sorry you already spent the money, but hopefully this info will find you... go after Ford... thats ridiculous what they did to you..
 
Rosco

#39 of 111 Re: 2004 Ford Freestar [rosco804] by lt1975

Sep 01, 2010 (4:25 pm)

Replying to: rosco804 (Jul 21, 2010 3:43 pm)
I am currently having an electrical problem with my 05 Freestar. My light out indicator is coming on occasionally and when it does, the van will not shift from park into any gear, the passenger side headlight is out, no brake lights, no driver side rear turn signal or tail light and my driver side cornering light is on even when the turn signal is not on. Has anyone had any issues like this? If so what is the fix? I've tried the brake on off switch, also replaced the smart junction box or internal fuse box. Neither of these took care of the problem.

#40 of 111 Freestar PCM by robitzer

Sep 01, 2010 (6:11 pm)

Google "PCM problems with WIndstar/Freestar vans. I suspect you have a corrosion problem with your PCM which can cause your problems.

#41 of 111 Re: 2004 Ford Freestar [lt1975] by dayspring

Sep 02, 2010 (5:01 pm)

Replying to: lt1975 (Sep 01, 2010 4:25 pm)
I believe your problem is your PCM. It is getting wet and shorting out, It is a design flaw. Mine caused me all kinds of grief. Wipers would turn on without me touching the switch, The Radio would pop on and off. the windows stopped working. they replaced the window motor. but personally I beleive it fried because of the PCM.
same with the Air conditioner compressor. after the Pmc shorted out three times within 40 days leaving me stranded. I turned it in to the dealership as a voluntary Repo. I'm in court next week being sued for 15 grand by the bank. because the dealership could not fix the problem.

#42 of 111 Headlight problem 2005 Ford Freestar SE by jimmybaby2

Sep 14, 2010 (9:30 am)

I have a headlight issue with my '05 Ford Freestar SE. Headlights work fine on low beam, but when switched to highbeam, headlights go out entirely. Have changed bulbs and all fuses are intact. Any ideas? PS this problem is on both sides.

#43 of 111 Re: 2004 Ford Freestar [farmtech31] by bert_h

Nov 04, 2010 (12:02 pm)

Replying to: farmtech31 (Jul 20, 2010 7:53 am)
Did it ever get resolved? my 2004 mercury monterey has been somewhat reliable for the four years I had it, but now I am getting very similar.. Funny how it goes to 590 AM on the stereo, even after shut off, and from a different station. The CD player keeps making noise like it is trying to pull a disk in, and the stereo displays a bunch of OOOOOs on it. Now intermittently, the car won't start - starter solenoid clicks, but no turning. Lights die when I do that, but then come right back brightly. It has happened three times. First time I jumped it, nothing - until I started the other car. Then it started right up. Second time, it would not restart, but later that night it started repeatedly. Next morning, problem shows up again.

Messages Page 5 of 12

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