Weird collection of electrical issues

[Polyal]

OK so some may have noticed the switch thread I had going, good news is that I managed to find some NOS switches and one repro, all are in..but my windows are still not working.

So I checked my window fuse relay, shook it, no rattle, so I am assuming its oik but I might swap that out aswell just to be sure.

But in the last week the following has also happened, or I have only just noticed;

1. Wiper Water Motor not responding when I pull back the lever..not even trying, no whirr noise.

2. Both electric side mirrors not functioning

3. With the wipers again, when using the stalk to engage the speed the following happens

3a - manually engage wiper by going up, works
3b - bring stalk down one increment, NOTHING
3c - bring stalk down two and to the last increment, it works

4. Could be unrelated, but I have noticed my temp gauge on the climate control is reading consistently higher than ambient

Now all of this "could" be related to a recent headunit install. I did it myself and it was working for a week, then it stopped. I looked at the stereo fuses (Ford fuse box) and it had blown. Changed it to a higher amp..blown, went higher again, blown.

So I took it to autobarn because I was getting frustrated, I have done a headunit a couple of times before so I was 99.9% sure the wiring was correct. Although for some silly reason autobarn couldnt get the ariel to work with the tuner, even I got that working. I didnt have time to argue with them at the time, and I dont really listen to the radio so I let it slide.

Any ideas? Is it maybe a control module? It is now driving me crazy and the last resort is an auto-elec but if its a simple module/fuse/something swap out then I want to try first.

Its very frustrating because everything was fine not long ago.

Cheers

[Barnaby]

With the radio...they have a reverse polarity protection diode on the power input. If you have inadvertently reversed the +V and -V cables, it will draw max current on the power lines to blow any fuse on that line and protect the head unit. I would start here and confirm your head unit wiring is correct.

[FGII-XR6]

many electrical faults like that is often a bad earth
also fuses are rated to do a job puting larger fuses in is asking for trouble. this is how electrical fires start

[AU1XLS]

Sounds like a BEM (Body Equipment Module) problem

[Polyal]

Ok cheers guys, ill pull the hu out and double check the wire colours. But could that relly effect my wipers and mirrors?

AU3xr6 i wsnt aware of that actually..it blew everything i put in there hence going to autobarn. Pretty sure its the stock fuse now.

Au1xls....i was thinking a similar thing, hopefully not, they $$$?

[FOCUSonTHIS]

I'm sure a BEM from the wreckers wouldn't be that expensive.


I also agree with AU3xr6 - I have learnt the hard way that fuses are rated for a amps. Thankfully mine wasn't on a car.


Hopefully you get your car sorted soon.

[Polyal]

Ok so next silly question, where is the BEM located?

And is there any physical way to tell if it has failed?

Lastly, are there any other tell tail signs of a BEM failure? Everything else in the car seems fine.

[FOCUSonTHIS]

There is two BCM's on the Falcon, low and high series

The BCM is located beneath the instrument cluster, adjacent to the steering column.

TO REMOVE AND INSTALL

1. Working below the left hand side of the steering column, remove the screw retaining the bracket to the lower dash panel.

2. Manoeuvre the BCM from the bracket and release the clip retaining the DCM to the lower dash panel.

3. Disconnect the BCM wiring connectors and withdraw the BCM from the dash.

Installation is in reversal of the removal procedure, ensuring that the wiring connectors are securely connected.

[FGII-XR6]

A new BEM will need to be trained to the car. for a S1 it is as easy as leaving the ignition for up to an hour ( the locks will cycle when ready)
on a S2 or 3 you will need someone with a scan tool to do a parameter reset and train your keys

[Polyal]

Scan tool? Really..gawd what a PIA.

OK well I think I may have found the issue. I havent pulled the stereo out yet but I think they knuckle heads at Autobarn patch the red cable (+) into my BEM!

Is that normal? When I picked up the car I do recall them saying he had issues with the power, why I dont know i thought it would have been straight forward for someone who does it for a living.

Anyway, Ill try and get a photo off my phone which isnt the best but maybe those who look at them regularly can tell whats going on.

Also might explain why some of my interior electronics are still working and some are not. They patched into one of the three "inputs" to the BEM.

If this is the cause I am going to be ticked off....even more so because i think I threw my receipt out from Autobarn.

[Polyal]

Ok so my phone is asking for a PIN I dont know of for bluetooth..LOL..ill take a pic with the camera when I get home.

Does anyone know the part number for a BEM to suit a AU2 Fairmont? Its a pink one. I found a wrecker that has one but wanted to make sure its the correct module. Although Ill get the wiring sorted first.

Another one to add to the list is the power aireal, no longer goes up or down when selecting the tuner option.

[Polyal]

Got them...

Ok I dont know if that shows enough?

[BHDOGS]

I had a similar issue on my fairmont side mirrors
And power windows wouldn't work put a fuse in the lpg fuse hole on the fuse box and started working again no idea why also check power systematically along the way starting at fuses go to relays then the wiring on the master switch see
If there all getting power with a test light failing that get an auto elect to diagnose it then fix it urself don't just change the bem for no reason

[Polyal]

Thought i would update this incase anyone else has similar issues.

So that extra red cable apparently was installed for the phone kit, it was a company car before I got it...there you go.

That still didnt resolve the issue, so i caved in and took it to an auto-elec...problem was the power supply (+ or - I cant remember) being loose right up in the dash.

Somewhere along the line it must have been pulled to hard.

So that means everything is back to normal. It also confirms why I did Mech Eng and not electrical, little stuff like this drives me up the wall.

Also got some DRL's on too. Not in the headlight like I wanted but on the wind deflectors in the front bar. Looks a little generic but I do alot of highway driving so hopefully the safety aspect works out. They are wired up so they only work when parkers are on, switch to low beams and they come off.

[debonez]

Hey there, i have recently been having similar issues with my AU1 Fairmont.

I put a new HU in it like a year ago now and all was fine but then a couple of months ago i took a corner and my radio randomly switched off. When this happened i tested my other electrics and half the things wouldnt work, mirrors, windows, rear demister, windscreen washers. I checked my fuses the next day and only the 5A radio fuse had gone, changed this and all was well.

Up until a couple of weeks ago where the exact same thing happened. So i changed the fuse then a week later again the same.

Clearly something is wrong, any ideas?

Much appreciated, thanks