common electrical problems SVTF?

Miller · Mon Feb 01, 2010 2:47 pm

Well driving home from work today my batt light came on, then after a little while went off, then as I was about to park again it came on. Not in a timed thing, like it wasn't flashing it was just random.

So, is there a common problem? I looked where the alt. is and it doesn't look like it'd be a fun job! car has 52k miles.

CrazySVTChick · Mon Feb 01, 2010 3:33 pm

Miller wrote:Well driving home from work today my batt light came on, then after a little while went off, then as I was about to park again it came on. Not in a timed thing, like it wasn't flashing it was just random.

So, is there a common problem? I looked where the alt. is and it doesn't look like it'd be a fun job! car has 52k miles.

I just had this happen on my focus. The light triggers when the alternator is not charging at 14v. Mine was random and then tested the charge and when ever the alternator was charging at 13.9x the light would then come on. I also found that the connector to my alternator had one loose wire. I replaced the alt. and the pigtale and it has been running fine since. Hope this helps answer your question.

hafftrak · Mon Feb 01, 2010 3:35 pm

^^What she said. That pigtail is a common problem. I believe Steve can get you a new one.

Miller · Mon Feb 01, 2010 3:46 pm

how hard is it to get in there? Is there a panel in the wheel well to take out? Looked like I'd damn near have to take off the intake to get at it.

Mon Feb 01, 2010 3:52 pm

You can get at the wiring from up top, odds are that's all it is.

$22.59 and I have it in stock.

Miller · Mon Feb 01, 2010 4:06 pm

You workin today I have a few things I need to order.....

zx36D · Mon Feb 01, 2010 11:14 pm

found out the hard way last weekend that the wires going into the headlight switch corrode, over heat and melt the wires, plug and part of the switch... ford said its a "Common problem" for all years focus... lame

Tue Feb 02, 2010 4:51 pm

zx36D wrote:found out the hard way last weekend that the wires going into the headlight switch corrode, over heat and melt the wires, plug and part of the switch... ford said its a "Common problem" for all years focus... lame

Hmm, not a common issue that I know of.

In fact I don't even stock either style headlight switch (fog-non fog) and we don't stock the repair pigtail. Now wouldn't you think that being a sponsor of a national forum like Focaljet I'd have those here if they were an issue at all?

Go back and find the guy that said it was common and slap him in the back of the head.

It's idiots like that that give these cars a bad reputation for no reason.

Miller · Tue Feb 02, 2010 7:36 pm

so how hard is it to change the alternator? the best way to do it? etc?

I'm gonna call tousley tomorrow and order a small load of parts.

tgnorman · Wed Feb 03, 2010 2:30 am

Don't replace the alt until you try that pigtail. Far as I can tell, ford got cheap on some of the wiring (alt pigtail, coilpack connector, etc) and made them a touch too short, then the motor moving stresses things a bit. I was having issues with electrical crap, the connector on the alt was damn near broken...

Wed Feb 03, 2010 6:59 am

^^^^^^^^^^^
What he said.

zx36D · Wed Feb 03, 2010 2:29 pm

FORDSVTPARTS wrote:
zx36D wrote:found out the hard way last weekend that the wires going into the headlight switch corrode, over heat and melt the wires, plug and part of the switch... ford said its a "Common problem" for all years focus... lame
Hmm, not a common issue that I know of.

In fact I don't even stock either style headlight switch (fog-non fog) and we don't stock the repair pigtail. Now wouldn't you think that being a sponsor of a national forum like Focaljet I'd have those here if they were an issue at all?

Go back and find the guy that said it was common and slap him in the back of the head. It's idiots like that that give these cars a bad reputation for no reason.

meh, either way i need it fixed so ill be going to get parts sometime... :\ for now cars not drivable

Wed Feb 03, 2010 4:09 pm

zx36D wrote:
FORDSVTPARTS wrote:
zx36D wrote:found out the hard way last weekend that the wires going into the headlight switch corrode, over heat and melt the wires, plug and part of the switch... ford said its a "Common problem" for all years focus... lame
Hmm, not a common issue that I know of.

In fact I don't even stock either style headlight switch (fog-non fog) and we don't stock the repair pigtail. Now wouldn't you think that being a sponsor of a national forum like Focaljet I'd have those here if they were an issue at all?

Go back and find the guy that said it was common and slap him in the back of the head. It's idiots like that that give these cars a bad reputation for no reason.
meh, either way i need it fixed so ill be going to get parts sometime... :\ for now cars not drivable

What exactly is going on with your lights? What are you running for lights and bulbs?

zx36D · Wed Feb 03, 2010 7:26 pm

pmed since its not really svt electric problems... didnt mean to thread jack

Stilz · Thu Feb 04, 2010 9:35 am

X2 on the pig tail. I had a heart attack one day leaving work when this had happened to me. (when it was still around) Stillwater ford wanted somewhere around $400 just to replace that pigtail. My wires were freyed off, thats all. needed new on, started up and drove away. DEFINITELY check the pigtail!