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1994 FORD EXPLORER — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

fire · 506655 · 2004-11-15

Vehicle

Make
FORD
Model
EXPLORER
Year
1994
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
Miles at failure
129,000
Speed
20 mph

Severity

Deaths
0
Injured
0
Fire
Yes
Crash
No
Police report
No
Medical attention
No
Vehicle towed
No

Narrative

1) SMELLED BURNING ELECTRICAL INSULATION WHILE DRIVING IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA OF IDAHO FALLS, ID. PREVIOUSLY THAT DAY, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO START ON ONE OCCASION. MULTIPLE VEHICLE STARTS AFTERWARDS HAD BEEN WITHOUT INCIDENT.*AK 2) PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO INVESTIGATE. FOUND THE ALTERNATOR OUTPUT WIRE GLOWING RED AND THE INSULATION BURNING. IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE ENGINE, AND REMOVED THE BATTERY CABLES. ALTERNATOR WAS TOO HOT TO TOUCH (THEREFORE > 140F). 3) REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR. REMOVED SIX INCHES OF BURNED UP ALTERNATOR OUTPUT WIRE (#6 AWG) AND THE CONNECTION LUG (#6 AWG W/ 1/4" POST). RELUGGED THE OUTPUT WIRE AND INSULATED THE LUG WITH ELECTRICAL TAPE AND HEAT SHRINK TUBING. NOTED THAT THE CONNECTION LUG HAD SHORTED TO THE ALTERNATOR FRAME BY THE EVIDENCE OF MELTED ALUMINUM FROM THE ALTERNATOR ON THE LUG. THE FACTORY INSTALLED LUG WAS NOT INSULATED BETWEEN THE LUG SHAFT AND THE ALTERNATOR CASE. IT WAS PROTECTED ON ITS EXTERNAL SIDE BY A BOOT SLIDE ON BOOT. OLD PARTS AND PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE.

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
10098866
Machine
JSON-LD · Markdown