Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | |||||
| 03203 | 10/13/2003 | 0398 | 10004886 | Malfunction indicator lamp illuminated with diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs) p0442, p0455, p0456, p0457 or p1442 or a check fuel cap lamp illuminated with dtc p0457 for the evaporative emission system. *tt | 01/14/2004 |
| 03181 | 09/15/2003 | 10004027 | Remote keyless entry (rke) - service tips. *tt | 11/14/2003 | |
| 98246 | 12/07/1998 | 604059 | Ford motor company has released a new electrical grease ( f8az - 19g208-aa ) to reduce the possibility of moisture corrosion at the terminals. *yc | 03/16/1999 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - BATTERY | |||||
| BC0307A97020 | 02/01/1997 | 51616 | Battery oes dead overnight. *tw | 06/27/1997 | |
| BC0307972301 | 01/23/1997 | 51414 | Battery goes dead- check the current draw with an ammeter. *jd | 06/27/1997 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION | |||||
| BC0309972301 | 01/23/1997 | 51418 | Surge at steady cruise (power train shuffle), misfire codes, stalls at high ambient temperatures. *jd | 06/27/1997 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - ANTI-THEFT CONTROLLER | |||||
| 0162 | 04/02/2001 | 619266 | Vehicles equipped with passive anti-theft system (pats) may not start or crank. *tt | 05/22/2001 | |
| 12154 | 11/01/1998 | 613173 | Some vehicles equipped with pats (securilock) except certain models now have availability of fleet keys through rotunda. *mjs | 06/19/2000 | |
| 983566 | 01/01/1998 | 607837 | Information on programming / diagnosing any passive anti-theft system (pats) related issues. *tt | 10/13/1999 | |
| 983566 | 01/19/1998 | 607484 | Information regarding programming / diagnosing passive anti-theft system (pats) related issues. *tt | 09/23/1999 | |
| 98110 | 01/19/1998 | 605570 | Subject regarding passive anti theft system (pats) diagnostic service tips. *tt | 07/09/1999 | |
| BC3272970207 | 02/07/1997 | 51870 | Vehicles are equipped with passive anti-theft system (pats) - vehicle will not start without the correct ignition key. *tw | 07/17/1997 | |
| BC1025097230 | 01/23/1997 | 51621 | Passive anti-theft system. *jd | 06/27/1997 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - MODULE | |||||
| 980314 | 04/01/1998 | 603508 | Experiencing a hard start / long crank. *yc | 02/23/1999 | |
| BC0042970201 | 01/02/1997 | 51016 | For 1996 3.ol 2-valve vehicles stop updating the processor to the r-12 calibration. *jd | 06/27/1997 | |
| 962511 | 12/02/1996 | 50968 | Powertrain control module -reprogram powertrain control module (pcm) - service procedures - service tip. *tw | 06/17/1997 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - STARTER ASSEMBLY | |||||
| 97111097234 | 11/10/1997 | 53660 | Vehicles exhibiting a squeaking or chirping from the blower motor at low blower motor speeds. *yc | 03/30/1998 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING | |||||
| 99222 | 10/18/1999 | 6089681 | Subject on a wire harness terminal repair kit available for repairing electrical wiring harnesses. *tt | 02/11/2000 | |
| 96246 | 11/18/1996 | 50905 | Wiring - electrical diode identification and service replacements. *tw | 06/17/1997 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | |||||
| 8016 | 04/01/2000 | 613611 | Some vehicles may exhibit an intermittent loss of integrated control panel (icp) illumination. **mr** | 07/26/2000 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK | |||||
| BC0850961007 | 10/07/1996 | 50432 | Concerns of vehicle stall, hesitation stumble, rough idle, missing, fuel pressure, or fuel pressure related check the rear ground. *tt | 04/24/1997 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | |||
| 01/27/2005 | 116900 | 4 | |
| When driving my vehicle a clicking under the dash will occur, at the same time my seat belt light will come on and go off, when it goes off i lose my power steering, power brakes, windshield wipers, stereo and window opener. the oddest thing is everything is fully restored when in neutral or park. *ak | |||
| 08/15/1999 | 54000 | 7 | 08/15/1999 |
| 1997 mercury sable. *nlm | |||
| 01/19/2003 | 80000 | 12 | 06/08/1998 |
| The most recent problems are electrical in nature. first, all of the passenger power windows have failed. they can only be controlled by the driver side panel. second, even though all of the doors are securely closed, the interior dome light will remain on between 20 seconds and several hours. there were occasions when the light would come on by itself while i was driving down the highway to work. an audible clicking noise could be heard from under the dash. the click is similar to the sound made when manually operating the switch. third, this started on sunday, 01/19/03, the headlights will turn on and off by themselves while the vehicle is off and the headlight switch is off. additionally, with the car running and the daytime lights only, the highbeam indicator came on. when i turned the headlights on, the indicator went off. when i turned the headlights off, the highbeam indicator came back on. the highbeam indicator eventually turned off on its own within 5 or 10 minutes. previous problems have included front end suspension related failures and an oil pan that sprung a leak in december 2001 at around 78k miles. the oil pan sprung another leak in december 2002. the service dealer attributed the leak to the same problem and another failure with the oil pressure switch. i agreed to the oil pressure switch repair and told them that if the oil pan gasket failed a 2nd time (original cause of leak in 2001), that it was due to poor repair work. they tightened the bolts to the oil pan. the winter weather has hampered my efforts to check for the leak. although i no longer smell burning oil. | |||
| 11/26/2000 | 2 | 08/01/2000 | |
| While driving, power steering, power windows, and radio will quit working , consumer can hear a clicking sound under dash, everything comes back on without notice. *slc | |||
| 11/30/1999 | 01/01/1998 | ||
| Thats it the transmission went out at 45,000, the wheel bearing went out soon after purchased, the interior electrical went out soon after purchase also the power seat quit working. | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | |||
| 07/05/2003 | 9 | ||
| During rainy weather, the right front tire splashes water into the engine fan belt assembly causing the fan belt to slip and squeal. the power steering pump fails to turn resulting in hard steering and loss of vehicle control, the generator fails to turn resulting in battery light illumination. the right front wheelwell baffle assembly installed by the mfg does not adequately shield the fan belt assembly from rain water intrusion. a temporary, thought inadequate fix, is to apply belt dressing to the fan belt. ref complaint #551260. *ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - BATTERY | |||
| 1 | |||
| Upon driving during rain or damp weather steering wheel locks, the battery light flashes and the fan belt makes noise. yh | |||
| 1 | |||
| Battery failed. *yc | |||
| 1 | |||
| Battery failed. *yc | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - BATTERY - CABLES | |||
| 07/05/2003 | 9 | ||
| During rainy weather, the right front tire splashes water into the engine fan belt assembly causing the fan belt to slip and squeal. the power steering pump fails to turn resulting in hard steering and loss of vehicle control, the generator fails to turn resulting in battery light illumination. the right front wheelwell baffle assembly installed by the mfg does not adequately shield the fan belt assembly from rain water intrusion. a temporary, thought inadequate fix, is to apply belt dressing to the fan belt. ref complaint #551260. *ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS | |||
| 12/03/2000 | 2 | 09/01/1997 | |
| Started car, proceeded to leave parking lot and sable stalled. unable to restart. had vehicle towed to dealership where vehicle was purchased. first attempt at repair replaced fuse to fuel pump. left dealership and vehicle stalled again, 3 miles away from dealership. vehicle towed back to same dealership. invoice 177076 reads previous repair as stated on ro-fuse blown. found und faulty sender and pump to fuel tank. performed med extensive tests to reveal problem. removed fuel tank from vehicle and tested sender unit and pump assembly. found chaffed wires inside fuel cell which could have caused a fire. repair parts and reassembled tank to vehicle. retested and parts seem to be working as designed. | |||
| 05/30/2000 | 1 | 09/13/2000 | |
| Fuel pump wire within fuel tank which was rubbing on the outgoing metal supply line shorted out, causing a fuse to blow out. also, could lead to a possible fuel tank fire/explosion. *ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION | |||
| 04/01/2002 | 05/01/2099 | ||
| Car overheated, taken to mechanic who diagnosed blown headgasket - retooled headgasket. also replaced water pump, radiator, plugs, plug wires, coil, thermostat, since headgasket problem - car has needed to be repaired constantly. still has cylinder 1 misfire. car is 5 yrs old. seems like excessive prblems for a car that new. | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - MODULE | |||
| 12/11/1997 | 1 | 12/27/1996 | |
| Pcm had to be reprogrammed. nlm | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING | |||
| 04/01/2002 | 05/01/2099 | ||
| Car overheated, taken to mechanic who diagnosed blown headgasket - retooled headgasket. also replaced water pump, radiator, plugs, plug wires, coil, thermostat, since headgasket problem - car has needed to be repaired constantly. still has cylinder 1 misfire. car is 5 yrs old. seems like excessive prblems for a car that new. | |||
| 05/24/2001 | 2 | ||
| Consumer stated the vehicle has stalled on 2 separate occasions, the problem was first diagnosed as a bad fuel pump which was never needed, then the probelm was discovered to be a short in the wiring harness.*jb | |||
| 04/26/2002 | 1 | ||
| Consumer states while traveling at 50 to 55 mph vehicle suddenly died. no power brakes or power steering. took to a mechanic stated wires in the gas tank shorted out and blew a big fuse and caused vehicle to shut off. mechanic stated if tank had not been full of gas this could have ignited a fire. please provide any further information.*jb | |||
| 05/10/1997 | 1 | ||
| A loose ground wire was causing the vehicle to idle rough. *mjs | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - FRONT UNDERHOOD | |||
| 01/11/2001 | 1 | 06/01/1997 | |
| Vehecle was parked in an enclosed garage. fire/smoldering detected at about 0130. fire department responded and put the fire out. insurance company declared the car a total lost. vehicle was picked up by the insuance company, however we do have a video showing the damage. *ak | |||
| 10/01/1999 | |||
| While driving transmission completely malfunctioned, cause unknown. also tachometer needle registering too high, smoke coming from under the hood, and oil smell. *ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK | |||
| 07/07/2002 | 1 | 08/01/2097 | |
| The fire in my 1997 mercury sable station wagon started while sitting in my driveway. it had been parked for about 11hours before the fire started about 1:30 am . the right rear section showed the most damage but the entire interior was destroyed. the gas tank was full but did not explode. the cause of the fire is unknown. the insurance company declared the car a total loss.*ak | |||