This is a weird problem...

blacklabel · 25-10-2007, 06:54 PM

Evening all, I have experienced a problem with my trusty old 98 AU Futura that has never happened before and has me scratching my head-so any advice would be grateful.

I got in my car yesterday and drove to pick up a friend for work.
We jumped in and I went to start the car.Nothing...and I mean nothing! No cluster lights,warning lights or anything,no starter,-nothing.I turned the key back to off position and tried again.Nothing.And tried again-this time,no starter-but the whole dash was lit up like a xmas tree-including the word "base error" in the lcd display area.Still wouldn't start though.So I shifted the gear stick out of park and up and down the gears and back to Park a few times.Finally after doing this 4-5 times the normal cluster display was present and she started first pop.The stereo "error" code was also showing and I had to re-enter it.
I thought it must have been a loose battery terminal connection,and checked and tightened a firm but not very tight positive terminal.
Sweet as for rest of day and today-until I got in to go home from work-and exactly the same thing again.No power,no dash display,no starter!
Again,after many in and out of "park" jiggles with the gearstick it went back to normal and started first pop,as she always has for 3 years!

One friend has suggested it could be something to do with the immobiliser malfunctioning.Another reckons it's the electronics to do with being in "park" for starting.
Has anyone had this happen to them?
It's got me stumped,and it's real annoying.
Thanks.

InfernoSR · 25-10-2007, 07:09 PM

Well i have no idea other than maybe needing to move house? haha... only joking mate :P

blackers10 · 25-10-2007, 07:10 PM

you have more than likley fried somthing..
but try resetting the ECU (there is a HOW TO somewhere here.. do a search)

other than that.. talk to your local ford dealer.. get her stuck onto the scan tool.. and see what it says is broken

blacklabel · 25-10-2007, 07:14 PM

[QUOTE=blackers10]you have more than likley fried somthing..
but try resetting the ECU (there is a HOW TO somewhere here.. do a search)

Never thought of that.Maybe I should try that first and see what happens.
Cheers

BillC · 26-10-2007, 01:26 PM

The other thing I would do is give your battery terminals a good clean. Use a wire brush on the battery terminals and a small knife on the inside of the battery lead lugs. Next time it happens get a volt meter and check your battery on the lugs. It could be your battery playing up.

The Monty · 26-10-2007, 01:53 PM

Sounds like a dead battery to me.

The Monty · 26-10-2007, 02:00 PM

Sounds like I repeated myself to mee.......
(duplicate post on my behalf)

blacklabel · 26-10-2007, 03:42 PM

Thanks for replies.Battery is sweet,also have new alternator which is fine.
But I have tightened my positive connection to the terminal which was "firm" but not tight.
It's been ok today,so touch wood,it was a connection problem and nothing more,although I am a little sceptical.
But so far so good!

GK · 26-10-2007, 05:54 PM

Here's the info on how to reset the ECU. Just in case.

Resetting of AU ECU
http://www.fordforums.com.au/showpos...9&postcount=85

Cheers,

GK

atec77 · 26-10-2007, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blacklabel

Evening all, I have experienced a problem with my trusty old 98 AU Futura that has never happened before and has me scratching my head-so any advice would be grateful.

I got in my car yesterday and drove to pick up a friend for work.
We jumped in and I went to start the car.Nothing...and I mean nothing! No cluster lights,warning lights or anything,no starter,-nothing.I turned the key back to off position and tried again.Nothing.And tried again-this time,no starter-but the whole dash was lit up like a xmas tree-including the word "base error" in the lcd display area.Still wouldn't start though.So I shifted the gear stick out of park and up and down the gears and back to Park a few times.Finally after doing this 4-5 times the normal cluster display was present and she started first pop.The stereo "error" code was also showing and I had to re-enter it.
I thought it must have been a loose battery terminal connection,and checked and tightened a firm but not very tight positive terminal.
Sweet as for rest of day and today-until I got in to go home from work-and exactly the same thing again.No power,no dash display,no starter!
Again,after many in and out of "park" jiggles with the gearstick it went back to normal and started first pop,as she always has for 3 years!

One friend has suggested it could be something to do with the immobiliser malfunctioning.Another reckons it's the electronics to do with being in "park" for starting.
Has anyone had this happen to them?
It's got me stumped,and it's real annoying.
Thanks.

Could be several things , neutral switch or main power relay , do the fans spin when you turn the key ?
the power relay runs fans and fuel and cpu , neutral switch is off the side off the auto .

waggaclint · 26-10-2007, 07:33 PM

possibly ignition switch as well i no th E series had problems with ign switches....

StealthAu · 27-10-2007, 06:20 PM

If it was the neutral switch you would still be getting power, just wont crank. Check the battery, if no joy it could be the ignition switch but I doubt it.