whiteout 5.0

this weekend im driving my buddys mark 7 to my house to install his headunit. Its halfway in, but it wasnt grounded properly. Long story short the groundwire touched the mounting bracket causing a spark which made tailights and dash lights go out. Right then and there the heater core went, pissing antifreeze all over the place. WTF??? then i found this article.

Article No.
01-15-6

08/06/01

^ CLIMATE CONTROL - REPEAT HEATER CORE FAILURE

^ COOLING SYSTEM - REPEAT HEATER CORE FAILURE

FORD:
1985-1994 TEMPO
1985-1997 THUNDERBIRD
1985-2002 CROWN VICTORIA, ESCORT, MUSTANG
1986-2002 TAURUS
1988-1993 FESTIVA
1993-1997 PROBE
1994-1997 ASPIRE
1995-2000 CONTOUR
2000-2002 ESCORT ZX2, FOCUS
2002 THUNDERBIRD
1985-1990 BRONCO II
1985-1996 BRONCO
1985-1997 F-250 HD, F-350
1985-2002 ECONOLINE, F-150, RANGER
1986-1997 AEROSTAR
1988-1997 F SUPER DUTY
1991-2002 EXPLORER
1995-2002 WINDSTAR
1997-2002 EXPEDITION
1999-2002 SUPER DUTY F SERIES
2000-2002 EXCURSION
2001-2002 ESCAPE, EXPLORER SPORT TRAC, EXPLORER SPORT

LINCOLN:
1985-1992 MARK VII
1985-2002 CONTINENTAL, TOWN CAR
1993-1998 MARK VIII
2000-2002 GLS
1998-2002 NAVIGATOR

MERCURY:
1985-1994 TOPAZ
1985-1997 COUGAR
1985-2002 GRAND MARQUIS
1986-2002 SABLE
1991-1999 TRACER
1995-2000 MYSTIQUE
1999-2002 COUGAR
1993-2002 VILLAGER
1997-2001 MOUNTAINEER

ISSUE

Some vehicles may exhibit (repeat) heater core leaks. This may be caused by a chemical reaction called electrolysis. Electrolysis involves an ion exchange between the heater core and engine coolant which can result in a breakdown of the heater core material. This is similar to the operation of a battery.
ACTION

Check for electrolysis on any vehicle with a heater core failure. If electrolysis is verified, flush the coolant and follow additional steps as required. Refer to the following Service Procedure for details.SERVICE PROCEDURE

Electrolysis Inspection

If there is a condition of a heater core leaking or repeal heater core leak, check for electrolysis using the following procedure:

1. To check for electrolysis use a DVOM set on DC volts. Place the positive probe of the meter in the engine coolant and the negative probe on the negative battery post.

2. Adjust engine throttle to 2000 RPM to properly get coolant flow and true electrolysis voltages.

3. If more than .4V is recorded, flush the coolant and recheck (follow guidelines in TSB 98-23-16 for Cougar). See Coolant Fill Procedure below to remove trapped air on 4.6/5.4/6.8L modular engines.

NOTE EXPORT MARKETS, BE SURE THE WATER IS DESALINATED.

4. If there is still excessive voltage present in the coolant, check the engine to body/battery grounds. Also, verify proper grounding of any aftermarket electrical/electronic equipment which has been installed into the vehicle. Improperly grounded electrical devices can cause electrolysis to occur.

5. If the condition is still present after the grounds have been checked, it may be necessary to add extra grounds to the heater core and engine. A hose clamp can be used to secure a 16 AWG stranded copper wire to the heater core inlet tube. The other end should be secured to an EXISTING FASTENER on the body sheet metal. Extra grounds to the engine should be attached between EXISTING FASTENERS on the engine and body sheet metal. Verify continuity of any added grounds to the negative battery terminal.

6. If the condition is still present, add a restrictor (part F1UZ-18D406-A) on the inlet hose with the arrow facing the direction of coolant flow (toward heater core). Cut the line and install with 2 hose clamps. It is important that the restrictor be installed in the right direction of flow and as close to the engine block as possible (not near the heater core itself).





So heater cores can go bad from a spark in the radio wiring it isnt really a problem but i cant see how a radio wire spark could trace its way into my cooling system frying my heatercore, can anyone explain how a heater core works exactly?

AdderMk2

SWEET!!!! lol thats awesome!

stocksuspension

yup see that all the time at work!!!! alos electrolisis will eat through a 6.8l aluminum head

92hatchLX

That's pretty nutz! Never heard of anything like that. Now only if I could blow up ricers with my stereo, that'd be cool.

whiteout 5.0

that sucks mann!!! we could've fried his heads in his 5.0 lincoln due to his headunit improperly grounded?!?!?

stocksuspension

electrolisis happens when u dont change ur coolant at all.. it gets a surface charge and corrodes metal

stocksuspension

electrolisis happens when u dont change ur coolant at all.. it gets a surface charge and corrodes metal

stocksuspension

gorund is ground... how can u improperly ground something

whiteout 5.0

easy you leave the ground wire connector exposed (2wires twisted together) without wire tape (im headed back to my house to put wire caps on the exposed tips).

HACKGT350

hahaha thats awesome