95 Transport - dim lights/no power/speedo and tach not working?

[5spd GT]

I'm trying to figure out a problem a 1995 Transport...and here are some of the symptoms that happened at once...

The van is still at the dealership and they should be picking it up within the next couple days I would assume. I’ve never really put much hope in any dealership in anything real technical myself. First off my dad said something about an igniton fuse keeps blowing (I think that is the initial problem) and they can’t figure out why…but anyways on to the symptoms. (After the fuse blows) the speedo doesn’t work nor does the tachometer but the other guages do (I guess drawing their own voltage). When the van is running the a/c fan is on but not blowing…the car stays in 2nd gear by default (according to a guy at the dealership)?…the interior and exterior lights are dim. And when you turn on the driving lights the “door chimer” comes on and stays on like you would have the door open but your just driving and it is going off. Also when (sometimes) pulling from stop you have to give it more gas (due to 2nd gear default?)...and then it caught a couple times and spun the tires over...like a delay or something????

Edit: It is a 95 Transport with the 3.8L...

Any thoughts?

Thanks

[LMP]

WOW: got a long list!........
1st, are you talking about the 15 amps ignition fuse in the fuse block (in the glove box)?..if so, you must have a lot not working! like none of heater/A/C control.....cause there is another "ignition" fuse in the convenience center, under the glove box...so which is it?

WHen you talk of the A/C fan, are you talking of the heater blower , or the A/C radiator fan?
ABout the transmision....it might be a separate problem, but not engaging 4th gear, no cruise control, no TCC would be normal with all that you say....however staing in 2nd is more surprising and involves additional causes. Try driving with lever in position 2 at 30mph then move lever to D to see if it will shift to 3rd gear.
All instruments take their 12V from same fuse; failed instruments (speed, tach) are driven by the computer. All other are fed directly by the sensors.
Given all your woes, I'd suspect the computer......: I,d think it is easy to find one at a scrapyard for a test.....if one wants to eliminate/confirm this possibility

[5spd GT]

Originally Posted by LMP

WOW: got a long list!........
1st, are you talking about the 15 amps ignition fuse in the fuse block (in the glove box)?..if so, you must have a lot not working! like none of heater/A/C control.....cause there is another "ignition" fuse in the convenience center, under the glove box...so which is it?

WHen you talk of the A/C fan, are you talking of the heater blower , or the A/C radiator fan?
ABout the transmision....it might be a separate problem, but not engaging 4th gear, no cruise control, no TCC would be normal with all that you say....however staing in 2nd is more surprising and involves additional causes. Try driving with lever in position 2 at 30mph then move lever to D to see if it will shift to 3rd gear.
All instruments take their 12V from same fuse; failed instruments (speed, tach) are driven by the computer. All other are fed directly by the sensors.
Given all your woes, I'd suspect the computer......: I,d think it is easy to find one at a scrapyard for a test.....if one wants to eliminate/confirm this possibility

Thanks for the reply...yeah all this occured at once...I'm trying to find the solution out for my parents (their ride)...it is at the dealership...I will ask them some of those questions later and update it.

They said yesterday the dealership found some bad ground (in the dash area)... that had worn down overtime and finally went bad or something to that effect...

Yeah I remember him saying something about a 15amp ignition fuse...so I'll ask which one (where it is located at)...

Would the bad ground mess something electroncially with the transmission? Causing it to only stay in second gear? 2nd gear goes up to 80mph...are these 3 speeds?

[LMP]

THis is a 4speed transmission. will go up to 3 in D, and 4 in OD.
Bad grounds do happen, there are lots of reports on this....but rarely will they cause fuses to pop out....so some extra details would be fine....

[5spd GT]

Well my dad said it was the ignition fuse by the glove compartment...

The dealership said they found a bad ground(s) underneath a few sections of dash.

I wish I could give more details...but this is coming from my parents who don't give to good of explanations

I'll get some more details later...I wish I could drive it and view it all myself...

Anyways...I'll post some more problems later...

[r_combs]

Originally Posted by 5spd GT

Well my dad said it was the ignition fuse by the glove compartment...

The dealership said they found a bad ground(s) underneath a few sections of dash.

I wish I could give more details...but this is coming from my parents who don't give to good of explanations

I'll get some more details later...I wish I could drive it and view it all myself...

Anyways...I'll post some more problems later...

Hi, I am having this exact same problem. Can you help any further. Maybe I can get the name and number of the mechanic that fixed this problem. I would like to know where to look for these grounds. Thank you Ron

[JOURNEY1311]

Originally Posted by 5spd GT

I'm trying to figure out a problem a 1995 Transport...and here are some of the symptoms that happened at once...

The van is still at the dealership and they should be picking it up within the next couple days I would assume. I’ve never really put much hope in any dealership in anything real technical myself. First off my dad said something about an igniton fuse keeps blowing (I think that is the initial problem) and they can’t figure out why…but anyways on to the symptoms. (After the fuse blows) the speedo doesn’t work nor does the tachometer but the other guages do (I guess drawing their own voltage). When the van is running the a/c fan is on but not blowing…the car stays in 2nd gear by default (according to a guy at the dealership)?…the interior and exterior lights are dim. And when you turn on the driving lights the “door chimer” comes on and stays on like you would have the door open but your just driving and it is going off. Also when (sometimes) pulling from stop you have to give it more gas (due to 2nd gear default?)...and then it caught a couple times and spun the tires over...like a delay or something????

Edit: It is a 95 Transport with the 3.8L...

Any thoughts?

Thanks

My 95 Trans Sport is doing all of this exact same stuff. Could you please post again and let me know what the mechanic said to do to fix it, or even what do I tell a mechanic to fix? Do I have to take it to the dealer for this kind of repair? Thanks

[draddor]

I also have this problem, Started this morning.Stop at a store and when I started van it happened. No power windows, tach and speedo not working, ABS light and low gas light on. AC blower and compressor not working. Any ideas on how to fix this. I've checked the fuses and found none bad. Thanks for your help.

[LMP]

I suspect the ignition switch......

[draddor]

Originally Posted by LMP

I suspect the ignition switch......

Is there any way to check this? Thanks for your help!

[LMP]

www.avigex.ca/xport/ignitionkey.jpg
www.avigex.ca/xport/ignitionkeytest.jpg
Look at diagram. It seems the 4th gang of the switch on the right has died. I'd test it in the following way:
Keep ignition to OFF
pull HTR a/c fuse from the glove box fuse box.
Then feed one side of the fuse connector with a wire connected from 12V post in engine compartment on firewall next to brake booster(it is covered with a red plactic cover) or from lighter plug..
TUrn the blower switch to 2nd or 3rd position
Apply 12v on one side : on one side the heater alone should work
Apply 12v on the other side : this will reverse feed circuits like pwr windows, rear blower, abs.: try them.
If those components work with this test, it means the switch does not feed them. It is possible the switch will sporadically feed the circuit.

ANother way would simply be to use a needle to puncture the insulation and measure voltage on the orange wire...but this might be more difficult to identify....

[StLouisJohn]

I had this happen on mine not too long after I bought it and indeed it was the ignition switch. Apparently, when it goes, it takes a few things out with it as well, such as various grounds. In reading your post, you could have been talking about my vehicle. Along with all that, your odometer is not working either, is it? But I had the same laundry list, no instrumentation, no odometer, transmission wouldn't shift -- and either the Lights On/Key Chime would shut up either.

John

[draddor]

Originally Posted by StLouisJohn

I had this happen on mine not too long after I bought it and indeed it was the ignition switch. Apparently, when it goes, it takes a few things out with it as well, such as various grounds. In reading your post, you could have been talking about my vehicle. Along with all that, your odometer is not working either, is it? But I had the same laundry list, no instrumentation, no odometer, transmission wouldn't shift -- and either the Lights On/Key Chime would shut up either.

John

Transmission seems to shift fine and just my tach and speedo stopped working. All other gauges seem to be working but I'm not to sure about the odometer. Your right about that chime. I did supply 12v to the ignition fuse and everything worked so I guess I'll replace the ignition switch.