Hey guys, so this one kinda has me stumped. At the battery, I have 13.5 with almost all the high current drawing circuits on, (headlights, a/c blower motor, rear defroster, turn signals, radio). In the car, I'm seeing about 12.5. I'm only seeing this when the car is warmed up. So I'm really confused. (Alternator output and battery voltage are higher than in the car. I did a voltage drop test with my DVOM, and from the fuse block to the positive battery cable (with all those loads on) I'm dropping 2 volts. I think I'm looking at maybe some bad fuseable links. I was planning on doing the fuse box upgrade anyway, but I didn't want to do it on such short notice. Can anyone help?
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How old is the fender-mounted solenoid??'79 Continental Town Car
'90 Crown Victoria LTD
'94 Crown Victoria -
About a month old, still works fine, no heat from it.Originally posted by 79lincolnlover View PostComment
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Bad connections, or just too much electrical load. You're pulling a lot of juice through wires that aren't all that large. Get the headlights on relays and it will help. The heater blower on high is good for at least 20 amps of draw, the defrost probably another 10 amps. Also most of that goes through the ignition switch, which will drop some voltage too.86 Lincoln Town Car (Galactica).
5.0 HO, CompCams XE258,Scorpion 1.72 roller rockers, 3.55 K code rear, tow package, BHPerformance ported E7 heads, Tmoss Explorer intake, 65mm throttle body, Hedman 1 5/8" headers, 2.5" dual exhaust, ASP underdrive pulley
91 Lincoln Mark VII LSC grandpa spec white and cranberry
1984 Lincoln Continental TurboDiesel - rolls coal
Originally posted by phayzer5
I drive a Lincoln. I can't be bothered to shift like the peasants and rabble rousersComment
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I was thinking about putting some of that crap in the under hood fuse box (possibly relay it and fuse it right in there), that should take the load off of the ignition switch, which does make some heat I can feel on the column. The big yellow wire mainly. It hasn't dropped below 13 volts the past few days, so I'm thinking it might just be a bad connection...Originally posted by gadget73 View PostComment
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If you've got hot spots in the column, take it apart and inspect things. Heat around electrical parts is bad connections, and more than one Ford has burned from the ignition switch failing. If that ignition switch is original, replace it.86 Lincoln Town Car (Galactica).
5.0 HO, CompCams XE258,Scorpion 1.72 roller rockers, 3.55 K code rear, tow package, BHPerformance ported E7 heads, Tmoss Explorer intake, 65mm throttle body, Hedman 1 5/8" headers, 2.5" dual exhaust, ASP underdrive pulley
91 Lincoln Mark VII LSC grandpa spec white and cranberry
1984 Lincoln Continental TurboDiesel - rolls coal
Originally posted by phayzer5
I drive a Lincoln. I can't be bothered to shift like the peasants and rabble rousersComment
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Like others have said, hot electrics is bad. Vehicle manufacturers are notorious for overloading circuits or using too small a gauge wire. The best example i can give you is the fan blower switch. Someone previously mentioned on the max speed position it pulls 20+ amps, you should see the crappy switch contacts inside that switch! I'm surprised the switch doesn't melt, it is so overloaded! Relays are you friend. It would be wise to reduce load from high amp switch gear like the max position on fan blower switch and let the relay take the strain. Taking the load off both circuits on the headlight switch will significantly extend the life of the switch. If you plan on installing standard 12v automotive relays, I highly recommend spending the extra few cents and buying the 40A Bosch branded relays. They seem to hold up better than the junk Chinese ones.
DannyLast edited by Danny_R; 05-05-2010, 08:34 PM.2002 Mercury Grand Marquis GS 4.6L V8, 1988 Mercury Grand Marquis GS 5.0L V8, 1979 Lincoln Mark V 6.6L V8, 1977 Lincoln Continental 7.5L V8, 1999 Chevrolet Suburban LT 5.7L V8Comment
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the blower motor has a relay for the high speed. I'm thinking through all kinds of ways to fix this problem. The under hood fuse box has a room for 5 relays. 2 for headlights, and we'll see about the others.
Last edited by 86VickyLX; 05-05-2010, 08:37 PM.Comment
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hey 86vicky, sorry I had no idea! I just remember brushing up against my fan switch one time while on the full position and it nearly burned the skin on my arm it was so hot. I too have the hot steering wheel collar but only when i have the lights on at night? I've yet to investigate the cause.
Danny2002 Mercury Grand Marquis GS 4.6L V8, 1988 Mercury Grand Marquis GS 5.0L V8, 1979 Lincoln Mark V 6.6L V8, 1977 Lincoln Continental 7.5L V8, 1999 Chevrolet Suburban LT 5.7L V8Comment
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If it's only with the lights on, your multifunction switch could be burning up. Relay your headlights!Comment
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Not so sure there is a high speed relay, but I don't have the EvTM in front of me either. If you've ever seen the melted wires on the blower motor resistor though, the marginal quality of the wiring is apparent.86 Lincoln Town Car (Galactica).
5.0 HO, CompCams XE258,Scorpion 1.72 roller rockers, 3.55 K code rear, tow package, BHPerformance ported E7 heads, Tmoss Explorer intake, 65mm throttle body, Hedman 1 5/8" headers, 2.5" dual exhaust, ASP underdrive pulley
91 Lincoln Mark VII LSC grandpa spec white and cranberry
1984 Lincoln Continental TurboDiesel - rolls coal
Originally posted by phayzer5
I drive a Lincoln. I can't be bothered to shift like the peasants and rabble rousersComment
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do you have a remote starter by chance?
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