Marauder is getting stranger.

[Aren Jay]

So I drive home, I parked on a slope on mydriveway and there is a noise very loud coming from under the hood sounds like the engine is roaring. I pulled the key out and the noise continued for 5 or so seconds then turned off.

I Wondered about that then 5 minutes later I pulled the Maruader all the way into my garage and the roaring noise came on for a couple seconds then stopped when I put it in gear.

(not the engine)
(not the stereo)

Could it have been the aircompressor?

Anyway it get stranger.

I pulled in like I always do, driving up to the carpet I have setup to compress when I get close to the front wall of my garage (so I can get in far enough to close the garage door without hitting the back of my Marauder) Only have about 3 inches clearance total.

Then the lights flash once inside the car and get brighter, the illumination in the door switches comes on full power and the heated seat switches green illumination comes on and starts flashing but not at regular intervals sometimes fast sometimes slow but definitely flashing. The Heated seats still work and the illumination orange lights still light up but the green illumination lights are flashing irregularly.

What is going on? Did I trip somekind of light sensor thingy? It is really wierd.

Any help would be wonderful.

DO I need to take it to the dealership to get it fixed?

Could this be the same thing causing the humm in the amplifier?

[Blackened300a]

Sounds like the air compressor. Not sure about causing a humm in the radio though

[OneBADLsE]

Sounds like the voltage regulator went bezerk. Dunno why the other things occured

[MM2004]

Yup. Sounds like air compressor. (Took mine to the dealer as it was loud as hell, they put a piece of rubber between the compressor and the mount. Much quieter now.)

The other issues could possibly be the wire chafing under the hood, shorting things out. Just a guess but may be a starting place. :confused:

Is your MM an 03 or 04?

Keep us posted,

Mike.

[cyclopsram]

Car was upset cuz you spelled its name wrong... "Maruader"? When the lights flash is your voltmeter going up and down? I would expect maybe a bearing in the alternator....

[cyclopsram]

or a bad bearing in the cooling fan...

[finster101]

Check all the ground connections that you can find. With electronic modules you won't believe the problems they can cause.

[Local Boy]

+1 for bad ground ... ALOHA

[Aren Jay]

DTR

Where are these grounds to check?

It went super bright when I pulled into the garage and touched the carpet I have rolled up as a stop between the car and the concrete wall. Is there something in the front end that could be loose or a fuse that could have blown?

When they fixed the front light and surrounding area (after the delivery people backed their truck into it) could something be setup wrong?

I don't know the history of the car before that, Carfax said it was clean.

Where is this voltage regulator?

Are these easy tests and fixes are they super expensive?

This also happens when the electrics are on but the engine is not. (does this eliminate the alternator?).

[MENINBLK]

Open the hood and look in over the driver's side front fender.

There is a harness that crosses over the engine valve cover and continues behind the engine.
Pick up the harness and look to see if it is chaffed from rubbing against the engine.
If it is, put some electrical tape on it for now and take it to your dealer.
Show it to the Service Manager and he will order a replacement harness for you.

[Aren Jay]

I checked the various wiring harnesses they all look like they are wrapped in tape. Nothing looked worn though.

The light green things light up when in my garage but do not when outside during the day. The heatedseat switches still blink randomly but only when it is dark. Outside they do not.

The Funny noise (compressor running) rumbles away when I start for 5 or so seconds and when I stop (put it in park) and for a couple seconds after I pull the key out.

The Amplifyer is still humming away. It is very annoying.

End up cranking the volumn up just to not hear the humm.

[RF Overlord]

The Amplifyer is still humming away. It is very annoying.

End up cranking the volumn up just to not hear the humm.Diabolical, does this hum happen only when the motor is running, and if so does the frequency change as the RPMs change? If this is the case, then it may be the key to your problem.

In any audio system, hum is caused by AC ripple getting into either the signal path or the power supply rails. Since there IS no AC source in a car (everything runs on DC from the battery, right?) where is this AC coming from? The only place it exists in a car is inside the alternator. An alternator actually produces AC which is then rectified to DC with diodes. If one of those diodes is bad, you still get DC, but with a lot of ripple.

[Aren Jay]

I'll have to try that.

Thanks


Is the Alternator part of the powertrain warranty?

[Local Boy]

On the lights blinking...There is a light sensor on the dash, left of the steering wheel. This could be "tripping" your lights to operate ON/OFF. Is something (Dashmat?) covering it?

[Aren Jay]

The lights on the heated seat switches are the only ones that blink the rest just turn on as normal.

Nothing on the dash.

[Aren Jay]

I tried yesterday with the engine off and I first had a problem when I hit a speed bump the buzzing turned off and wouldn't come back on. However when I turned into my complexes drive it started up again and in my garage with the engine off the buzzing wasn't there but with the speakers on audio/phone mute there was a quiet thumping sound coming from the back in a slowish rhythm. Don't know what it is.

[Local Boy]

If bumps in the road trigger that buzzing sound...That would point to a bad ground. Can't tell where to start though. Sorry.
My first focus point would be the front half, from the fire wall ...to front bumper...Only because of your speed bump and turning into your drive way comment. Try pushing up and down on each corner the car while its running (in park OBVIOUSLY) and see if you can get it to start and stop. Try the front driver side first...push down on the corner enough to get the car to bounce as much as you can..and check the interior of the car for signs you describe. do this for each corner. If you can isolate the corner...you've narrowed down your location. On another point, try looking at your alternator harness, some members have reported chaffing and connection issues (solder vs. crimping). Any work around there (alt.) recently? Hope this helps.---ALOHA

[Dr Caleb]

^^^ What he said, but given the incident you had before you took possesion of your car - start where the damage was and look for likely spots where they forgot to attach a ground.

Since there is a fuse panel and the compressor pump on the drivers side, that would be my likely candidate.

[Aren Jay]

What does a ground look like?

[Local Boy]

A "ground" is a point of which the electrical current is able to return to a capacitive source(+). This is refered to as completing the loop. Usually the "common" ground will be the frame of the vehical, as well as the engine block ( but not aluminum blocks). Having a "ground" issue means that the electrical current is NOT able to return, and therefore cannot complete the "loop". In short, look for areas where a WIRE supposed to connect to the frame or some other METAL surface that is "grounded" (that is connected by way of metal contact) so the LOOP can be completed. If you have a "short" means that the electrical current is diverted else where (chaffing - (HOT) wire touches a metal surface that does NOT pass through the circuit of the system of the car, and thus "grounds" through another source NOT completing the "loop" leaving "that" system without/intermittent function). .. Hope this helps...ALOHA

[Dr Caleb]

What does a ground look like?

To be specific, it will usually be a bare metal woven cable, or one that is covered in a black sheath (like the battery (-) cable ). It usually bolts to a bare metal part of the car, such as the frame or part of the body structure.

If anyone has pics of the drivers front quarter, and the ground strap locations - throw Diabolical a bone here, otherwise I'll take pics on the weekend when I get my car out.

[Aren Jay]

I took it in for a check and they couldn't replicate any of the problems. Thing is when I picked it up I couldn't replicate any of the problems either. I wonder if it was just a loose connection that when tightened by them fied everything.

Turns out they don't charge if they can't replicate anything.

I've my Marauder fixed for free, again. This truly is a great car.

[Local Boy]

Glad it worked out...ALOHA

[Aren Jay]

Well It did it again, the funky blinking this morning so it isn't fixed. It does it engine on and off so it isn't the alternator.

Must be a loose connection somewhere but where? It does it on both doors.

[Marauderjack]

Just for kicks remove your radio...unplug and inspect the plugs......spray the connection pins on the back with WD-40....It may just be a dirty pin in the radio??:confused:

[Aren Jay]

Would a connection in the Radio/Stereo cause the door heated seat illumination lights on both doors to blink?

Yesterday it only did both when I started the car in the morning, but when I came home it did it only on the passeneger door the drivers door heated seat illumination lights didn't come on at all.

Also the window switch on the passenger door doesn't illuminate. Is it supposed to?

Is there a wireing harness that controls these illumination lights? Could it be shorting or come loose or something? Anyone know which one it is?

[jgc61sr2002]

Would a connection in the Radio/Stereo cause the door heated seat illumination lights on both doors to blink?

Yesterday it only did both when I started the car in the morning, but when I came home it did it only on the passeneger door the drivers door heated seat illumination lights didn't come on at all.

Also the window switch on the passenger door doesn't illuminate. Is it supposed to?

Is there a wireing harness that controls these illumination lights? Could it be shorting or come loose or something? Anyone know which one it is?

That has been a common problem. Most were repaired by replacing the switch.

[Aren Jay]

The blinking or the light not illuminating?

[Marauderjack]

Would a connection in the Radio/Stereo cause the door heated seat illumination lights on both doors to blink?

Yesterday it only did both when I started the car in the morning, but when I came home it did it only on the passeneger door the drivers door heated seat illumination lights didn't come on at all.

Also the window switch on the passenger door doesn't illuminate. Is it supposed to?

Is there a wireing harness that controls these illumination lights? Could it be shorting or come loose or something? Anyone know which one it is?

Just throwing out simple ideas.....open or partial ground could be anywhere.....maybe radio??:confused:

[Local Boy]

Did you spill any thing on your switches? Coffee - soda - rain water (open window)? ALOHA

[Aren Jay]

I was raining the day that it first started blinking.

The Stereo odd noise has been happening before it rained.

[Local Boy]

Did water get in through an open window? The reason I ask is that moisture in the switch (rain water, etc...) will cause it to short...the result being buttons not illuminating and/or no operation of window. Your radio noise sounds like a separate problem. RF Overloard asked if the radio hummmm came on with the engine on or off and if the sound changes when you rev the motor. His explaination was on the money with regard to RF interference. If the Hummm is present when the engine is OFF...then it will NOT be RF interference; but a grounding problem. Look where your radio is grounded...If you have a CD changer in the trunk... Look where the CD grounds as well. Hope this helps...ALOHA

[michael ward]

blinking seat heater switches are a comon in the panther platform take it to ford and have them replaced.

[Aren Jay]

Excellent

So the switches need to be replaced, that is no problem.

The Hummmm is only when the engine is on, although it is intermitent. I have heard a noise like static from the amp/sub on Accessory but not the hummmm.

Reving the engine drowns the hummmm noise out.