Hi All

Well, I hope it's OK to post this as my first thread on here - I guess the site does experience many 'viewers' turn 'posters' when they too have a problem. Anyway...

I have a strange problem with my '53 plate Fiesta Zetec and I am hoping someone here might be able to shed some light on what I need to do and how to go about sorting it. I'll try to provide some pretty detailed information hoping it helps the diagnosis.

I have a flashing light problem!! I know there's an engine control module of sorts that controls many of the 'bits' in Fords, and it might be that its this at fault here, but there is also a significant element of randomness in the faults. Here goes...

Sometimes the battery light is on, sometimes the engine management light is on. When the engine management light is on and the battery light is not on, I hear some clicking (a relay contact, I guess) at the rear of the display, especially when the windscreen wipers are set to intermittent. At the same time as the clicking goes on and off, I see the dashboard illumination going slightly dimmer then back to normal again - this is in direct time with the clicking. Sometimes the safety belt light comes on, together with the ABS warning and Handbrake light too - they they go off - though this isn't in time to the clicking at all and only happens every now and then. This morning, the entire display went off!! - the tachometer and speedometer went down to zero, the clock and odometer went off and the illumination on the dashboard went out. I was on the motorway when this happened, doing around 60mph, and then a few seconds later they all came back on again. There was no change in drive performance, no shudders or jerking, everything was fine in that department - except the display.

However, if the battery warning light is on, the clicking at the rear of the display is much less frequent. Then on times, all the display lights are off and everything is fine - this might last 20 miles, a few days, or so. There has been no change in the cars performance, it starts first time every time, and runs smoothly regardless of what lights are showing on the display, so I am guessing it's not an issue with the 'engine' electrical system - more with the displays and sensors etc.

So... what should I be looking for here folks please? To me (i.e. inexperienced idiot when holding any form of car tool!!) it seems like a connection type problem; maybe a short circuit or bad connection on something that controls the display. I have no idea what the clicking is, but it is a relay coming in and out - about once a second when it occurs, then stops!

The clicking stops if the wipers are off - not all the time, but the clicking still happens once in a while. Sometimes the ABS, handbrake light and seat-belt warning lights come on, then go off a second or so later. At times it all seems so random and then at other times it seems to change when the wipers are on. If the engine management warning light is off, and the battery warning light is on - there's not so many issues. Then on times there are no lights on at all and all is fine.

Weird eh!!!

I know I could take it to a garage for them to diagnose, but I want to see if I can find out what it might be and then see if there's anything I can change myself. It has been suggested I try to get hold of an engine code reader to get the history and error codes etc. Do I try to get hold of one of these, or should I simply get it to a garage and see what they say? I am also informed it could be huge (ŁŁŁ's) or not so huge (Ł's).

I am open to any advice you guys and gals are able to offer, many thanks.

John

 

Sounds like you have an earth problem. Check the main ones and the control module ones.

Matt

 

I have a light issue with mine, well had anyway.

When i was indicating and braking at the same time my indicator would flash very fast (as if a bulb was out) and my headlights and brake lights would flash at the same rate. Then the turning light on my dash would stay on for a while and then go off.

If I flashed my lights both indicators would iluminate and stay on.

I found the earthing points on my car and went around them all, turned out one on the rear O/S had a foul connection, removed it, cleaned it up and the problem went.

I will find a list of earthing points, post them in here and hopefully that will give you somewhere to start.

 

hi, I have a very similar problem with my mk6 zetec s and was wondering what you had to do to get the problem fixed as the mot is soon. I have no clue where to start and was wondering if you could help me out. My number is 07493827597 that will be the easiest way to reach me. Thanks