Electrical Issues

[Eric English]

Just bought this sport trac and have to say so far I'm not very impressed.



All sorts of little issues and now the interior light is coming on and off (I mentioned this in another thread) and now the fan is coming on by itself (from nothing to full bore without me touching anything) and then the lights in the climate control unit and the stereo are going out randomly. The issues with the fan and the in-dash lights happened together today. When I messed with the dimmer switch, it sometimes turned the lights back on and sometimes didn't. What's up with this Sport Trac? Is it possessed? I don't want to put hundreds into it when I just bought the thing.



Any thoughts? Any help would be much appreciated. Frustrating! This is my first "new" truck in 18 years and my 1992 Nissan ran for the entire 18 years without ANY problems except a slight oil leak which cost me about $300 to fix. That was IT other than regular maintenance.



I think I'm starting to regret this purchase . . .



Plus I'm hearing a weird squeak squeak squeak (randomly) at low speeds which seems to be coming from the left rear. My dad thinks it's a brake noise. All these problems are manifesting not long after buying the dang truck.

 

[Johnny O]

I have an '08 and the interior light has come on by itself for years whenever I hit a bump. I have been told the problem is in the door jamb switch but I don't worry about it. Just like the tire pressure monitor light that I fixed by putting a piece of black electrical tape over it. :grin:

 

[Eric English]

Yeah, ok. But the fan randomly coming on full bore? Any ideas?

 

[Yardsale]

These are for a 2001, but may be of some use. Follow the flow ...



Notice that the fan high speed circuit is separate from the other speed circuits. It has it's own relay which is normally open. Something is providing power to that relay; could be a bad switch or, if the climate control controls the fan speed, could be something there (I don't have climate control, so I'm not familiar with that circuitry).



HVAC

<a href="http://www.mysporttrac.com/library/10521/Pics/HVACFanSch.jpg" target="_blank">

<img src="http://www.mysporttrac.com/library/10521/Pics/HVACFanSchThumb.jpg" title="HVAC Fan Schematic"/></a>



Instrument Panel

<a href="http://www.mysporttrac.com/library/10521/Temp/InsPnlDim.jpg" target="_blank">

<img src="http://www.mysporttrac.com/library/10521/Temp/InsPnlDimThumb.jpg" title="Instrument Panel Schematic"/></a>



Radio

<a href="http://www.mysporttrac.com/library/10521/Temp/RadioSch.jpg" target="_blank">

<img src="http://www.mysporttrac.com/library/10521/Temp/RadioSchThumb.jpg" title="Radio Schematic"/></a>

 

[Bob Bendfeldt]

I've had the weird electrical gremlins twice in the nine years that I have owned the ST and both times a new battery cured them.



Benny

 

[Eric English]

thanks guys. Cleaned off the gunk on my battery . . . maybe that'll make a difference. I hope I can figure this stuff out. The brake thing is random. But when it happens it's loud. I made a video of it the other day

 

[Robert Howell]

The interior lights coming on was related to the ignition switch being worn. Try wiggling the cylinder while the unit is idling, door closed while stopped to see if that will re-create the fault. The heater fan maybe related. Heavy key rings wear out ignitions faster than just the single key.

The only squeak I had on my 09 was from the hanger bearing on the drive shaft, unfortunately that required a drive shaft replacement (under warranty at the time)

 

[Bruce Marcoux]

Ive had the dome light issue with my 08 Adrenalin since new. It is very annoying. Had it in at the dealer but of course, they could never reproduce the issue.

 

[Richard L]

These are not common problems to the Sport Tracs.....I suspect the previous owner may have hacked up the electrical wiring trying to do his own thing.



...Rich