Wiring Loom

[Guest Trisha]

Hi,

 

We have a problem with a 1996 P reg 2.0 GLX Galaxy at the moment. I was wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience?

 

The wiring loom burnt out completely. Initially we were informed by the local ford dealer that these parts were now discontinued & the only hope was to try & get one second hand from a scrap yard or similar & they would then fit it. We did this after trawling through most of the yellow pages & trying all over the country & finally found one!

 

[seatkid]

I would write to Ford as an important safety issue quoting all known facts and ask them for comments.

Warn them of the possibility of class action if this fault turns out to be common.

[Andrew T]

In the couple of years I've been browsing this forum I don't recall seeing anyone posting on this subject, which which doesn't mean it hasn't been reported, but that it's not a common occurence.

 

Also when does a manufacturers duty of care for a product end? could a ten year old car be said to have been at the end of its useful life?

 

Sorry if I sound unsympathetic, but Ford don't give a toss about the Air Conditioning problems of 3 year old cars once they are out of Warranty, so I think you'll struggle to raise any interest from them in this.

[anadin]

i have a friend in recovery , he's recovered two in month with apparantly engine bay fires, carnt say its related , could of been anything, i have a stray plug on mine thats live , makes you nervous doesnt it, its certainly worth speaking to ford try and keep anything in writing for future ref, no doupt they will try and give you the brush off, but persist, what have you to lose?

[seatkid]

I too have seen a couple of Galaxies on the hard shoulder with engine fires.

Air-con not working is not safety critical.

Fire risk due to design or component fault is.

[Andrew T]

Even if a safety critical fault was identified would Ford do anything about it? look at the Pinto Fuel tanks and more recently the Firestone tyres on the Explorer? To ford it would be a simple question of How much will they would have to pay out if they're sued against the massive cost of a recall.

[Guest 3.5bullet]

Which loom burnt out and what parts went bang?

[Guest Trisha]

Thanks for all your answers so far ;)

 

It was the wiring loom in the engine bay. The units connected to it are for the electric windows, air con, central locking etc etc.

 

So it does appear there may have possibly been a few more with this problem- I should think it would be a most likely thing to cause a fire in the engine bay.

 

I know Ford probably will do naff all about it- we have come to expect that from their level of customer service! However it is something that could possibly be dangerous & that was why I was enquiring as to whether or not anyone else has had a similar experience.

 

Soooo.... Anyone else?

[bigdaddy]

I had a problem with the insulation on the wires to the coils going brittle and breaking up leave just copper wire, I also noticed that all the wires connected to the sensors where breaking up,,,,,,I repaired by splicing in new pieces of wire,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,unnoticed it may have cause an engine bay fire,,,,,

 

I am sure this type of wire insulation breaking up problem has been posted before

[NikpV]

I had a problem with the insulation on the wires to the coils going brittle and breaking up leave just copper wire, I also noticed that all the wires connected to the sensors where breaking up,,,,,,I repaired by splicing in new pieces of wire,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,unnoticed it may have cause an engine bay fire,,,,,

 

I am sure this type of wire insulation breaking up problem has been posted before

 

it certainly happens where the wires are contantly flexed - would have thought the fuses would then been in action - earning their keep

[bigdaddy]

You maybe correct about the fuses,,,,,but there is no fuses on the coils

[NikpV]

You maybe correct about the fuses,,,,,but I have never heard of the coils or temp sensor or camshaft sensor being connected to a fuse????

 

 

if not then I would not expect them to cause a fire then ie run from a current limitted source - at least the sensors, the output of the coils will be at a high voltage but unlikely to have a high sustained current so not likely to produce a loom fire.

 

oi you editted your post ;) but not before I quoted it :D

[bigdaddy]

Yes you are correct that I edited my post,,,,,the button to show it was edited is gone,,,I was not sure about the temp sensor and camshaft sensor was /was not on a fuse,,,,,,,,but the coils are not fused,,,,so if the low tension wires where touching each other where the insulation was broken,,,would that not cause excess heat and maybe start a fire

[NikpV]

the editted this post checkbox has moved to the bottom -----

 

 

 

as for the low tension side, don't know enough about the feed on modern cars I would assume though that since we have fuses (loads) that any wiring which could carry enough current to melt and ignite insulation would have some fuse protection - but need to research this one - if I can find the time. The fact that fires do occur though indicates that the design is lacking somewhere

[bigdaddy]

there is no " this post was edited" button in the quick edit

[NikpV]

there is no " this post was edited" button in the quick edit

 

 

you're right, sorry I was assuming you were using 'full edit'

[Guest Trisha]

Hmmmm- so it could have possibly been dodgy, brittle, cracked wire sleeving then?

 

I can understand that would cause something to go up in smoke!

[NikpV]

Hmmmm- so it could have possibly been dodgy, brittle, cracked wire sleeving then?

 

I can understand that would cause something to go up in smoke!

if not protected by suitably rated fuses yes

[johnb80]

I find it very hard to beleive that the feeds to the coil are not protected by a fuse. All the other sensors are fed via the ECU, the ecu has a fuse in it's feed and therefore protects the sensor wiring.

 

Regards - J