The dealership just called and said it was the alternator, which they replaced and the car is good to go. Of course, I have heard that type of story before (as have you), so I will let you know later if it is really fixed.

Good luck to you also.

 

What dealer did you take it to in NoVA??

 

The dealer is Ted Britt Ford in Fairfax, VA. I know the owner, Gardent Britt, slightly. I am certainly not counting on that though.

This is a puzzle that Ford corporate might be starting to take an interest in, as the codes aren't giving any direction. The dealer is going to replace the "Smart Junction Box", per Ford/Detroit's suggestion.

I am having it done next week. I'll post my results.

I was planning on adding the sequential/chase light mods to the rear signals, but not until this is resolved.

Anyone done that mod on a 2007?

 

Ok, they are one of my customers, The service guys seem pretty decent, I don't get any defects back from them, usually a good sign of techs that don't misdiagnose stuff, or install stuff wrong.

 

Replaced alternator "seems" to have fixed my problem. No more warning lights for now...........I'll let you know if the problem returns and keep us posted on your progress.

 

Make SURE that you recieve and KEEP ALL paperwork on each dealer visit. If the problem persists, the lemon law in your area will kick in at one point or another.

Also, you should be researching where ALL ground connections are and check them closely. Also put an oscilloscope on the alternator output to see if there are any voltage spike that could be causing these problems. I've seen this be the cause of all sorts of strange problems.

 

Not only do I keep the documentation for each visit, and also make sure that the wording that they use correctly states the issues. Sometimes they tend to be real vague. Don't let'em do that.

 

I've had problems like this on my 2001 Volvo.
Took it to dealer 4x, issues kept coming back.
Finally my wife is driving, all the lights on dash light up and engine shuts down.

Sick of the dealer BS, (and $600 per visit cost) I take it to my brother's bodyshop to have him look over the electric.

He finds out that animals have been gnawing at the wires in the engine compartment. I live in the city so we have to park our cars outside.

He calls his auto electric guy up, he comes down, and for $100 cuts out the bad wiring, solders new wiring in and shrink tubes it.

Then he tells me how the service techs missed it. They don't even look at the wiring. They plug the diagnostic gear into the car at dealership and if everything is honky dory they unplug it, charge you and give you your car back. Of course there's never a short when they check it so they won't find anything. As you are driving the vibration can move the wire and cause a short.

I'd check all the visible wiring before taking it back to dealer. I can't help but think that some manufacturers get a bad wrap on their electrical systems because of lazy techs and gnawing animals.

stupid f***s... a simple visual inspection on a lift can spot stuff that fancy gizmo can't...