Numerous Electrical Problems

[strangerinthemidst]

I have a few electrical problems with my 1995 grand marquis LS and I'm trying to figure out if the source of all these problems could be one specific thing. I've taken it to a few shops, but they give me the whole "we can't tell you anything until we take it apart" crap.

Here's a list of my problems:

1) When I turn my blinker on, the small red triangle light (the hazard light on the dash) will blink off and on. The actually lights on the rear of the car do not flash, only the light on the dash.

2) The hazard lights do not work at all.

3) My clock flickers and goes off and on.

4) My headlights only turn on if I turn them on manually by turning the knob to ON. The auto setting doesn't work.

5) My keyless entry system no longer works, meaning the remote. I can't unlock doors, open trunk, etc. I have use the key or the key pad to unlock the doors. I checked the battery in the remote, but no luck.

6) The cigar lighters do not work anymore and when I try to replace the fuse, it pops as soon as I put it in.


I'm wondering if there's one thing that could have caused all of this or what. I've also checked all the fuses and they are fine.

Thanks for help!

~S

[HEMIDAZE]

Out of nowhere every time I stepped on the brakes the fuse would blow and the A/C compressor quit at the same time. I took it to the dealer and they found a loose ground strap. No problems after they tightened it.

[strangerinthemidst]

Originally Posted by HEMIDAZE

Out of nowhere every time I stepped on the brakes the fuse would blow and the A/C compressor quit at the same time. I took it to the dealer and they found a loose ground strap. No problems after they tightened it.

Good to know. I will def. ask about that next time it's at a the shop.

For my own informational purposes...what is a ground strap?

[HEMIDAZE]

Auto electrictronics require that the vehicle be grounded throughout. This means that there will be short wires (generally flat braided) that are bolted to metal components in several places on the vehicle. For instance, from the motor to the body and from the body to the frame. You can generally find one on the back top of your motor that bolts to the firewall. Sometimes if the ground fails the current looks for what it thinks is the best path available and will blow fuses. I never asked the dealer where my problem one was. They claim to have spent 4 hours looking for the problem (@ $75/hr) and charged me for 2 hours. Not cheap but it is fixed.
PS It was my 1998

[strangerinthemidst]

Thanks. That's good information to know.